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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 08/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Among the 30 largest places in Montana, Columbia Falls has the smallest share of long commutes (1.3%), followed by Four Corners and Kalispell. Click any column to sort; click a city for its guide.
Across the 30 places in Montana that we cover, the median is 4.9% and the average 6.5%; the figure runs from 1.3% (Columbia Falls) to 15.8% (Livingston). That is a spread of 11.9 times between the two ends. The state figure is 8.2%; 9 of the 30 places are above it and 21 at or below.
The first five are Columbia Falls, Four Corners, Kalispell, Havre, Billings. A high or low position is not good or bad on its own: short commutes can mean a self-contained job market or a small town with few employers. Use the Compare tab on each city page to see how two places differ across income, rent, commute and education, and check the county page for the local job market.
| # ⇅ | City ⇅ | County ⇅ | Commute of 45 minutes or more ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia Falls | Flathead County | 1.3% | 5,615 | $75,766 | $1,016 |
| 2 | Four Corners (unincorporated) | Gallatin County | 1.6% | 5,791 | $100,917 | $1,338 |
| 3 | Kalispell | Flathead County | 2.0% | 28,504 | $63,415 | $1,078 |
| 4 | Havre | Hill County | 2.2% | 9,258 | $50,329 | $844 |
| 5 | Billings | Yellowstone County | 3.1% | 119,434 | $73,712 | $1,138 |
| 6 | Helena | Lewis and Clark County | 3.2% | 33,639 | $71,036 | $1,092 |
| 7 | Laurel | Yellowstone County | 3.2% | 7,215 | $68,474 | $974 |
| 8 | Helena Valley Northwest (unincorporated) | Lewis and Clark County | 3.4% | 5,183 | $100,605 | $1,603 |
| 9 | Miles City | Custer County | 3.6% | 8,407 | $67,727 | $926 |
| 10 | Whitefish | Flathead County | 3.8% | 8,749 | $73,811 | $1,354 |
| 11 | Hamilton | Ravalli County | 4.0% | 5,101 | $49,204 | $947 |
| 12 | Lewistown | Fergus County | 4.0% | 6,087 | $48,750 | $1,007 |
| 13 | Great Falls | Cascade County | 4.2% | 60,329 | $63,373 | $900 |
| 14 | Lockwood (unincorporated) | Yellowstone County | 4.3% | 7,181 | $75,700 | $1,138 |
| 15 | Missoula | Missoula County | 4.7% | 76,514 | $70,392 | $1,189 |
| 16 | Bozeman | Gallatin County | 4.9% | 56,114 | $85,747 | $1,717 |
| 17 | Orchard Homes (unincorporated) | Missoula County | 5.4% | 5,588 | $64,904 | $1,000 |
| 18 | Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | Deer Lodge County | 5.4% | 9,597 | $57,527 | $696 |
| 19 | Helena Valley Southeast (unincorporated) | Lewis and Clark County | 5.7% | 9,108 | $74,075 | $1,106 |
| 20 | Helena Valley Northeast (unincorporated) | Lewis and Clark County | 6.8% | 4,659 | $140,517 | n/a |
| 21 | Butte-Silver Bow | Silver Bow County | 7.0% | 35,052 | $61,857 | $856 |
| 22 | Evergreen (unincorporated) | Flathead County | 8.8% | 9,611 | $76,446 | $1,166 |
| 23 | Lolo (unincorporated) | Missoula County | 9.6% | 4,314 | $86,065 | $1,139 |
| 24 | Helena Valley West Central (unincorporated) | Lewis and Clark County | 10.4% | 8,056 | $90,082 | $1,327 |
| 25 | Bigfork (unincorporated) | Flathead County | 11.7% | 5,565 | $85,307 | $1,016 |
| 26 | Glendive | Dawson County | 12.9% | 4,810 | $72,670 | $842 |
| 27 | Polson | Lake County | 13.3% | 5,428 | $53,418 | $912 |
| 28 | Belgrade | Gallatin County | 13.6% | 11,872 | $97,328 | $1,877 |
| 29 | Sidney | Richland County | 14.8% | 6,171 | $62,538 | $931 |
| 30 | Livingston | Park County | 15.8% | 8,780 | $65,861 | $1,046 |
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Unincorporated places are census-designated places: they have no city government but are counted as communities. Figures describe the city itself.
Columbia Falls, with 1.3% (among the 30 largest places; ACS 2020–2024).
The 30 largest places in Montana by population.