Columbia Falls, MT

Census place 3016600 · pop 5,615

D52/ 100
😐 Meh
D
in MT
📍 Montana ranks #15 of 50 states →
🏆 Bad air0 days · top 15%
🚽 Own56.0% · bottom 28%
Taxes
0.73% property · US 0.99%None sales · US 7.00%up to 5.65% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Homeownership56.0%28

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

56.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Housing cost$384,40032

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$384,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Poverty rate15.2%33

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

15.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Adult smoking14.9%34

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

14.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Violent crime rate274/100k39

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

274 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Uninsured adults10.8%39

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

10.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Property crime rate1627/100k39

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

1627 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Poor mental health17.6%43

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

17.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Broadband access91.2%47

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

91.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Median household income$75,76652

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$75,766 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Population growth (5yr)+3.4%54

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+3.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Bachelor's degree or higher32.1%54

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

32.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Air quality (AQI)County-level42 AQI57

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

42 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level84/10059

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

84/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.4%62

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult obesity32.5%64

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

32.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Rent$1,501/mo69

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,501/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Physical inactivity21.7%69

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

21.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Property-tax burden0.73%70

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.73% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Income inequality0.4075

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.40 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Commute time20 min77

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Frequently asked

Is Columbia Falls, MT a good place to live?
By the numbers, Columbia Falls scores 52/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unhealthy air days and its weakest is homeownership. Montana overall ranks #15 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Columbia Falls, MT?
Columbia Falls reports 274 violent crimes per 100k and 1627 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Columbia Falls, MT expensive to live in?
Columbia Falls has a median home value of $384,400 and typical rent around $1,501/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Columbia Falls, MT?
Its weakest measured area is homeownership (56.0%) — 28/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Columbia Falls, MT best at?
Its strongest measured area is unhealthy air days (0 days) — 85/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.