Population 9,563 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Polson
Household size in Polson
| Period | Polson | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.22 | 2.41 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.15 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Polson are small: just 2.37 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has climbed from 2.22 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Polson
| Period | Polson | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.8 | 39.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.0 | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.4 | 41.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.9 | 41.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Polson skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.8, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Polson
| Period | Polson | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.8% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.0 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.8% of households in Polson, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 7.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Polson
Renters in Polson
| Period | Polson | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.6% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.8% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.2% | 30.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −9.1 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Polson rent their homes (29.2%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 43.9% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. The renter share has fallen 9.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Polson
| Period | Polson | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.1% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 25.4% | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.2% | 12.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 21.2% of the housing in Polson, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 1.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Polson
| Period | Polson | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Polson is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Polson
| Period | Polson | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $655 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $716 | $775 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $768 | $870 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $911 | $1,189 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$256 | +$487 | +$606 |
Rent in Polson runs $911 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $256 a month since 2006–10, up 39%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Polson
Bachelor's degrees in Polson
| Period | Polson | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.4% | 28.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.8% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.4% | 32.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.0% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in Polson (36.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Polson
| Period | Polson | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.3% | 91.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.8% | 92.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.8% | 93.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.7% | 94.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Polson is above the national rate: 93.7% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Montana as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 2.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Polson
| Period | Polson | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Polson than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. Still, the rate is higher than in Montana as a whole (3.7%). Unemployment has fallen 3.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Polson compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polson | 2.37 | 47.9 | 6.8% | 29.2% | 21.2% | 1986 | $911 | 36.0% | 93.7% | 4.6% |
| Pablo | 2.66 | 41.0 | 13.5% | 26.5% | 13.2% | 1991 | $829 | 27.5% | 91.6% | 5.9% |
| Big Arm | 2.52 | 50.0 | 6.5% | 15.5% | 39.7% | 1993 | $1,027 | 34.6% | 92.4% | 8.9% |
| Ronan | 2.80 | 37.4 | 11.0% | 29.7% | 9.4% | 1982 | $906 | 21.4% | 91.2% | 4.9% |
| Dayton | 2.39 | 51.7 | 7.4% | 19.4% | 48.9% | 1991 | $1,096 | 34.6% | 92.1% | 11.8% |
| Elmo | 2.39 | 51.5 | 7.5% | 19.8% | 48.7% | 1991 | $1,091 | 34.5% | 92.0% | 11.9% |
| Rollins | 2.21 | 59.2 | 4.1% | 5.8% | 54.1% | 1990 | $1,234 | 41.3% | 96.2% | 3.5% |
| Bear Dance | 2.17 | 60.2 | 3.8% | 6.7% | 54.8% | 1989 | $1,200 | 44.3% | 96.8% | 2.0% |
| Kicking Horse | 2.85 | 37.2 | 10.7% | 35.1% | 11.1% | 1983 | $943 | 30.4% | 96.0% | 4.4% |
| Proctor | 2.23 | 58.9 | 4.1% | 3.9% | 53.8% | 1990 | $1,277 | 39.0% | 95.9% | 4.1% |
| Salmon Prairie | 2.26 | 57.8 | 2.3% | 8.1% | 36.5% | 1992 | $1,766 | 42.8% | 98.9% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Vale, NC · Ventnor City, NJ · Venetia, PA · Veneta, OR · Vandergrift, PA · Vandalia, IL · Van Alstyne, TX · Valley Park, MO · Valley Cottage, NY · Valley Center, KS
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Polson. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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