Population 13,964 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Whitefish
Household size in Whitefish
| Period | Whitefish | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.31 | 2.41 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.17 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Whitefish are small: just 2.17 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 dropped from 2.31 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Whitefish
| Period | Whitefish | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.9 | 39.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.2 | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.7 | 41.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.4 | 41.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.4 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.4, Whitefish is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 43.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the northwest.
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 Whitefish
| Period | Whitefish | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Whitefish: 4.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 6.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Whitefish has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Montana cities.
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 Whitefish
Renters in Whitefish
| Period | Whitefish | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.2% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.5% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.0% | 30.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −10.7 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Whitefish own their homes; 28.0% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Nearly half of owners (47.2%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northeast and least common in the northwest. The renter share has fallen 10.7 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 Whitefish
| Period | Whitefish | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.7% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 27.0% | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.9% | 12.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Whitefish: 17.9% of homes are empty, 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 edged up 1.3 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 Whitefish
| Period | Whitefish | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Whitefish is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1990, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1979 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 Whitefish
| Period | Whitefish | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $829 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $799 | $775 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,112 | $870 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,972 | $1,189 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,143 | +$487 | +$606 |
The median renter in Whitefish pays $1,972 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,143 a month since 2006–10, up 138%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 36.7% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. No other Montana city with 5,000+ people has higher rents.
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 Whitefish
Bachelor's degrees in Whitefish
| Period | Whitefish | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.0% | 28.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 42.6% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.9% | 32.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 51.3% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Whitefish: 51.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 14.3 points, mirroring the country. Only two of the 35 Montana cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Whitefish
| Period | Whitefish | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.8% | 91.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.3% | 92.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.9% | 93.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.4% | 94.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Whitefish: 97.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.6 points, mirroring the country. Of the 35 Montana cities with 5,000+ people, only three have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Whitefish
| Period | Whitefish | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Whitefish has been strong: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Whitefish 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitefish | 2.17 | 48.4 | 4.7% | 28.0% | 17.9% | 1990 | $1,972 | 51.3% | 97.4% | 2.3% |
| Halfmoon | 2.36 | 53.9 | 4.2% | 14.7% | 18.2% | 1992 | $1,931 | 46.9% | 96.9% | 3.5% |
| Columbia Falls | 2.57 | 40.0 | 13.5% | 28.9% | 12.5% | 1989 | $1,136 | 34.8% | 93.4% | 4.5% |
| La Salle | 2.66 | 42.0 | 11.8% | 26.5% | 21.7% | 1994 | $1,213 | 32.8% | 95.9% | 22.6% |
| Northridge Heights | 2.64 | 44.6 | 4.6% | 13.7% | 9.1% | 2001 | $1,137 | 46.3% | 97.0% | 1.6% |
| Olney | 2.13 | 55.5 | 2.0% | 18.0% | 20.9% | 1985 | $833 | 32.4% | 92.4% | 1.7% |
| Evergreen | 2.84 | 40.5 | 10.2% | 25.3% | 1.8% | 1987 | $1,233 | 23.5% | 91.7% | 3.7% |
| Hungry Horse | 2.46 | 45.9 | 8.7% | 11.0% | 37.1% | 1989 | $1,162 | 30.0% | 92.7% | 2.1% |
| Kalispell | 2.58 | 40.9 | 7.9% | 31.9% | 5.9% | 1988 | $1,376 | 34.7% | 96.3% | 2.8% |
| Coram | 2.42 | 48.9 | 9.8% | 10.6% | 43.9% | 1989 | $1,154 | 29.4% | 92.2% | 6.7% |
| Martin City | 2.36 | 49.2 | 9.4% | 11.8% | 45.7% | 1986 | $1,142 | 30.3% | 91.1% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Pendleton, IN · New Oxford, PA · New Palestine, IN · New Providence, NJ · Newark, NY · Newcastle, WA · Pelham, NH · Pella, IA · Pembroke, NC · New Kingman-Butler, AZ
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 Whitefish. 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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