United States › Montana › Columbia Falls CITY
Columbia Falls Montana · 5,753 residents (2025 est.) · 2.28 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 5,615 people, Columbia Falls is a city in Montana. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 1,970 people. 1% of people here were born outside the United States. Density works out to 2,462 people per square mile. Owners hold 56% of the housing stock. The average commute runs 20 minutes.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 112%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 3,645 in 2000
5,753 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,462 / sq mi
+11%since 2009
from 2,223 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 4K 4K 5K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Columbia Falls Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $75,766
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,128 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,355 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 17.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.409 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Transportation & warehousing 4%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2%
Education & health services 0%
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$384,400
+112%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $99,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,016
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $462 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 64.6% in 2000
44.0% rent
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.48 people
−21%since 2009
from 3.13 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 94.8%(3,454)
Hispanic / Latino 1.8%(67)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 93.6%(5,258)
Hispanic / Latino 2.9%(165)
from 31 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 84.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 1.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 72.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 68.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 71.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 7.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 14.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 72.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 89.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 91.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 44.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 12.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 27.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 58.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 45.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 10.2%(40)
Share of the 394 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Columbia Falls, Montana? Columbia Falls, Montana has about 5,615 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Columbia Falls, Montana? The typical household in Columbia Falls, Montana earns about $75,766 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Columbia Falls, Montana expensive? In Columbia Falls, Montana, the median home is worth about $384,400, and the typical rent is about $1,016 a month.
How educated are people in Columbia Falls, Montana? About 32.1% of adults age 25 and over in Columbia Falls, Montana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Columbia Falls, Montana? About 15.2% of people in Columbia Falls, Montana live below the federal poverty line.
Has Columbia Falls, Montana grown since 1990? Yes, Columbia Falls, Montana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,517 residents, a change of about 81 percent over that period.
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