CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Polson

Montana · 3,254 residents · 4.49 sq mi

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The short version

Polson is a city of 3,254 people in Montana. Households here earn about 38% less than in Montana as a whole. Households take in $14,231 at the median, 53% less than the US figure. The typical home is worth $47,500. 54% of homes are owner-occupied. Getting to work takes 12 minutes on average.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 36.0

US median: 33.0

Less educated

14% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 27%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

3,254

−19%vs 2000

vs 4,041 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

36.0

−7%vs 2000

vs 38.6 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

4.49 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20245K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 59.1%(295)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 98.5%(276)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 146.7%(219)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 195.8%(190)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 244.8%(155)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3413.7%(446)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4412.7%(414)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 547.9%(256)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 647.7%(249)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 7410.8%(352)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 848.2%(267)

US avg: 4%

85 and over4.1%(135)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$14,231

−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $21,870 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$8,816

−36%vs 2000

vs $13,777 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

21.8%

+2.0 ptsvs 2000

vs 19.8% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$47,500

−27%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $86,200 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$275

−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $401 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

54.0%

Unchangedvs 2000

vs 53.9% in 2000

46.0% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic77.3%(3,125)

Black0.1%(5)

Hispanic / Latino2.3%(91)

Asian0.4%(17)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic84.8%(2,761)

Black0%(0)

Hispanic / Latino1.7%(56)

Asian0%(0)

Other15.2%(493)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican6.8%(371)

South American0.8%(44)

Peruvian0.8%(44)

Asian origin

Sri Lankan0.3%(17)

Ancestry

English22.8%(1,235)

German18.8%(1,019)

Irish11.6%(632)

American8.1%(438)

Scotch-Irish4.8%(259)

Scottish3.5%(189)

Italian3.3%(177)

French2.7%(147)

Norwegian2.2%(117)

Dutch2%(109)

Arab1.6%(87)

Lebanese1.6%(87)

+ 10 more ancestry groups with data

Polish1.2%(63)

Czech0.8%(43)

Swedish0.8%(43)

Danish0.7%(38)

French Canadian0.6%(35)

Slovak0.6%(30)

Swiss0.4%(19)

Canadian0.2%(12)

Portuguese0.2%(12)

Croatian0.2%(10)

RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Mexican population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

14.1%

−4.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 18.2% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

75.2%

−8.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 83.5% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

5.8%

+0.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 5.2% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

12.1 min

+25%vs 2000

vs 9.6 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married29.5%(583)

Married50.2%(993)

Widowed3.9%(78)

Divorced16.4%(324)

Women 15+

Never married30.5%(747)

Married43.9%(1,077)

Widowed7.6%(186)

Divorced18%(441)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

10.5%

−14.3 ptssince 2013

from 24.8% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

35.1%

−1.7 ptssince 2020

from 36.8% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

17.7%

−6.4 ptssince 2020

from 24.1% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

29.5%

+3.6 ptssince 2020

from 25.9% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

26.5%

+2.3 ptssince 2020

from 24.2% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

3.8%

−0.8 ptssince 2020

from 4.6% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

53.7%

−7.0 ptssince 2020

from 60.7% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

52.1%

+6.0 ptssince 2020

from 46.1% 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)36%(169)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)31.5%(148)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era38.1%(179)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War2.3%(11)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 470 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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