HomeSnacks, a website that develops data from many sources, has classified Kalispell as the 7th most-expensive Montana city in which to live. Ahead of us, #1 most-expensive city is Bozeman, followed by Whitefish, Missoula, Helena, Belgrade and Billings. Columbia Falls ranks the 10th most-expensive city in our state.
The rankings, we’re told are based on several things, including the cost-of living index, media home values, median income, population and the ratio of home price to income.
In the Flathead, Kalispell’s median income is $63,415, in Columbia Falls, $75,788 and in Whitefish $73,811. What’s equally as telling is median home values. Whitefish leads the state at $864,157, followed by Columbia Falls at $599,106 and then Kalispell’s median home value at $552,745.
If there’s a bright spot, the cost-of-living index puts Columbia Falls at 102, Kalispell at 107% compared to Whitefish at 127%.
