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Lake County, MT
23 cities and towns and 13 ZIP codes in Lake County, Montana.
Population
32,561
Land area
1,490sq mi
People per sq mi
22
ZIP codes
13
Cities and towns in Lake County
Lake County at a glance
- Lake County is about 2.8 times as dense as Montana as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 9th among 56 counties in Montana.
- The median household income is $63,360, 13% below the Montana median of $72,509.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $421,800 (12% above Montana) and median rent is $901 a month.
- Its largest cities are Polson (5,428), Ronan (2,001) and Pablo (1,632).
Local data for Lake County, MT
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Lake County, MT, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$63,360
Poverty rate
17.2%
Median home value
$421,800
Prices +3.5% in a year
Median rent
$901/mo
Homeownership
75.0%
Bachelor's or higher
31.5%
Median age
44.3
Average commute
22.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (5,553), Irish Americans (3,602), Norwegian Americans (1,725).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.3%
Aug 2026, -0.9 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$54,190
9,694 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$53,778
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$582M
FY 2026, $18,691 per person
PPP loans
$59.26M
1,379 loans, 8,220 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$390K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Lake County, MT, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone69.4%
- Carpooled12.4%
- Public transit0.2%
- Walked2.9%
- Bicycle0.6%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
- Worked from home13.2%
Average one-way commute: 22.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Lake County, MT, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
1,125
Most often heavy snow
Flood insurance policies
30
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 22°F
15.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone7 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Lake County, MT, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
33.0%
U.S. 33.3% about the same
Diabetes
12.2%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
15.5%
U.S. 12.8% +2.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.2%
U.S. 11.1% -0.9 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Lake County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Lake County, MT?
- Polson is the largest city or town in Lake County, with about 5,428 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Lake County?
- Lake County includes 13 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 59821, 59824, 59855, 59860, 59863.
- What is the population of Lake County, MT?
- About 32,561 people live in Lake County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Lake County?
- Lake County borders Missoula County, Flathead County, Sanders County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023