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Polson, MT

City in Lake County, Montana.

Population

5,428

Land area

4.5sq mi

People per sq mi

1,208

ZIP codes

0

Polson and its ZIP codes

Full map

Polson at a glance

  • Polson is about 157 times as dense as Montana as a whole.
  • By population, it ranks 25th among 475 cities and towns in Montana.
  • The median household income is $53,418, 26% below the Montana median of $72,509.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $356,300 (5% below Montana) and median rent is $912 a month.

Local data for Polson, MT

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Polson, MT, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$53,418

Poverty rate

17.5%

Median home value

$356,300

Median rent

$912/mo

Homeownership

54.6%

Bachelor's or higher

29.6%

Median age

43.0

Average commute

19.7 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,019), Irish Americans (632), Mexican Americans (371).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lake County. PPP loans are for Polson.

Details

Unemployment rate

2.8%

Sep 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

Lake County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Polson, MT, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone82.0%
  • Carpooled6.6%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked3.3%
  • Bicycle2.4%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
  • Worked from home4.9%

Average one-way commute: 19.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Polson, MT, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: winter weather

Storm events since 1996

1,125

Countywide, mostly 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 zone1 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Polson, MT, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

31.5%

U.S. 33.3% -1.8 pts

Diabetes

11.1%

U.S. 12.1% -1.0 pts

Smoking

13.7%

U.S. 12.8% +0.9 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

9.6%

U.S. 11.1% -1.5 pts

Cities near Polson

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
KerrCensus-designated place1.3 mi0.9
JetteCensus-designated place2.4 mi0.6
Rocky PointCensus-designated place3.2 mi0.6
Turtle LakeCensus-designated place4 mi0.6
Kings PointCensus-designated place5.4 mi1.4
Finley PointCensus-designated place6.1 mi4.3
PabloCensus-designated place6.7 mi4.8
LindisfarneCensus-designated place8.2 mi2.6
Big ArmCensus-designated place9.1 mi5.4
RonanCity12 mi1.2
ElmoCensus-designated place13 mi0.3
DaytonCensus-designated place13 mi0.5
RollinsCensus-designated place15 mi2.9
Bear DanceCensus-designated place16 mi2.8
Kicking HorseCensus-designated place16 mi2.4
CharloCensus-designated place17 mi2

Frequently asked questions

What county is Polson, MT in?
Polson is in Lake County, Montana.
What is the population of Polson, MT?
About 5,428 people live in Polson, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Polson?
Nearby places include Kerr (1.3 mi), Jette (2.4 mi), Rocky Point (3.2 mi), Turtle Lake (4 mi), Kings Point (5.4 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023