Despite population growth cooling across the Flathead Valley, Kalispell is one of the fastest growing cities in the state and country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau in May.  

The federal agency released the latest population counts for the nation’s counties, cities and towns in the spring. Kalispell ranked 48th out of nearly 1,900 U.S. cities and towns with more than 20,000 residents for population growth between April 2020 and July 2025. That period saw the city expand from 25,076 residents to 31,851 — a 27% increase.  

Three of the five fastest growing cities during that period were in Texas, led by Forney, where the population grew by nearly 80%.  

Kalispell also saw a larger increase than any of Montana’s cities in the same population range. Bozeman was the closest with a 9.7% bump between 2020 and 2025.  

Over the past five years, Kalispell’s population growth hit its peak during the Covid pandemic, averaging a 7.3% increase from 2020 to 2022. The growth rate fell to 4.3% over 2022 and 3.7% over 2023.  

AMID A nationwide slowdown in population growth, midsized cities largely mirrored the previous year’s trends between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau. 

The federal agency considers a medium-sized city as one with a population of between 5,000 and 49,999, which would include Kalispell. 

The city’s growth has slowed from its pandemic high, but Kalispell still recorded a greater population increase between 2024 and 2025 than other Montana cities with more than 20,000 residents.  

The municipality grew by 626 people between July 2024 and July 2025, a 2% increase. By comparison, Helena grew 1.3%, Bozeman 1.2% and Missoula 0.9%. Billings’ population decreased by 0.2%.  

Growth in the Flathead Valley’s other cities also lagged behind Kalispell. Whitefish, which added 1,574 residents between April 2020 and July 2025 for a 20.2% increase in its population, saw a 1.12% bump between 2024 and 2025.  

Columbia Falls’ population grew 8.1% between 2020 and 2025, reaching 5,753 residents as of July 1, 2025. Between 2024 and 2025, the city recorded a more modest increase of 0.8%.  

Flathead County, Montana’s fourth most populous county, was ranked first in the state for population change between 2020 and 2025.  

The county’s population grew from 104,353 residents in April 2020 to 115,429 in 2025, an increase of 10.6%. During that period, the county gained 11,014 residents through net migration, including 10,671 domestic migrants and 343 international migrants.  

From 2024 to 2025, Flathead County’s population grew 0.9%, the third largest increase among Montana counties. During that period, the county recorded a net migration of 967 residents, 53 of those international and 914 domestic.  

ALTHOUGH POPULATION growth generally slowed nationwide between 2024 and 2025, housing growth remained steady. The number of housing units increased 1% over that time, nearly matching the growth rate recorded during the previous one-year period, according to the Census Bureau.  

Among counties with at least 5,000 housing units, Gallatin County — which includes Bozeman — ranked among the 100 fastest growing counties in the country for housing between April 2020 and July 2025. The county’s housing supply grew by 19.9% during that period. 

By comparison, Flathead County added 3,538 during the same period, bringing its total to 53,411 — a 7.1% increase.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.