What are the schools like in Columbia Falls, MT?

Columbia Falls is served primarily by Columbia Falls Elem. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.6:1.

What is the median household income in Columbia Falls?

The median household income in Columbia Falls, MT is $64,500 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.

What is the weather like in Columbia Falls, MT?

Columbia Falls has an average high temperature of 31.0°F in January and 82.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 16.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 54.4 inches.

Columbia Falls, MT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Columbia Falls, MT affordable or expensive?

Columbia Falls's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Columbia Falls is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $287,700 and the median rent is $949 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Columbia Falls, MT?

Columbia Falls has a violent crime rate of 274.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1593.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Columbia Falls, MT a Good Place to Live?

Columbia Falls is a small town of 5,435 in Montana, with a median household income of $64,500 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Columbia Falls stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Columbia Falls is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Columbia Falls city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.0

Columbia Falls's overall cost of living index is 95.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Columbia Falls costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Columbia Falls, MT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$287,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$949	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$64,500	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Columbia Falls's violent crime rate is 274.1 per 100,000 residents — 28% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

274.1 /100k

Property Crime

1593.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Columbia Falls is served primarily by Columbia Falls Elem. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Columbia Falls, MT	National Avg
School District	Columbia Falls Elem	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Columbia Falls sees average highs of 31.0°F in January and 82.2°F in July, with 16.8 inches of annual precipitation and 54.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Columbia Falls, MT
Average High — January	31.0°F
Average High — July	82.2°F
Annual Precipitation	16.8"
Annual Snowfall	54.4"

Demographics

Metric	Columbia Falls, MT	National Avg
Population	5,435	—
Median Age	37.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.4%	22.2%
65 and over	10.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hungry Horse, MT 6 mi Helena Flats, MT 7 mi Martin City, MT 8 mi Coram, MT 8 mi Whitefish, MT 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Columbia Falls

Columbia Falls, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

59912

Columbia Falls vs Other Cities

Columbia Falls, MT vs Hungry Horse, MT Columbia Falls, MT vs Helena Flats, MT Columbia Falls, MT vs Martin City, MT Columbia Falls, MT vs Coram, MT Columbia Falls, MT vs Whitefish, MT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbia Falls, MT affordable or expensive?

Columbia Falls's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Columbia Falls roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $287,700 and median rent is $949/month.

What is the crime rate in Columbia Falls, MT?

Columbia Falls's violent crime rate is 274.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1593.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Columbia Falls?

Public schools in Columbia Falls are operated by Columbia Falls Elem. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 24.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Columbia Falls, MT a good place to live?

Columbia Falls, MT has a population of 5,435, a median household income of $64,500, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Columbia Falls?

Columbia Falls averages 31.0°F in January and 82.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 16.8 inches with about 54.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Columbia Falls?

Columbia Falls, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59912.

What is the population of Columbia Falls?

The population of Columbia Falls, Montana is 5,435 with a median age of 37.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Columbia Falls?

Key numbers for living in Columbia Falls: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $287,700, median household income $64,500, crime index 74 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Columbia Falls side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.