What are the schools like in Whitefish, MT?

Whitefish is served primarily by Olney-Bissell Elem. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.1:1.

What is the median household income in Whitefish?

The median household income in Whitefish, MT is $69,919 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.5%.

What is the weather like in Whitefish, MT?

Whitefish has an average high temperature of 29.0°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 19.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 63.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Whitefish, MT affordable or expensive?

Whitefish's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Whitefish is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $610,000 and the median rent is $1,254 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Whitefish, MT?

Whitefish has a violent crime rate of 124.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1088.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Whitefish, MT a Good Place to Live?

Whitefish is a small town of 8,098 in Montana, with a median household income of $69,919 and a 2.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Whitefish stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Whitefish is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Whitefish 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: 100.9

Whitefish's overall cost of living index is 100.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Whitefish costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Whitefish, MT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$610,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,254	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$69,919	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Whitefish's violent crime rate is 124.4 per 100,000 residents — 67% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

124.4 /100k

Property Crime

1088.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Whitefish is served primarily by Olney-Bissell Elem. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Whitefish, MT	National Avg
School District	Olney-Bissell Elem	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	55.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Whitefish sees average highs of 29.0°F in January and 80.6°F in July, with 19.9 inches of annual precipitation and 63.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Whitefish, MT
Average High — January	29.0°F
Average High — July	80.6°F
Annual Precipitation	19.9"
Annual Snowfall	63.1"

Demographics

Metric	Whitefish, MT	National Avg
Population	8,098	—
Median Age	43.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	17.0%	22.2%
65 and over	22.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Columbia Falls, MT 10 mi Olney, MT 11 mi Rhodes, MT 13 mi Helena Flats, MT 14 mi Hungry Horse, MT 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Whitefish

Whitefish, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

59937

Whitefish vs Other Cities

Whitefish, MT vs Columbia Falls, MT Whitefish, MT vs Olney, MT Whitefish, MT vs Rhodes, MT Whitefish, MT vs Helena Flats, MT Whitefish, MT vs Hungry Horse, MT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Whitefish, MT affordable or expensive?

Whitefish's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Whitefish roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $610,000 and median rent is $1,254/month.

What is the crime rate in Whitefish, MT?

Whitefish's violent crime rate is 124.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1088.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Whitefish?

Public schools in Whitefish are operated by Olney-Bissell Elem. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.1:1. 55.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Whitefish, MT a good place to live?

Whitefish, MT has a population of 8,098, a median household income of $69,919, and an unemployment rate of 2.5%. 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 Whitefish?

Whitefish averages 29.0°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 19.9 inches with about 63.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Whitefish?

Whitefish, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59937.

What is the population of Whitefish?

The population of Whitefish, Montana is 8,098 with a median age of 43.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Whitefish?

Key numbers for living in Whitefish: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $610,000, median household income $69,919, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Whitefish side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.