Families are important to the Treasure State, and HomeSnacks is here to tell you just how important. You can’t have strong families without great infrastructure, so we set out to determine where Montana’s strongest family oriented places are located. And lucky for you, this quest led us to create a list of Montana’s most family friendly places for 2026.
How did we determine Montana’s most family friendly places? We consulted the US Census on places in Big Sky Country with more than 2,000 residents. We looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We ended up with 30 family friendly Montana places.
We discovered that Montana is the fourth largest state in the United States, but the eighth least populated. We think that’s all the more reason to have your family live in one of Montana’s family friendly places: there’s plenty of mountain ranges and prairies for your kids to run, and there’s plenty of opportunity to make a difference. We also determined that there are places in Montana for every type of family. There are hip mommy and daddy towns like Bozeman, cool cowboy/cowgirl towns like Hamilton, and towns like Whitefish for families that like to ski and snowboard.
Speaking of family friendly amenities, in Montana, the big sky’s the limit. You can have your family camping in the Kootenai National Forest just outside of Libby and swimming on the Bigfork side of Flathead Lake all in the same weekend. That’s a Montana family win!
To learn more about our methodology and to see why Montana’s top ten best places to raise a family are truly the best of the best, read on.
$87,865 median income · 34.0% households with kids
$61,134 median income · 21.5% households with kids
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$60,096 median income · 29.9% households with kids
$73,811 median income · 20.4% households with kids
Located in
Flathead County, Montana
Whitefish is a city in Flathead County, Montana, United States. The population was 6,357 at the 2010 census. It is home to a ski resort on Big Mountain called Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$90,310 median income · 32.0% households with kids
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$63,415 median income · 26.7% households with kids
Located in
Flathead County, Montana
Kalispell is a city in, and the county seat of Flathead County, Montana, United States. The 2015 Census estimates put Kalispell’s population at 22,052. The Kalispell Micropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 93,068 and it is the largest city and commercial center of northwest Montana. The name Kalispell is a Salish word meaning “flat land above the lake”. Kalispell is also the gateway to Glacier National Park.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$55,750 median income · 9.9% households with kids
$60,423 median income · 27.2% households with kids
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$82,500 median income · 33.9% households with kids
$75,766 median income · 35.5% households with kids
Columbia Falls is a city in Flathead County, Montana, United States. The population was 4,710 at the 2010 census
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Montana’s statewide median.
Montana statewide median: $72,509
Montana statewide median: $466,917
On the map
Where Montana’s most family-friendly cities are
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Montana anyways?
To give you the places in Montana that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Montana, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 2,000 people. For Montana, that meant a total of 30 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Montana.
The full plate
Best Places For Families In Montana
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | % Households w/ Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manhattan | 2,288 | $87,865 | $659,491 | 34.0% |
| 2 | Dillon | 4,085 | $61,134 | $391,900 | 21.5% |
| 3 | Stevensville | 2,130 | $60,096 | $614,349 | 29.9% |
| 4 | Whitefish | 8,749 | $73,811 | $864,157 | 20.4% |
| 5 | Glasgow | 3,190 | $90,310 | $156,841 | 32.0% |
| 6 | Kalispell | 28,504 | $63,415 | $552,745 | 26.7% |
| 7 | Red Lodge | 2,502 | $55,750 | $523,072 | 9.9% |
| 8 | Hardin | 3,742 | $60,423 | $213,956 | 27.2% |
| 9 | Colstrip | 2,101 | $82,500 | $226,810 | 33.9% |
| 10 | Columbia Falls | 5,615 | $75,766 | $599,165 | 35.5% |
| 11 | Helena | 33,639 | $71,036 | $474,029 | 20.0% |
| 12 | Columbus | 2,003 | $65,250 | $455,987 | 24.1% |
| 13 | Conrad | 2,618 | $47,857 | $252,616 | 26.6% |
| 14 | Belgrade | 11,872 | $97,328 | $548,236 | 31.9% |
| 15 | Bozeman | 56,114 | $85,747 | $724,089 | 17.8% |
| 16 | Glendive | 4,810 | $72,670 | $192,739 | 18.3% |
| 17 | Deer Lodge | 3,021 | $60,302 | $285,278 | 15.4% |
| 18 | Wolf Point | 2,602 | $52,868 | $141,602 | 31.6% |
| 19 | Livingston | 8,780 | $65,861 | $531,831 | 23.8% |
| 20 | Missoula | 76,514 | $70,392 | $564,622 | 21.3% |
| 21 | Libby | 3,042 | $34,143 | $346,685 | 17.9% |
| 22 | Hamilton | 5,101 | $49,204 | $526,562 | 17.0% |
| 23 | Cut Bank | 3,028 | $49,432 | $178,057 | 37.0% |
| 24 | Havre | 9,258 | $50,329 | $232,554 | 27.5% |
| 25 | Billings | 119,434 | $73,712 | $392,209 | 26.8% |
| 26 | Great Falls | 60,329 | $63,373 | $334,708 | 25.2% |
| 27 | Polson | 5,428 | $53,418 | $560,671 | 18.4% |
| 28 | Sidney | 6,171 | $62,538 | $269,780 | 25.1% |
| 29 | Laurel | 7,215 | $68,474 | $374,157 | 29.0% |
| 30 | Lewistown | 6,087 | $48,750 | $296,569 | 24.2% |
Source: U.S. Census data via Saturday Night Science. 30 Montana cities with more than 2,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Montana
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Montana ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Montana are Manhattan, Dillon, Stevensville, Whitefish, Glasgow, Kalispell, Red Lodge, Hardin, Colstrip, and Columbia Falls. Not sold on Montana? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Places For Families In Montana FAQs
What is the best place to raise a family in Montana?
Manhattan is the best place to raise a family in Montana for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Dillon and Stevensville round out the top three.
What are the best places for families in Montana?
The best Montana places to raise a family are Manhattan, Dillon, Stevensville, Whitefish, Glasgow, Kalispell, Red Lodge, Hardin, Colstrip, and Columbia Falls. We ranked all 30 cities with more than 2,000 residents.
How do you rank family-friendly cities?
Family-friendliness blends low crime, good schools, proximity to a major city, the share of households with kids, and nearby amenities. The city that balances all of it best in Montana is Manhattan.
Is Manhattan affordable for families?
The median home in Manhattan costs $659,491 against a median household income of $87,865. Statewide, the median home runs $466,917, so check the gap before you pack the minivan.
What is the toughest place to raise a family in Montana?
Lewistown lands at the bottom of the family ranking for Montana. Families make it work everywhere, but the crime, school, and income numbers stack against it there.
