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Hamilton vs Polson

99 miles apart. The biggest differences: average commute (8 min in Hamilton) and growth since 2010 (+7.5 pts in Polson).

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Hamilton, MTA history townMontana · 5,101 people
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Polson, MTKnown for its schoolsMontana · 5,428 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

HamiltonA history town
History28 historic places28 places on the National Register Schools#20 for schools in MTof 40 towns Work5,666 jobsbased in Hamilton, a regional job hub All about Hamilton →
PolsonKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 32%of MT districts SafetySafer than 4%of U.S. towns we grade Outdoors#10 most trails in MT7.6 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves All about Polson →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Average commute8 min
Hamilton has the shorter commute
Polson 20 minHamilton 12 min
Growth since 2010+7.5 pts
Polson has grown faster since 2010
Polson +14.7%Hamilton +7.2%
Street grid+57%
Hamilton has the more walkable street grid
Hamilton 94.1Polson 60.1
Seasonal homes+11.2 pts
Polson has more second homes
Polson 11.2%Hamilton 0%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Hamilton places higher on 16 of 22 MT lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Montana ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
DHamiltonSafer than 14% of U.S. towns D−PolsonSafer than 4% of U.S. towns
Schools
B+HamiltonBetter than 65% of districts in the state CPolsonBetter than 32% of districts in the state
Health
B+HamiltonHealthier than 71% of U.S. towns BPolsonHealthier than 61% of U.S. towns
16Hamilton
5Polson

Lists won, of 22 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Shortest commuteGetting around · 43 towns #6#32 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 40 towns #3#21 Lowest depressionHealth · 42 towns #4#18 Fastest growingGrowth · 43 towns #24#11 Best schoolsSchools · 40 towns #20#32 SafestSafety · 26 towns #18#25 Most walkableOutdoors · 43 towns #14#25 Most new homesHousing · 27 towns #7#13

Left end = #1 in Montana. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Hamilton’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $210 more a month in Polson

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Hamilton$3,130/mo
Typical home $533K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74% · or rent about $947/mo · Housing →
Polson$3,330/mo
Typical home $579K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.62% · or rent about $912/mo · Housing →

The difference: $210 a month, about $2,500 a year, between Polson and Hamilton.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
HamiltonPolson
Snow a year17″34″
January low19°F20°F
July high85°F83°F
Growing season (days)115d134d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)62nd69th
Outdoors & history
HamiltonPolson
Trails8 mi8 mi
Conserved land16.8%11%
National Register places281
Archive photos186
Famous people born here134
Community
HamiltonPolson
Library hours a week53 hrs46 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

99 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

HamiltonMTPolsonMT
Hamilton ↔ Polson99 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

HamiltonPolson
People
Population 5,101Lowest 5,428Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +7.2%Lowest MT: +9.6% +14.7%Highest MT: +9.6%
Median age 51.8±6.5Highest 28% above MT 43±8Lowest 6% above MT
Hamilton and Polson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 13.9%±4.5Lowest MT: 21% 20.1%±4.3Highest MT: 21%
Polson and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 34.3%±7.4Highest MT: 20.1% 24.8%±3.9Lowest MT: 20.1%
Hamilton and Polson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 30.8%Highest MT: 35.2% 29.6%Lowest MT: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.1%±2.1Lowest MT: 5.2% 3.9%±1.9Highest MT: 5.2%
Polson and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $49,204±$9kLowest 32% below MT $53,418±$5kHighest 26% below MT
Polson and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $310,000±$52kLowest 18% below MT $356,300±$54kHighest 5% below MT
Polson and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $947±$113Highest 12% below MT $912±$57Lowest 16% below MT
Hamilton and Polson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,304Highest 14% below MT $2,224Lowest 17% below MT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 41.5%±13.8Lowest MT: 44.8% 49.9%±8Highest MT: 44.8%
Polson and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 8.8%Lowest MT: 11.5% 17.5%Highest MT: 11.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 55.7%Highest MT: 69.2% 54.6%Lowest MT: 69.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1976Lowest 5 yrs older than MT 1983Highest 2 yrs newer than MT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 12 minLowest 36% below MT 20 minHighest 3% above MT
Work from home 3.4%±2.9Lowest MT: 12.5% 4.9%±2.7Highest MT: 12.5%
Polson and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 45.3%Highest 42.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 2.8 miLowest 5.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.95Highest 2.02Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Missoula (9%)Missoula (7%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in PolsonFew work in Hamilton
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 16.8%Highest 11%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 7.7 miHighest 7.6 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 3.0 miHighest 1.6 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 9Highest 8Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 94.1Highest 60.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 40 in MT#32 of 40 in MT
School district Hamilton K-12 SchoolsPolson Elem · Polson H S
High school in town Hamilton High SchoolPolson High School
Students per teacherat that high school 15.2Highest 13.6Lowest
Montana average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Hamilton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Hamilton’s Town Square.

Polson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Polson’s Town Square.

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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