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Polson vs Hamilton

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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Polson, MTKnown for its schoolsMontana · 5,428 people
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Hamilton, MTA history townMontana · 5,101 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.

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

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

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

Left end = #1 in Montana. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Polson’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.

Polson$3,330/mo
Typical home $579K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.62% · or rent about $912/mo · Housing →
Hamilton$3,130/mo
Typical home $533K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74% · or rent about $947/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
PolsonHamilton
Snow a year34″17″
January low20°F19°F
July high83°F85°F
Growing season (days)134d115d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)69th62nd
Outdoors & history
PolsonHamilton
Trails8 mi8 mi
Conserved land11%16.8%
Settled1910—
National Register places128
Archive photos618
Famous people born here413
Community
PolsonHamilton
Library hours a week46 hrs53 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.

PolsonMTHamiltonMT
Polson ↔ Hamilton99 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.

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

Polson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Polson’s Town Square.

Hamilton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Hamilton’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Polson

K
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Kerr463 people · $558K homes
J
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Jette218 people · $580K homes

Towns like Polson

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Livingston8,780 people · $392K homes
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Columbia Falls5,615 people · $384K homes
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Sidney6,171 people · $237K homes
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Miles City8,407 people · $200K homes

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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