TownTapestry
Sign inJoin
MTMontana rankings

Top vacation-home towns in Montana

Ranked by the share of all homes held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use: lake houses, ski condos and summer cottages. 43 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

1 Red Lodge 23.8% Home value $380,700 Bigfork 2 Bigfork 20.2% Home value $674,600 3 Whitefish 15.3% Home value $684,300
#TownSeasonal homesHome valuePopulation
1 Red Lodge2,502 people 23.8% $380,700 2,502
2 Bigfork Bigfork5,565 people 20.2% $674,600 5,565
3 Whitefish8,749 people 15.3% $684,300 8,749
4 Wolf Point2,602 people 11.3% $118,600 2,602
5 Map of Polson Polson5,428 people 11.2% $356,300 5,428
6 Map of Columbia Falls Columbia Falls5,615 people 9.4% $384,400 5,615
7 Anaconda-Deer Lodge County9,597 people 8.5% $231,700 9,597
8 Sidney6,171 people 7.6% $236,900 6,171
9 Helena Valley Northeast4,659 people 6.9% $576,700 4,659
10 Map of Four Corners Four Corners5,791 people 5.8% $648,400 5,791
11 Map of Shelby Shelby3,216 people 5.4% $232,700 3,216
12 Deer Lodge Deer Lodge3,021 people 3.5% $247,600 3,021
13 Map of Lewistown Lewistown6,087 people 2.8% $198,400 6,087
14 Dillon4,085 people 2.7% $256,700 4,085
15 Map of Glendive Glendive4,810 people 2.5% $182,600 4,810
16 Map of Kalispell Kalispell28,504 people 2.3% $428,000 28,504
17 Map of Butte-Silver Bow Butte-Silver Bow35,785 people 2.2% $255,200 35,785
18 Map of Miles City Miles City8,407 people 2.2% $200,200 8,407
19 Map of Bozeman Bozeman56,114 people 1.9% $687,900 56,114
20 Map of Cut Bank Cut Bank3,028 people 1.9% $164,100 3,028
21 Map of Helena Valley Southeast Helena Valley Southeast9,108 people 1.8% $331,500 9,108
22 Map of Libby Libby3,042 people 1.8% $257,400 3,042
23 Map of Missoula Missoula76,514 people 1.4% $473,100 76,514
24 Map of Helena Helena33,639 people 1.4% $387,300 33,639
25 Map of Helena Valley West Central Helena Valley West Central8,056 people 1.2% $367,200 8,056
26 Great Falls Great Falls60,329 people 1% $257,000 60,329
27 Conrad2,618 people 1% $188,900 2,618
28 Map of Evergreen Evergreen9,611 people 0.8% $340,800 9,611
29 Billings119,434 people 0.7% $343,400 119,434
30 Map of North Browning North Browning3,144 people 0.7% $187,500 3,144
31 Livingston Livingston8,780 people 0.6% $392,400 8,780
32 Map of Orchard Homes Orchard Homes5,588 people 0.5% $553,700 5,588
33 Belgrade11,872 people 0% $535,200 11,872
34 Map of Havre Havre9,258 people 0% $211,700 9,258
35 Laurel Laurel7,215 people 0% $235,100 7,215
36 Map of Lockwood Lockwood7,181 people 0% $235,400 7,181
37 Map of Helena Valley Northwest Helena Valley Northwest5,183 people 0% $404,200 5,183
38 Hamilton Hamilton5,101 people 0% $310,000 5,101
39 Lolo Lolo4,314 people 0% $431,800 4,314
40 Malmstrom AFB Malmstrom AFB4,302 people 0% — 4,302
41 Hardin3,742 people 0% $147,100 3,742
42 Glasgow3,190 people 0% $195,700 3,190
43 Map of Montana City Montana City3,092 people 0% $571,200 3,092

How this ranking works

We rank every town by the share of all homes held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use: lake houses, ski condos and summer cottages. The town with the highest figure ranks #1. For comparison, the figure for Montana as a whole is 6.8%.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY All of the U.S.