In Columbia Falls, a typical home is worth $384,400 and typical rent is $1,016 a month. Compared with all of Flathead County, the typical home value is 28% lower, typical rent is 11% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 16 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $485,364 to $607,467.
Typical rent
$1,795a month
Typical rent from Zillow, June 2026 to September 2026: from $1,721 to $1,795.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Columbia Falls is in Flathead County. The FHA loan limit ($615,250 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Flathead County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
56% of households in Columbia Falls own their home, against 72% in Flathead County.
2
The typical home in Columbia Falls is worth $384,400,28% less than in Flathead County as a whole ($535,500).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Columbia Falls
What homes there are in Columbia Falls, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Columbia Falls
Flathead County
Montana
United States
Kind of home: Columbia Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia Falls
Flathead County
Montana
United States
Detached house
60%
72%
69%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
5%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
17%
6%
7%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
9%
10%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
8%
9%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Columbia Falls, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Flathead County, 7.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Columbia Falls
Flathead County
Montana
United States
Year built: Columbia Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia Falls
Flathead County
Montana
United States
Before 1960
25%
17%
26%
26%
1960–1979
26%
20%
23%
24%
1980–1999
27%
28%
23%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
18%
14%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
18%
14%
11%
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500K57%
$500K–$750K18%
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Columbia Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia Falls
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
57%
$500K–$750K
18%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49936%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Columbia Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia Falls
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
36%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,661 a month
Flathead County: $1,913 a month
Without a mortgage
$462 a month
Flathead County: $594 a month
Owners with a mortgage
73%
Flathead County: 60%
In Columbia Falls, 73% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,661 a month, against $1,913 in Flathead County. Without one it drops to $462.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Columbia Falls+96%
Flathead County+96%
Montana+63%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Columbia FallsNo clear change
Flathead County+34%
Montana+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Columbia Falls+62%
Flathead County+32%
Montana+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Columbia Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia Falls
Flathead County
Montana
United States
Typical home value
+96%
+96%
+63%
+53%
Typical rent
No clear change
+34%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
+62%
+32%
+32%
+29%
The typical home value in Columbia Falls rose 96% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Flathead County (96%).
Rent in Columbia Falls moved so little since 2015–2019 that the Census cannot say whether it rose or fell.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Columbia Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Columbia Falls
Flathead County
Montana
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
7.8%
5.3%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.9%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
2.5%
1.8%
3.4%
People per household
2.48
2.47
2.37
2.53
Drive alone
79%
72%
71%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
8%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
3%
5%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
16%
13%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
A household in Columbia Falls has 2.48 people on average, about the same as in Flathead County (2.47).
To get to work, 79% of workers in Columbia Falls drive alone; in Flathead County, 72%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Columbia Falls?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Columbia Falls, worth $384,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 49% of the typical household income in Columbia Falls, which is $75,766 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $133,754 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Flathead County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Columbia Falls. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $13,454 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$3,121
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$377,438
Total interest
$543,044
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $6,492 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,768 a month
Tight
$1,768 to $2,273 a month
Hard
more than $2,273 a month
Your payment · 49%
Compared with the typical household income in Columbia Falls ($75,766 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$2,557
Property tax
$234
Home insurance
$160
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$170
You need at least $13,454 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $3,121; principal and interest $2,557.
The city and its county
Columbia Falls and Flathead County
Columbia Falls is in Flathead County, Montana. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Columbia Falls
Map of Flathead County, Montana, with Columbia Falls marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Columbia Falls
Flathead County
Other cities with a page
Columbia Falls's own numbers
Typical home value
$384,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,016
Typical yearly household income
$75,766
Households that own their home
56%
Effective property tax rate
0.73%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Flathead County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$615,250
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,682
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+77%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.6%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Flathead County.
A typical home in Columbia Falls is worth $384,400: 28% below the county and 2% above Montana. With the typical household income in Columbia Falls ($75,766 a year), a typical home costs 5.1 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Columbia Falls5.1 years
Flathead7.2 years
Montana5.2 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Flathead County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Flathead County rose 145% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Flathead County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Flathead County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +4.9% +4.9% 2016
2017: +9.3% +9.3% 2017
2018: +7.3% +7.3% 2018
2019: +7.3% +7.3% 2019
2020: +4.9% +4.9% 2020
2021: +22.0% +22.0% 2021
2022: +28.2% +28.2% 2022
2023: +5.7% +5.7% 2023
2024: +5.0% +5.0% 2024
2025: +2.0% +2.0% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Flathead County, Montana and the United States
Period
County
Montana
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+2.0%
+2.3%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+77%
+62%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+145%
+105%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Columbia Falls next to Flathead County, Montana and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Columbia Falls$384,400
Flathead$535,500
Montana$375,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Columbia Falls$1,016
Flathead$1,142
Montana$1,081
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Columbia Falls$75,766
Flathead$73,925
Montana$72,509
United States$80,734
See the full table
Columbia Falls next to Flathead County and Montana
Measure
Columbia Falls
Flathead County
Montana
U.S.
Typical home value
$384,400 ▼28% below the county
$535,500
$375,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,016 ▼11% below the county
$1,142
$1,081
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$75,766 ▲2% above the county
$73,925
$72,509
$80,734
Households that own their home
56% ▼16 points below the county
72%
69%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,814 ▼10% below the county
$3,120
$2,693
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.73% ▲0.15 points above the county
0.58%
0.72%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
48% ▼3 points below the county
51%
45%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Flathead County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Columbia Falls
For a typical $384,400 home in Columbia Falls, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Columbia Falls's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$3,121a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$13,454
Cash to close
$24,986
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $170
Conventional, 5% down$3,050a month
Down payment
$19,220
Cash to close
$30,752
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $183
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,477a month
Down payment
$76,880
Cash to close
$88,412
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,833a month
Down payment
$57,660
Cash to close
$69,192
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Columbia Falls
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$3,121
$13,454
$377,438
7.18%
FHA MIP · $170
$24,986
580
Conventional, 5% down
$3,050
$19,220
$365,180
7.18%
PMI · $183
$30,752
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,477
$76,880
$307,520
7.18%
None
$88,412
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,833
$57,660
$326,740
8.18%
None
$69,192
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Columbia Falls is $1,016 a month: 11% below the county. In Columbia Falls, 48% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Flathead County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,682 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $32.35 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Flathead County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,277
$24.56
$51,080
1 bedroom
$1,286
$24.73
$51,440
2 bedrooms
$1,682
$32.35
$67,280
3 bedrooms
$2,263
$43.52
$90,520
4 bedrooms
$2,626
$50.50
$105,040
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Columbia Falls
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Columbia Falls is in ZIP code 59912.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,580: $102 less than the fair market rent for Flathead County ($1,682).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Columbia Falls, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
59912
$1,200
$1,210
$1,580
$2,130
$2,560
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
59912 $1,580$2,130
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Columbia Falls when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Columbia Falls. These are the largest.
Columbia Villa Apartments700 7th St W, Columbia Falls 5991236 low-income homes · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 2000 · For families(406) 252-3773
Teakettle Vista Apartments II1160 12th Ave W, Columbia Falls 5991224 low-income homes · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 4 · In service since 2004 · For older adults
Teakettle Vista Apartments1220 12th Ave W, Columbia Falls 5991220 homes, 19 low-income · 1 bd: 19 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2000 · For older adults
Columbia Arms810 5th St W, Columbia Falls 5991212 homes, 11 low-income · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 4 · In service since 1991 · For older adults
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Flathead County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Columbia Falls or Flathead County. The ones below are statewide in Montana: they work in Columbia Falls the same as in the rest of the state.
Montana Board of Housing loan for up to 5% of the price (maximum $15,000) for the down payment, over 15 years with low payments and the same rate as the bond program's first mortgage; there is also a Plus version, 0% and deferred, for lower incomes.Offered by Montana Board of Housing (Montana Department of Commerce).
Montana Board of Housing certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, up to $2,000 a year, while you live in the home; for first-time buyers, with a loan that is not from another Board program.Offered by Montana Board of Housing (Montana Department of Commerce).
The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Columbia Falls, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.
HI
Homeword, Inc.
1535 Liberty Ln Ste 116A, Missoula · 104 miles away
No legal help resource on our list is for Columbia Falls or Flathead County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Columbia Falls and all of Flathead County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Columbia Falls?
The typical home value in Columbia Falls is $384,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Flathead County it is $535,500.
How much does it cost to rent in Columbia Falls?
Typical rent in Columbia Falls is $1,016 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Flathead County is $1,682.
What is the FHA loan limit in Columbia Falls?
Columbia Falls uses the FHA limit for all of Flathead County (2026): $615,250 for a one-unit home and $1,183,200 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Columbia Falls?
The typical homeowner in Columbia Falls pays $2,814 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.73% of the home’s value; in Flathead County, the rate is 0.58%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Columbia Falls?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Flathead County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
