In Polson, a typical home is worth $356,300 and typical rent is $912 a month. Compared with all of Lake County, typical household income is 16% lower, the typical home value is 16% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 20 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $462,750 to $573,740.
Typical rent
$1,635a month
Typical rent from Zillow, June 2026 to September 2026: from $1,722 to $1,635.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Polson is in Lake County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lake County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
55% of households in Polson own their home, against 75% in Lake County.
2
The typical household income in Polson is $53,418,16% less than in Lake County as a whole ($63,360).
3
The typical home in Polson is worth $356,300,16% less than in Lake County as a whole ($421,800).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Polson
What homes there are in Polson, 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
Polson
Lake County
Montana
United States
Kind of home: Polson and its comparisons
Measure
Polson
Lake County
Montana
United States
Detached house
60%
78%
69%
61%
Attached house
5%
2%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
16%
6%
7%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
16%
4%
10%
19%
Mobile home
4%
10%
9%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Polson, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Lake County, 8.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Polson
Lake County
Montana
United States
Year built: Polson and its comparisons
Measure
Polson
Lake County
Montana
United States
Before 1960
26%
19%
26%
26%
1960–1979
20%
24%
23%
24%
1980–1999
27%
30%
23%
25%
2000–2009
19%
17%
14%
14%
2010 or later
8%
9%
14%
11%
The typical year built in Polson is 1983, about the same as in Lake County (1986).
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–$300K21%
$300K–$500K35%
$500K–$750K19%
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Polson and its comparisons
Measure
Polson
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
21%
$300K–$500K
35%
$500K–$750K
19%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99947%
$1,000–$1,49928%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Polson and its comparisons
Measure
Polson
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
47%
$1,000–$1,499
28%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,718 a month
Lake County: $1,806 a month
Without a mortgage
$521 a month
Lake County: $497 a month
Owners with a mortgage
65%
Lake County: 52%
Owning costs about the same in Polson as in Lake County: with a mortgage, $1,718 a month; without one, $521.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Polson+90%
Lake County+67%
Montana+63%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Polson+25%
Lake County+28%
Montana+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Polson+44%
Lake County+30%
Montana+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Polson and its comparisons
Measure
Polson
Lake County
Montana
United States
Typical home value
+90%
+67%
+63%
+53%
Typical rent
+25%
+28%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
+44%
+30%
+32%
+29%
Since 2015–2019, homes in Polson gained value faster than in Lake County: 90% against 67%.
Much as in Lake County, the typical rent in Polson rose 25% since 2015–2019.
The typical household income in Polson rose 44% over that time; home values changed +90% and rent +25%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Polson and its comparisons
Measure
Polson
Lake County
Montana
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
4.7%
5.3%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.1%
0.9%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
2.9%
1.8%
3.4%
People per household
2.24
2.56
2.37
2.53
Drive alone
82%
69%
71%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
12%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
4%
5%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
13%
13%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
On average, a household in Polson has 2.24 people, fewer than in Lake County (2.56).
The car rules in Polson: 82% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Polson?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Polson, worth $356,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 64% of the typical household income in Polson, which is $53,418 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $122,576 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lake 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 Polson. 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 $12,471 (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
$2,860
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$349,846
Total interest
$503,346
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $6,017 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,246 a month
Tight
$1,246 to $1,603 a month
Hard
more than $1,603 a month
Your payment · 64%
Compared with the typical household income in Polson ($53,418 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$2,370
Property tax
$184
Home insurance
$149
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$158
You need at least $12,471 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 $2,860; principal and interest $2,370.
The city and its county
Polson and Lake County
Polson is in Lake 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).
Polson
Map of Lake County, Montana, with Polson marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Polson
Lake County
Other cities with a page
Polson's own numbers
Typical home value
$356,300
Typical monthly rent
$912
Typical yearly household income
$53,418
Households that own their home
55%
Effective property tax rate
0.62%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Lake County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,448
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+77%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.2%
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 Lake County.
A typical home in Polson is worth $356,300: 16% below the county and 5% below Montana. With the typical household income in Polson ($53,418 a year), a typical home costs 6.7 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.
Polson6.7 years
Lake6.7 years
Montana5.2 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Lake County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lake County rose 123% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lake County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Lake County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +1.9% +1.9% 2016
2017: +5.1% +5.1% 2017
2018: +6.0% +6.0% 2018
2019: +5.8% +5.8% 2019
2020: +5.1% +5.1% 2020
2021: +19.2% +19.2% 2021
2022: +24.7% +24.7% 2022
2023: +5.6% +5.6% 2023
2024: +8.6% +8.6% 2024
2025: +3.5% +3.5% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Lake County, Montana and the United States
Period
County
Montana
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+3.5%
+2.3%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+77%
+62%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+123%
+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
Polson next to Lake 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
Polson$356,300
Lake$421,800
Montana$375,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Polson$912
Lake$901
Montana$1,081
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Polson$53,418
Lake$63,360
Montana$72,509
United States$80,734
See the full table
Polson next to Lake County and Montana
Measure
Polson
Lake County
Montana
U.S.
Typical home value
$356,300 ▼16% below the county
$421,800
$375,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$912
$901
$1,081
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$53,418 ▼16% below the county
$63,360
$72,509
$80,734
Households that own their home
55% ▼20 points below the county
75%
69%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,224 ▼13% below the county
$2,561
$2,693
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.62% ▲0.01 points above the county
0.61%
0.72%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
50% ▲9 points above the county
41%
45%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lake 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 Polson
For a typical $356,300 home in Polson, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Polson's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,860a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$12,471
Cash to close
$23,160
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $158
Conventional, 5% down$2,795a month
Down payment
$17,815
Cash to close
$28,504
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $169
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,264a month
Down payment
$71,260
Cash to close
$81,949
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,593a month
Down payment
$53,445
Cash to close
$64,134
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Polson
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,860
$12,471
$349,847
7.18%
FHA MIP · $158
$23,160
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,795
$17,815
$338,485
7.18%
PMI · $169
$28,504
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,264
$71,260
$285,040
7.18%
None
$81,949
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,593
$53,445
$302,855
8.18%
None
$64,134
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 Polson is $912 a month: about the same as the county. In Polson, 50% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lake County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,448 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $27.85 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 Lake County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,116
$21.46
$44,640
1 bedroom
$1,123
$21.60
$44,920
2 bedrooms
$1,448
$27.85
$57,920
3 bedrooms
$1,821
$35.02
$72,840
4 bedrooms
$2,046
$39.35
$81,840
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 Polson
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Polson is in ZIP code 59860.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,460: $12 more than the fair market rent for Lake County ($1,448).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Polson, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
59860
$1,130
$1,130
$1,460
$1,840
$2,060
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
59860 $1,460$1,840
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Polson 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)
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 Lake 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 Polson or Lake County. The ones below are statewide in Montana: they work in Polson 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).
No legal help resource on our list is for Polson or Lake 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 Polson and all of Lake 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 Polson?
The typical home value in Polson is $356,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lake County it is $421,800.
How much does it cost to rent in Polson?
Typical rent in Polson is $912 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lake County is $1,448.
What is the FHA loan limit in Polson?
Polson uses the FHA limit for all of Lake County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Polson?
The typical homeowner in Polson pays $2,224 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.62% of the home’s value; in Lake County, the rate is 0.61%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Polson?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lake County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
