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City · 8,749 residents · Flathead County, Montana

Whitefish , Montana

In Whitefish, a typical home is worth $684,300 and typical rent is $1,354 a month. Compared with all of Flathead County, the typical home value is 28% higher, typical rent is 19% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 11 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $684,300

    28% above the county

    82% above Montana

    • Whitefish
    • Flathead
    • Montana

  • Typical rent

    $1,354a month

    19% above the county

    25% above Montana

    • Whitefish
    • Flathead
    • Montana

  • Typical household income

    $73,811a year

    About the same as the county

    About the same as Montana

    • Whitefish
    • Flathead
    • Montana

  • Households that own their home

    62%

    11 points below the county

    7 points below Montana

    • Whitefish
    • Flathead
    • Montana

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$870,463
1.7% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,790 a month
7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Whitefish 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

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Whitefish apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Whitefish has the largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 21 cities in Montana with more than 5,000 people: 61%.

  2. Nearby, in Evergreen, the typical home value is $340,800: 50% less than in Whitefish ($684,300).

  3. Whitefish has the 2nd highest typical home value of the 26 cities in Montana with more than 5,000 people ($684,300).

  4. Nearby, in Polson, the typical rent is $912: 33% less than in Whitefish ($1,354).

  5. The typical rent in Whitefish is $1,354 a month, 19% more than in Flathead County as a whole ($1,142).

  6. 62% of households in Whitefish own their home, against 72% in Flathead County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Whitefish

What homes there are in Whitefish, 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

The detached house is still the most common home in Whitefish, but it weighs less than in Flathead County: 64% against 72%.

Year built

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,294 a month

Flathead County: $1,913 a month

Without a mortgage

$648 a month

Flathead County: $594 a month

Owners with a mortgage

63%

Flathead County: 60%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Whitefish is $2,294 a month, more than in Flathead County ($1,913); without one, $648.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Whitefish gained value more slowly than in Flathead County: 88% since 2015–2019, against 96%.

The typical rent in Whitefish rose 34% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Flathead County (34%).

To compare: typical income in Whitefish rose 42%; the home, +88%; the rent, +34%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWhitefishFlathead CountyMontanaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.8%5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.5%1.8%3.4%
People per household 2.002.472.372.53
Drive alone 62%72%71%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate8%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 9%3%5%3%
Work from home 24%16%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Whitefish has 2.00 people, fewer than in Flathead County (2.47).

Working from home is more common in Whitefish: 24%, against 16% in Flathead County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Whitefish?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Whitefish, worth $684,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 89% of the typical household income in Whitefish, which is $73,811 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $233,706 a year. Note: at that price the loan is above the FHA limit for Flathead County ($615,250), so FHA would not insure it; the payment is only a reference.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Flathead County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Whitefish. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $23,951 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$5,453

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$671,905
Total interest
$966,714
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $11,556 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,722 a month

  • Tight

    $1,722 to $2,214 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,214 a month

    Your payment · 89%

Compared with the typical household income in Whitefish ($73,811 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$5,453
Principal & interest$4,552
Property tax$314
Home insurance$285
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$303

This loan is over the FHA limit

You'd borrow $660,349, but the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Whitefish is $615,250. You'd need a bigger down payment or a different loan.

You need at least $23,951 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

The city and its county

Whitefish and Flathead County

Whitefish 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).

Whitefish's own numbers

Typical home value
$684,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,354
Typical yearly household income
$73,811
Households that own their home
62%
Effective property tax rate
0.55%

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.

Everything about Flathead County

Buying

Buying a home in Whitefish

A typical home in Whitefish is worth $684,300: 28% above the county and 82% above Montana. With the typical household income in Whitefish ($73,811 a year), a typical home costs 9.3 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.

  • Whitefish 9.3 years
  • Flathead 7.2 years
  • Montana 5.2 years
  • United States 4.1 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.

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

Whitefish 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
  • Whitefish $684,300
  • Flathead $535,500
  • Montana $375,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Whitefish $1,354
  • Flathead $1,142
  • Montana $1,081
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Whitefish $73,811
  • Flathead $73,925
  • Montana $72,509
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Whitefish next to Flathead County and Montana
Measure Whitefish Flathead County Montana U.S.
Typical home value $684,300 $535,500 $375,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,354 $1,142 $1,081 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $73,811 $73,925 $72,509 $80,734
Households that own their home 62% 72% 69% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,735 $3,120 $2,693 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.55% 0.58% 0.72% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 61% 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 Whitefish

For a typical $684,300 home in Whitefish, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Whitefish's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $5,453a month

    Above the FHA limit for Flathead County ($615,250)
    Down payment
    $23,951
    Cash to close
    $44,480
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $303

  • Conventional, 5% down $5,328a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $34,215
    Cash to close
    $54,744
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $325

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $4,307a month

    Down payment
    $136,860
    Cash to close
    $157,389
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $4,940a month

    Down payment
    $102,645
    Cash to close
    $123,174
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is Conventional, 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.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Whitefish and for Flathead County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Whitefish

0.55%of the home’s value each year

$3,735 a year for the typical owner in Whitefish.

  • Whitefish 0.55%
  • Flathead 0.58%
  • Montana 0.72%

What Montana publishes Homestead reduced tax rate for your principal residence (Montana Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Montana

Flood risk in Flathead County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Flathead County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.6%
1,700
Of those, with NFIP insurance
13%
County Montana U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.6% 2.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 13% 16% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Whitefish

Typical rent in Whitefish is $1,354 a month: 19% above the county. In Whitefish, 61% 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.

HUD fair market rent for all of Flathead County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

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 Whitefish

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Whitefish is in ZIP code 59937.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,060: $378 more than the fair market rent for Flathead County ($1,682).

  • 59937 $2,060$2,770

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Whitefish 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 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Whitefish

HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Whitefish. These are the largest.

  • Mountain View Manor 100 E 4th St, Whitefish 59937 50 low-income homes · Run by Whitefish Housing Authority · Average payment: $446 a month · Average wait: 5 months (406) 901-2844
  • Stonecreek Apartments 819 Ashar Ave, Whitefish 59937 41 homes, 40 low-income · 1 bd: 41 · In service since 1992 · For older adults
  • Whitefish Manor 1345 E 7th St, Whitefish 59937 30 low-income homes · For older adults (406) 862-6719
  • Mountain Senior Apts 550 State Park Rd, Whitefish 59937 30 homes, 29 low-income · 1 bd: 10 · 2 bd: 20 · In service since 2004 · For older adults
  • Mountain Apartments II 430 Colorado Ave, Whitefish 59937 15 low-income homes · 1 bd: 3 · 2 bd: 9 · 3 bd: 3 · In service since 2002 · For families

See all 34 buildings in Flathead County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Whitefish

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.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Whitefish

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Whitefish or Flathead County. The ones below are statewide in Montana: they work in Whitefish the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Montana

  • Bond Advantage Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Montana

    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).

    RepayableDeferred

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Montana

    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).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Whitefish

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Whitefish, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Homeword, Inc.

    1535 Liberty Ln Ste 116A, Missoula · 109 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (406) 532-4663

  • Rural Dynamics, Inc. DBA CCCS of MT

    2 5th St N, Great Falls · 155 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (406) 403-8162

  • Montana Homeownership Network DBA Neighborworks Montana

    509 1st Ave S, Great Falls · 155 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (406) 604-4540

All counseling agencies in Montana

Help in Spanish near Whitefish

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Whitefish

HUD’s record names them for Whitefish or Flathead County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Whitefish Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (406) 901-2844

All housing agencies in Montana Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Flathead County

These cities are also in Flathead County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Flathead County Housing in Montana

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Whitefish, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Flathead County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Whitefish.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Whitefish

Short answers with the numbers for Whitefish 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 Whitefish?

The typical home value in Whitefish is $684,300, 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 Whitefish?

Typical rent in Whitefish is $1,354 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 Whitefish?

Whitefish 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 Whitefish?

The typical homeowner in Whitefish pays $3,735 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.55% of the home’s value; in Flathead County, the rate is 0.58%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Whitefish?

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.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).