Fastest growing cities in Montana
Population growth in the United States is slowing. From 2010 to 2020, the population grew by just 7.4%—the lowest rate since the 1930s. Declining birth rates, an aging population, and fewer immigrants are all contributing to historically slow growth rates. But depending on where you are in the country, it might not always feel that way.
In every state, there were cities that experienced cumulative population gains over the course of the decade. But when you look at the growth rates from year to year, cities across the country are following a similar trajectory. Small, medium, and large cities all saw declining growth since 2016. Some of the largest cities—those with populations over 1 million—have actually seen a decrease in overall population, not just slower population growth.
Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing cities in Montana using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cities are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020.
Many cities experienced their most significant growth within the first few years of the decade. Experts postulate that the housing bubble burst in tandem with economic hardships of the Great Recession pushed many people of home-buying age to the cities. A decade later, in the wake of the pandemic, the U.S. is in a similar position.
#20. Frenchtown
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +796
--- #3,767 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 68.5%
--- #44 among cities in Montana, #1,476 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,958
--- #54 largest city in Montana, #11,010 largest city nationwide
#19. Livingston
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +946
--- #3,419 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 13.3%
--- #135 among cities in Montana, #7,513 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,040
--- #15 largest city in Montana, #4,806 largest city nationwide
#18. King Arthur Park
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +986
--- #3,332 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 175.1%
--- #13 among cities in Montana, #406 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,549
--- #73 largest city in Montana, #12,300 largest city nationwide
#17. Lakeside
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,097
--- #3,132 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 68.2%
--- #45 among cities in Montana, #1,491 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,705
--- #41 largest city in Montana, #9,313 largest city nationwide
#16. Helena Valley Northeast
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,164
--- #3,023 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 43.9%
--- #62 among cities in Montana, #2,564 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,813
--- #33 largest city in Montana, #7,720 largest city nationwide
#15. Helena Valley Southeast
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,245
--- #2,904 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 15.7%
--- #123 among cities in Montana, #6,739 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,168
--- #11 largest city in Montana, #4,355 largest city nationwide
#14. Sidney
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,294
--- #2,834 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 25.6%
--- #87 among cities in Montana, #4,478 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,346
--- #19 largest city in Montana, #5,622 largest city nationwide
#13. Lolo
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,318
--- #2,795 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 42.8%
--- #64 among cities in Montana, #2,653 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,399
--- #29 largest city in Montana, #7,100 largest city nationwide
#12. Whitefish
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,399
--- #2,695 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 22.0%
--- #97 among cities in Montana, #5,171 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,751
--- #16 largest city in Montana, #4,918 largest city nationwide
#11. Helena Valley Northwest
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,439
--- #2,657 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 44.1%
--- #61 among cities in Montana, #2,551 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,705
--- #27 largest city in Montana, #6,818 largest city nationwide
#10. Butte-Silver Bow (balance)
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,633
--- #2,452 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.0%
--- #174 among cities in Montana, #11,598 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 34,494
--- #5 largest city in Montana, #1,291 largest city nationwide
#9. Big Sky
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,063
--- #2,097 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 135.0%
--- #16 among cities in Montana, #578 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,591
--- #34 largest city in Montana, #7,970 largest city nationwide
#8. Great Falls
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,569
--- #1,771 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.4%
--- #175 among cities in Montana, #11,963 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 60,442
--- #3 largest city in Montana, #684 largest city nationwide
#7. Four Corners
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,064
--- #1,558 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 108.0%
--- #23 among cities in Montana, #780 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,901
--- #21 largest city in Montana, #5,916 largest city nationwide
#6. Belgrade
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,179
--- #1,514 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 43.7%
--- #63 among cities in Montana, #2,580 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,460
--- #8 largest city in Montana, #3,913 largest city nationwide
#5. Helena
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,419
--- #1,119 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 16.0%
--- #120 among cities in Montana, #6,659 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 32,091
--- #6 largest city in Montana, #1,396 largest city nationwide
#4. Kalispell
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,260
--- #962 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 27.3%
--- #83 among cities in Montana, #4,236 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 24,558
--- #7 largest city in Montana, #1,853 largest city nationwide
#3. Missoula
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,106
--- #645 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 12.4%
--- #137 among cities in Montana, #7,841 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 73,489
--- #2 largest city in Montana, #524 largest city nationwide
#2. Billings
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +15,567
--- #293 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 15.3%
--- #127 among cities in Montana, #6,871 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 117,116
--- #1 largest city in Montana, #252 largest city nationwide
#1. Bozeman
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +16,853
--- #263 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 46.2%
--- #57 among cities in Montana, #2,421 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 53,293
--- #4 largest city in Montana, #800 largest city nationwide
