Fastest Growing Cities in Montana (2026)

City
Rank
Annual Change
2026 Pop.
2020 Pop.
Kalispell14.68%33,34125,263
Townsend24.09%2,3651,828
Belgrade34.02%13,63410,687
Red Lodge43.78%2,8262,271
Whitefish53.65%9,7007,886
Libby63.27%3,3812,796
Roundup73.23%2,1421,751
East Helena83.05%2,3961,940
Hamilton92.9%5,6094,720
Thompson Falls102.59%1,5831,365
Eureka112.56%1,6021,388
Plains122.54%1,2931,115
Ronan132.35%2,2611,982
Stevensville142.35%2,3122,021
Whitehall152.21%1,1561,008
Dillon162.06%4,3593,882
Polson172.05%5,7695,177
Bozeman181.8%59,87253,890
Boulder191.76%1,3281,205
Helena201.73%35,74632,252
Livingston211.58%9,4378,645
Columbia Falls221.34%5,8305,396
Missoula231.18%79,83774,449
Columbus241.17%1,9871,865
Big Timber251.01%1,7031,642
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County260.88%9,7949,425
Billings270.87%122,295117,218
Shelby280.85%3,3413,164
Lewistown290.84%6,2315,971
Choteau300.82%1,8401,737
Conrad310.71%2,4102,321
Butte-Silver Bow320.61%35,68634,574
Miles City330.21%8,4688,340
Laurel340.11%7,2137,219
Malta35-0.11%1,8441,849
Great Falls36-0.15%60,11760,453
Deer Lodge37-0.17%3,0203,024
Colstrip38-0.19%2,0872,095
Manhattan39-0.19%2,0692,089
Baker40-0.23%1,7721,792
Havre41-0.25%9,2419,325
Three Forks42-0.42%1,9121,982
Forsyth43-0.42%1,6451,672
Glasgow44-0.45%3,1313,199
Plentywood45-0.49%1,6111,670
Cut Bank46-0.5%2,9613,050
Hardin47-0.51%3,6773,794
Chinook48-0.52%1,1491,179
Glendive49-0.55%4,7104,865
Fort Benton50-0.71%1,4061,454
Sidney51-1.24%6,1406,357
Wolf Point52-1.46%2,4942,672
West Yellowstone53-1.6%1,1721,278

Montana Growth Overview

Montana's cities with over 1,000 residents show varied growth patterns from 2020 to 2025. Kalispell leads with 4.68% annualized growth, followed by Townsend (4.09%) and Belgrade (4.02%). The largest population centers are Billings (122,295), Missoula (79,837), and Great Falls (60,117). Of the 53 cities over 1,000 population, 34 are growing while 19 experienced population decline. Overall, cities averaged 1.11% annualized growth, with total urban population growing by 7.27% annually.