Early census data gives demographic snapshot
Results from the 2010 census are slowly becoming available online. The data below comes from a demographic profile table that last week was only available for Montana census areas listed alphabetically from A through S, and it did not include economic information. Information on Whitefish was not available for comparison.
Population significantly increased in Columbia Falls and Kalispell from 2000 to 2010, with the latter pegging 40 percent growth. The population change in the Canyon, however, had its ups and downs. Coram and Martin City saw more than 50 percent growth, while Hungry Horse saw an 11 percent drop despite a 57 percent increase in housing units.
Females outnumber males in urban areas like Columbia Falls and Kalispell, but the reverse is true in the Canyon, a trend that continued from the 2000 census. And while the median age in the two cities is in the mid-30s, it's in the mid-40s in the Canyon, indicating an aging population there over the past decade.
The percentage of vacant housing units is much higher in the Canyon, especially in Hungry Horse, where nearly half the units are empty. On the other hand, a larger percentage of the population in the Canyon lives in owner-occupied housing units. In Coram, it's 80 percent.
The average household size and average family size hovers around 2.5 to 3 for the two cities and the Canyon. Columbia Falls tends to have slightly larger families on average than Kalispell or the Canyon.
Columbia Falls
Total population 4,688
Growth 2000-2010 - 28%
Median age 35.6
Male population 2,254 - 48.1%
Female population 2,434 - 51.9%
Total households 1,863
Average household 2.47
Average family 3.02
Total housing units 1,994
Growth 2000-2010 - 35%
Occupied housing units 1,863 - 93.4%
Vacant housing units 131 - 6.6%
Owner-occupied population 3,036 - 64%
Renter-occupied population 1,560 - 33%
Kalispell
Total population 19,927
Growth 2000-2010 - 40%
Median age 34.5
Male population 9,432 - 47.3%
Female population 10,495 - 52.7%
Total households 8,638
Average household 2.26
Average family 2.94
Total housing units 9,379
Growth 2000-2010 - 43%
Occupied housing units 8,638 - 92.1%
Vacant housing units 741 - 7.9%
Owner-occupied population 11,490 - 57%
Renter-occupied population 8,040 - 40%
Coram
Total population 539
Growth 2000-2010- 59%
Median age 45.5
Male population 281 - 52.1%
Female population 258 - 47.9%
Total households 231
Average household 2.33
Average family 2.82
Total housing units 303
Growth 2000-2010 - 100%
Occupied housing units 231 - 76.2%
Vacant housing units 72 - 23.8%
Owner-occupied population 432 - 80%
Renter-occupied population 107 - 19%
Hungry Horse
Total population 826
Growth 2000-2010 - negative 11 percent
Median age 42.3
Male population 423 - 51.2%
Female population 403 - 48.8%
Total households 359
Average household 2.3
Average family 2.91
Total housing units 637
Growth 2000-2010 - 57%
Occupied housing units 359 - 56.4%
Vacant housing units 278 - 43.6%
Owner-occupied population 555 - 67%
Renter-occupied population 271 - 32%
Martin City
Total population 500
Growth 2000-2010 - 51%
Median age 45.7
Male population 258 - 51.6%
Female population 242 - 48.4%
Total households 228
Average household 2.19
Average family 2.71
Total housing units 265
Growth 2000-2010 - 62%
Occupied housing units 228 - 86%
Vacant housing units 37 - 14%
Owner-occupied population 384 - 76%
Renter-occupied population 116 - 23%