The Town Files

Lake County, Montana

32,561 people. The median home is worth $421,800 (typical Montana town: $249,800) and the median household earns $63,360.

Towns in Lake County

Towns in Lake County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Polson5,148$356,300$53,41843.0

People and housing

Lake CountyTypical Montana town
Median home value$421,800$249,800
Median rent$901$893
Median household income$63,360$63,249
Median age44.340.6
Bachelor's degree or higher31.5%25.0%
Below the poverty line17.2%10.9%

Jobs and pay

9,768 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,280 a year.

Largest industries in Lake CountyHealth care & social assistan…1,252 jobs · $56,383Retail1,182 jobs · $36,519Hotels & restaurants805 jobs · $20,572Manufacturing748 jobs · $45,631Construction611 jobs · $46,649Professional & technical serv…304 jobs · $75,465
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Lake County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.6%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 1,125 storm events in Lake County from 1996 to 2026, with 33 deaths.

Storm events in Lake County by type since 1996Hail44Flood18Blizzard19High Wind89Heavy Snow339Strong Wind43Frost/Freeze14Winter Storm246Winter Weather161Cold/Wind Chill29
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Lake County has been included in 8 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 7, 2026Straight-Line WindsDR-4902: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds
March 31, 2020BiologicalDR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3476: Covid-19
May 24, 2019FloodDR-4437: Flooding
April 17, 2014FloodDR-4172: Ice Jams And Flooding
September 13, 2005HurricaneEM-3253: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).