Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Flathead County, MT

Welcome to Flathead County.

← Back to search

Flathead County is the fourth most populous in the state of Montana, representing 10% of the state's population, and the second largest in geographic area of coverage.

Total GDP for the county increased 40%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $5.9 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Flathead County voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

Flathead County comprises Kalispell, MT micropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Kalispell.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Glacier County, Lake County, Lewis and Clark County, Lincoln County, Missoula County, Pondera County, Powell County, Sanders County, and Teton County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
24.61%66.55%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
29.96%67.27%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
36.89%58.43%++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
31.95%65.11%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
28.54%64.93%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
33.83%63.94%++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

← Back to search

Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%40%
Government
Enterprises
9%18%
Private Industries91%43%
Agriculture<1%0%
Mining1%89%
Utilities1%0%
Construction8%86%
Manufacturing6%21%
– Durable5%12%
– Nondurable1%98%
Trade14%38%
– Wholesale5%12%
– Retail9%55%
Transportation<1%0%
Information2%55%
Finance & Insurance6%30%
Real Estate16%0%
Professional &
Business Services
9%63%
Educational Services1%5%
Healthcare &
Social Services
14%23%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
2%71%
Accommodation &
Food Services
6%64%
Other Services22%57%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

← Back to search

Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers199
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
2716
📺 Electronics & Appliance137
🛒 Grocery Stores3220
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores94
⚕️ Health & Personal Care2412
⛽ Gasoline Stations3816
👕 Clothing Stores3119
👠 Shoe Stores
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry95
🏸 Sporting Goods1912
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers
🏬 Department Stores115
💐 Florists53
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops1511
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 63
🍺 Bars & Taverns4435
🍽️ Full-service restaurants11741
🍔 Limited-service restaurants7428
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers18061
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation9155
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

← Back to search

Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%121%$323,000 N/A
Top 20%48%$183,800 $197,400
Next highest 20%23%$88,000 $101,800
Middle 20%16%$59,200 $73,600
Second lowest 20%9%$35,400 $45,800
Bottom 20%4%$14,700 $26,200
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries68%$63,800
Self-Employment22%$58,900
Investment Income125%$17,400
Social Security37%$20,700
Supplemental Security4%$10,400
Public Assistance4%Below $10,000
Retirement24%$24,500
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
1%3%4%8%
$25K
– $49K
1%5%7%9%
$50K
– $99K
1%12%11%9%
$100K
– $199K
<1%8%9%6%
$200K
& more
<1%2%4%1%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

← Back to search

Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$40,800 $29,600
African-AmericanBelow $10,000
Hispanic$36,300
Asian
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$40,500
Highschool & GED$37,500 $23,700
Some College to
Associate’s
$48,600 $30,400
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$65,600 $46,700
Graduate Degree$90,200 $43,100
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$58,500 $48,500
STEM2$68,500 $51,900
Gray-Collar3$18,000
Pink-Collar4$12,100
Sales5$39,000 $31,000
Blue-Collar6$44,600 $29,900
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

← Back to search

Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche++$
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves+++$
Drought+
Earthquake++$$
Hail+
Heat Waves
Hurricane
Ice Storm+
Landslide+$
Lightning+$
Riverine Flooding+$
Strong Wind+$
Tornado+
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires++$
Winter Weather+$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

← Back to search