salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 6.2 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are short, about 19.7 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $34,520 a year. That is $17 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Montana cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Montana. It is number 3 of 27 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Polson?
Share of households by yearly income. 13.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Polson
| Size | Polson | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $862 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $833 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,066 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $995 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Polson overall?
Everyday prices in Montana overall are 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.6, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Polson, so the Montana figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Polson
Life in Polson
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Polson?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,609 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $356,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $35,630 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Polson, MT?
Renting in Polson costs a median of about $863 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Montana median is $1,260.
How much do I need to make to live in Polson?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $34,520 a year, or $17 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Polson cheap or expensive?
Polson is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.0% of the typical household income of $57,611. It ranks 3rd cheapest of 27 Montana cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Polson?
The median homeowner in Polson pays $2,224 a year in property taxes, about 0.62% of the median home value.
Is Polson more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Montana are 5% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Polson?
The median home value in Polson is $356,300, about 6.2 times the typical yearly household income.
5,428 people live in Polson. Numbers are typical (middle) values.