Beautiful mountain town dealing with an influx of transplants
Located in the heart of the Flathead Valley, Kalispell is the county seat of Flathead County and its cultural and commercial center. The city is surrounded by natural beauty — the Salish Mountains to the west, the Flathead Range to the east, and Flathead Lake to the south. However, in recent years, out-of-state tourism in the area has been accompanied by out-of-state relocation, resulting in a rapid rise in housing costs and creating controversy among locals. “It’s changed a bit recently, but at its heart, Kalispell is still a small town with country charm,” says Flathead County native Debbie Street, a supervising broker at Wrangler Real Estate. “It’s the easiest place in 100 miles to get your shopping done, but it’s right next to the mountains and the lake, so you can get outdoors as much as you want.”
Flathead Lake and the Flathead National Forest are a short drive South and West from Kalispell.
Kalispell residents head to the Kalispell Center Mall for comfort shopping and big-box savings.
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New homes springing up around the city
The city’s housing market is made up of early-20th-century bungalows, midcentury properties and modern subdivisions. The downtown area is known for its older homes, including Craftsman bungalows and cottages, along with a variety of midcentury properties. Newer developments around the edges of the city feature modern two-story homes and townhouses and often offer access to community amenities like pools and walking trails. Condos and townhouses in Kalispell generally sell for $350,000 to $600,000, while single-family homes list for anywhere from $400,000 to over $1 million. The city has a continental climate, with warm, humid summers and long, cold winters. Property and violent crime rates in the city are both above state averages.
Kalispell dwellings include rows of eclectic Craftsman homes along friendly streets near shopping and schools.
Kalispell condo options are plentiful offering community and shared amenity spaces.
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Surrounded by some of the country's most beautiful wilderness
Kalispell is a city defined by its natural surroundings. While there are several small city-maintained parks in town, locals usually head to the mountains when they want to enjoy the outdoors. “There’s tons of public land everywhere — national forests, the national park. I don’t think there’s a town with better access to real wilderness in the continental U.S.," Street says. Kalispell is within an hour’s drive of Glacier National Park and two of the top skiing destinations in Montana: Whitefish Mountain Resort and Blacktail Mountain Ski Area. Hiking trails line the mountains on either side of town, in Flathead National Forest to the east and Kootenai National Forest to the west. The Flathead River, which runs east of town, is a great spot for kayaking and trout fishing in the summer, while Flathead Lake is known for its crystal-clear waters.
Kalispell ski enthusiasts head up to Whitefish Mountain Resort just about a half an hour away.
The Flathead River flows past Kalispell into Flathead Lake where fishermen and adventure await.
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Flathead High and Community College
Kalispell’s public schools are divided into two districts: Kalispell Elementary School District, which has a B grade on Niche, and Flathead High School District, which has a B-plus. Flathead Community College is located on the north side of town and is the county’s only college.
Kalispell continuing education options include the Flathead Community College.
Kalispell youth enjoy a sprawling campus at Flathead High School.
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Historic downtown Kalispell
The city is centered around its historic downtown, which is home to an array of local shops and restaurants, along with cultural spots like the Northwest Montana History Museum and the Hockaday Museum of Art. Immediately north of downtown, the Kalispell Center Mall features a variety of chain stores and restaurants. Additional shopping can be found in suburbs around the city, which serves as the main retail hub for Flathead County. The Kalispell Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning from May through October at the Flathead Community College campus. Logan Health Medical Center, located on the north side of town, is one of only two hospitals in the region, along with the significantly smaller North Valley Hospital in Whitefish. While tourism is one of the biggest industries in town, the medical center is also a major employer in the area.
Kalispell students visit the Northwest Montana History Museum on a field trip downtown.
Kalispell residents receive healthcare and employment from Logan Health Medical Center.
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Northwest Montana Fair
The Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo is held in August and features rodeo competitions, carnival rides and vendors.
Nearby Glacier International Airport
U.S. routes 93 and 2 connect Kalispell to the rest of the Flathead Valley. It’s about 120 miles to Missoula via the 93. Glacier Park International Airport is located less than 10 miles north of town and offers direct flights to 14 destinations in the U.S., though many of those routes are seasonal. While public transportation is limited, Eagle Transit provides bus services within the Flathead Valley, including routes to Whitefish and Columbia Falls.
Written By
Andrew Moreno
Photography Contributed By
Luke George
Video By
TJ Wengert
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On average, homes in Kalispell, MT sell after 148 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Kalispell, MT over the last 12 months is $835,000.
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