Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A regional job hub with 111 jobs.
56% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in West Glacier, above both Montana’s towns (30%) and U.S. towns (29%). Among 43 Montana towns, just 2 have a higher median age than West Glacier. 32% of the land in West Glacier is conserved, against 9.2% in Montana’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. West Glacier has 6 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Lake McDonald Lodge and Sperry Chalets. West Glacier has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where West Glacier beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1930 and a map from 1960 on.
6 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around West Glacier. Close and well known come first.
23 mi MountainTriple Divide Peak
25 mi LakeSaint Mary Lakein town National ParkGlacier National Park3.1M visitors a year16 mi Ski areaWhitefish Mountain Resort137 runs · 2,292 ft vertical
35 mi Park & preserveWaterton-Glacier International Peace Park
19 mi MuseumLogan Pass Visitor CenterTriple Divide Peak: Eggbones, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Saint Mary Lake: Ken Thomas (talk · contribs), Public domain · Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park: Jesse Allen, NASA Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of the Univers, Public domain · Logan Pass Visitor Center: Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
West Glacier is unincorporated, so Flathead County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in West Glacier.
The top destinations are Kalispell (22%), Columbia Falls (10%) and Whitefish (8%). Just 4% of West Glacier’s working residents have a job in town. The average commute locally is 21 minutes. Half the trips to work are shorter than 24 miles.
| West Glacier | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 4% | 39% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $90,000 | $67,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the West Glacier Elementary District. The town’s only public school teaches 65 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Glacier SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 65 | A |
NCES · EDFacts
In West Glacier, the density of trails is 1.6 miles per square mile. Count the trails in 2 parks and preserves and they come to 6.9 miles. Glacier National Park, at 446 acres with 2.7 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Glacier National Park | 2.7 mi | 446 |
| 2. Belton Stage Park | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
78% of West Glacier’s expected losses from natural hazards come from avalanches, followed by inland flooding at 9%. FEMA expects more storm and flood damage in the town than in 81% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
West Glacier’s typical July afternoon high comes in at 80°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Among 42 Montana towns, just 4 have a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than West Glacier. 14% of adults have diabetes in the town. CDC measures, 32 in all: West Glacier beats Montana on 5 and trails on 12.
| West Glacier | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 32% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 31% | 33% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 10% | 12% |
| What stands out | West Glacier | MT |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 15.9% | 20.3% |
| Fewer adults in frequent mental distress | 14.8% | 17.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.9% | 7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
West Glacier: 72% of households live in a home they own. For West Glacier, the going rate for rent is $1,008 a month.
| West Glacier | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 72% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,008 a month | $1,000 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
None within 15 miles of West Glacier; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 West Glacier residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Montana.
Where West Glacier’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
6 places in West Glacier on the National Register of Historic Places.
Unincorporated community in Montana, United States
West Glacier is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in eastern Flathead County, Montana, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 221. The town is at the west entrance to Glacier National Park and is located on U.S. Route 2 and a main line of the BNSF Railway. The headquarters complex for Glacier National Park is located nearby.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
West Glacier has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
