Real Estate Investing in Whitefish, Montana (59937)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Flathead County • Population: 14,653 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 59937 (Whitefish, MT)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (36/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 25.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.9 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Whitefish, MT (59937)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $881,274
Avg Monthly Rent $2,841
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $73,233
% Renters 26.0%

Market Analysis: 59937 Whitefish

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Whitefish's 59937 ZIP registers signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $881K pricing implies.

Rent of $2,841/mo on a $881K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 59937 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

In practical terms, 59937 offers a low basis, the region around Whitefish has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Turning to rents, 14,653 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

The 59937 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Whitefish:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 54/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 12× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,841/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Kalispell, MT Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Kalispell, MT metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 59937

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+17.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$299,295/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $475,270 $1,520 2.3% +11.6% $475,270
2BR $614,739 $1,990 2.3% +10.7% $307,369
3BR $897,884 $2,620 2.1% +12.8% $299,295
4BR $1,366,726 $3,340 1.8% +14.4% $341,681
5BR $2,443,511 +17.0% $488,702

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$992K$837K$682K$527K$372K$218KMay 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,884$2,760$2,636$2,512$2,388$2,264Apr 2024Jun 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 59937 Compare?

Metric 59937 Whitefish Kalispell, MT Montana
Home Value $881,274 $719,095 N/A $457,278
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.0% N/A 9.2%
Avg Rent $2,841 $2,190 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 59937? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 59937 (Whitefish, MT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Kalispell, MT metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $881,274
Monthly Rent $2,841
Price-to-Rent 25.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.9%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 8.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
25.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 59937

Population: 14,653

💰 Median Household Income
$73,233
This area
$73,233
State
$64,023
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.0%
This area
26.0%
State
24.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
51.7%
This area
51.7%
State
20.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.8 years
This area
47.8 years
State
38.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
25.4%
This area
25.4%
State
26.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.1%
Other/Mixed 5.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.3%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
16.4%
This area
16.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.3%
This area
26.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 59937

B+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
12.7:1 Avg Class Size
$13,399 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Whitefish High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
630 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,720 Per Student
B+ Above Average

L A Muldown School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
672 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,037 Per Student
B Good

Bissell School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
74 Students
👨‍🏫
8.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,101 Per Student
B Good

Whitefish Middle 5-8

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
661 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,037 Per Student
B Good

Bissell 7-8

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
18 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,101 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Whitefish, MT?

Rents in Whitefish, MT run near $2,841/mo. Compared with median home prices of $881K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Whitefish, MT?

Whitefish, MT operates under MT law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Is Whitefish, MT a smart market for rental property?

Our data puts Whitefish, MT at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $881K and rents around $2,841/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the renter demographic in Whitefish, MT?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Whitefish, MT. The rental market absorbs $2,841/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How tight is the rental market in Whitefish, MT?

Occupancy in Whitefish, MT runs predictable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $2,841/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 59937 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 59937 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 59937 ranks in Kalispell, MT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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