Storage Units Near Columbia Falls

Moving and storage go hand in hand. Whether traveling across town or the country, moving is an exciting and fresh start. While Storage Rentals of America is here to help you with all your storage needs, we also want to help you get familiar with the area. That's why we put together this resource guide for Columbia Falls.

About Columbia Falls, MT

Reviews published in Money Inc. and Safewise give praise to Columbia Falls by saying it is one of the best and safest places to live in Montana. The city is right on the shores of the Flathead River and surrounded by many thousands of acres of national forest. With only 5,308 people living there, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, there is plenty of room to spread out and have a huge ranch if you want one.

The area's history shows that the first settlers arrived in 1891, and then, in 1909, the city was incorporated. The arrival of the Great Northern Railway in the late 1800s created the opportunity to exploit the timber resources in the area and ship huge amounts of lumber to the rest of the United States by train.

The town is best known for being near Glacier National Park and attracts tourists worldwide.

What to do in Columbia Falls, MT

Columbia Falls has all the amenities of a resort town, a tourist destination with family-friendly activities.

• Festivals: There are two festivals you don't want to miss. One is in summer. The other is during the holidays. Heritage Days is a celebration during the last weekend in July that turns out just about everyone. There is a parade and carnival, a basketball tournament, a barn dance, a car show, and a rodeo. A crowd pleaser is a wild horse run through town down Highway 2. The horses are rounded up in the national forest, corralled for the event, and then let loose to run wild down the closed highway to rejoin the rest of their wild herd in the national forest. The Night of Lights Holiday Parade is held each year in December. It is a sparkling lights extravaganza.
• Montana Vortex and the House of Mystery: Tourists and locals love this crazy shack on the east side of town with many fascinating optical illusions. It is a great place to take visitors for some super cool photos.
• Fishing on the River: There are many spots to fish the Flathead River. The locals take fly fishing very seriously. Catch a trout, and you, too, will be "hooked."
• Glacier National Park: This spectacular national park is less than one mile from Columbia Falls. Try the Columbia Mountain Loop trial for excellent hiking.
• Big Sky Water Park: This summertime fun is a favorite for families with kids. Ten water slides, beach volleyball, a kiddie pool, and nice picnic areas exist.

Because many tourists come to the area throughout the year, there are many things to do and many jobs taking care of them.

Working in Columbia Falls, MT

The local economy relies on tourism, the timber industry, health care, and retail shops to support it.

The unemployment rate of 5.6% is too high compared to the U.S. unemployment rate of 3.6%. The median household income is $45,393 is $12,000 too low compared to the American average of $57,652. The next ten years will see job growth at 37.3%, slightly better than the prediction for America at 33.5%.

The best employers are these industries: wood products (14.3%), health care (11.4%), hotels/food service (10.8%), schools (7.7%), metal products (4.9%), building construction (5.8%), and arts/entertainment/recreation (3.2%).

Columbia Falls, MT Neighborhoods

The city has three neighborhoods. Columbia Falls East is the most expensive, and the City Center is the least costly. In the middle, price-wise, is the neighborhood of Conkelley/Halfmoon.

Here are the choices to consider:

• Columbia Falls East: With a median home price of $560,517, this area is more expensive than 81.7% of the rest of the state. If you want to rent a home before trying to buy one, you will pay about $1,749 per month.
• Conkelley/Halfmoon: You can save a little money in this neighborhood with the median home price of $463,871, but the rental price is still high at $1,752 monthly.
• City Center: The median price is lower at $398,578, and rents are lower at $1,218 monthly. The best properties have a nice view of the river.

Columbia Falls, MT School District

Columbia Falls Public Schools is the school district. There are two elementary schools, one junior high school, and one high school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16 to one. The district spends $14,035 per student each year on education and support services.

There is only one private school called Farming for the Future offering special education programs for students with special needs in grades K to 12.

The only college nearby is Flathead Valley Community College. It is a public school about 12 miles from Columbia Falls, offering a two-year program.

Moving to Columbia Falls, MT

The City of Columbia Falls provides water and sewer services. Northwestern Energy offers gas and electrical services. You can register online to turn on the services. Republic provides trash collection and recycling services.

The Columbia Falls Parks and Recreation Department manages the 28-acre River's Edge Park on the Flathead River. The park has superb walking trails and a fly-fishing pond for families to enjoy together. The department also manages a public swimming pool called the Pinewood Park Aquatic Center. Besides swimming, the park has a basketball court, children's playground, swings, and picnic tables.

The City of Columbia Falls has a mayor and a six-member city council. All public officials are elected to serve four-year terms.

Columbia Falls, MT Housing

The median listing home price is $209,500. You can get a very modest home for around $175,000. Luxury homes start at $499,000, and if you want to have a reason to wear the biggest cowboy hat in the room, you can pony up a bit over $12 million to buy a huge ranch.

Housing prices have risen over the past few years. Very few homes are offered for sale, so competition from potential buyers is strong. The price increases are just now starting to level off in 2023. In general, housing costs are 6% lower than the American average. The cost of living in this area is 7% less than that in other parts of the U.S.