Below Average CostHigher than AverageMissoula Elem
Missoula, Montana · Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0Missoula, MT — University of Montana (2021-08-08), 01 · Steven Pavlov / CC BY-SA 4.0Caras Park, Missoula, MT · w_lemay / CC BY-SA 2.0Fort Missoula (4924704022) · Forest Service Northern Region from Missoula, MT, USA / Public domain
Missoula is a mid-sized city of 74,627 in Montana, with a median household income of $59,783
and a 4.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Missoula stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Missoula is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Missoula city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.1
Missoula's overall cost of living index is 93.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Missoula costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Missoula, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$380,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,064
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
46.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,783
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Missoula's violent crime rate is 596.9 per 100,000 residents
— 57% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
596.9 /100k
Property Crime
3629.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Missoula is served primarily by Missoula Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Missoula, MT
National Avg
School District
Missoula Elem
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
50.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Missoula sees average highs of 34.1°F in January
and 85.1°F in July,
with 17.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 50.2 inches of snow per year.
Missoula's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Missoula roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $380,500 and median rent is $1,064/month.
Missoula's violent crime rate is 596.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3629.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Missoula are operated by Missoula Elem.
The district has 10 elementary, 4 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 50.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Missoula, MT has a population of 74,627, a median household income of $59,783, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Missoula averages 34.1°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.4 inches
with about 50.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Missoula, MT is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 59808, 59802, 59801, 59803, 59812.
The population of Missoula, Montana is 74,627 with a median age of 34.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Missoula: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $380,500, median household income $59,783, crime index 163 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Missoula side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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