Moving to Missoula
What you need to know before relocating to Missoula, Montana. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Missoula a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Missoula compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($1,166/mo) is below the national average; low unemployment rate (2.5%) signals a strong job market; high school graduation rate of 95%.
Missoula at a Glance
Cost of Living in Missoula
The median rent in Missoula is $1,166/month, while the median home value is $487,700. With a median household income of $73,324, residents spend roughly 19% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Missoula metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Missoula has a median household income of $73,324, which is 2% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.5%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Missoula
The violent crime rate in Missoula is 442 per 100,000 residents, which is 16% above the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1834 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Montana
Montana has a high school graduation rate of 95% and per-pupil spending of $15,500/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.
38% of Montana adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Montana has 222 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 7.6% uninsured rate, and 2.7 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Montana is 76.3 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Missoula
+Pros
- ✓Rent ($1,166/mo) is below the national average
- ✓Low unemployment rate (2.5%) signals a strong job market
- ✓High school graduation rate of 95%
- ✓Low uninsured rate (7.6%) and good healthcare access
-Cons
- ✗Home prices ($487,700) are above the US median
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (58513 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Missoula a good place to live?⌄
Missoula, Montana has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,166/mo) is below the national average and low unemployment rate (2.5%) signals a strong job market. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Missoula?⌄
The median rent in Missoula is $1,166/month and the median home value is $487,700. The median household income is $73,324. Overall the metro is considered affordable.
Is Missoula safe?⌄
Missoula has a violent crime rate of 442 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Missoula?⌄
Missoula has an unemployment rate of 2.5%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $73,324.