Missoula, Montana
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Missoula, MT.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Missoula, MT?
For relocators asking how much Missoula costs: the housing index sits at 112 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $427,400 and rents near $1,120. Local median income is about $65,329 and unemployment recently ran 2.7% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 16 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 411 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 112U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $427,400U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,120U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $65,329U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 2.7%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 16 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 411per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 81°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Missoula compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 78,204City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $65,329Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year17% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 112ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year12% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $427,400City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year41% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,120City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year17% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 2.7%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 20261.5 pts below U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 16 min36% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 427% below catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 411per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)27% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 4086.3per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)36% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 81°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 19°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals16.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 14.1 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals58% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 241As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Missoula grew 15.9% from 67,466 in 2010 to 78,204 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Missoula, MT expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Missoula's housing cost index is 112 versus 100 nationally — near the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($427,400 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,120 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 112 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $427,400 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,120 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Missoula, MT?
Typical ownership costs center near $427,400, while median gross rent is about $1,120 a month. Against a median household income of $65,329, rent alone is roughly 21% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $427,400
- Median rent $1,120/month
- Median household income $65,329
What is the job market like in Missoula, MT?
County unemployment recently ran 2.7% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Missoula is about $65,329 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 2.7% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $65,329
How long is the typical commute in Missoula, MT?
Average one-way commute time is about 16 minutes, with Walk Score near 42/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 16 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 42/100
Is Missoula, MT safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 411 per 100k and property about 4086.3 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 411 per 100k
- Property 4086.3 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Missoula, MT?
Normals show summer highs near 81°F, winter lows near 19°F, about 14.1 inches of rain, and roughly 241 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 81°F
- Winter low 19°F
- 14.1 in rain · 241 sunny days
Missoula (pop. 78,204) sits in Montana. Households here report a median income near $65,329; our housing-derived cost index is about 112 (close to the national housing-cost baseline). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $427,400 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Big-sky winters and long distances between services matter for relocators. Winter lows around 19°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Commutes average near 16 minutes one-way, with walkability near 42/100. A recent county unemployment reading near 2.7% suggests a relatively tight local labor market. Violent-offense rates near 411 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Missoula is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Missoula with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Missoula city, 1600000US3050200) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Missoula County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00024153 MISSOULA INTL AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19