Living in Missoula, MT
Missoula is the 474th-largest city in the US, home to about 79,000 people in 2025. It has grown 6.4% since 2020. Prices across the metro area run close to the national average (96.4 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 78,903+6.4% since 2020
- Median home value
- $473,1006.7 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,189/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $70,392median, per year
- Price level
- 96.4US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 32° / 85°lows 18° / 52°
- Average commute
- 16 min15% work from home
- State income tax
- 5.65%top rate, graduated
Been to Missoula?
Added to your city passport. See things to do
Added to the wishlist on your city passport.
County: Missoula County
Time zone: Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
Elevation: about 3,209 ft
Metro area: Missoula, MT
Cost of living in Missoula
The median home in Missoula is worth $473,100 and the median household earns $70,392 a year, so a typical home costs about 6.7 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,189 a month, about 20% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Missoula, MT metro area at 96.4, with housing at 94.9 and goods at 96.0 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $72,300 here. Montana taxes wages at a top rate of 5.65%. The average combined state and local sales tax in Montana is 0%.
What would my salary be worth in Missoula?
Missoula weather
Average highs run from 32°F in January to 85°F in July, and January nights average 18°F. It gets 14 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 43 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 173 times a year. The most comfortable months are June to September.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Missoula
People and work
The median resident is 34.7 years old, and 53% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 47% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 16 minutes; 15% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 34.7171st youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 53%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 47%of households
- People per sq mile
- 2,25335.0 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 2%4% walk, 3.8% bike
- Unemployment
- 3.8%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 11.8%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1981median year
Who moves to Missoula, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Bozeman (Gallatin County), Billings (Yellowstone County) and Seattle (King County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Bozeman (Gallatin County), Billings (Yellowstone County) and Cascade County, MT. See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
FEMA rating for Missoula County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: ice storm, cold wave, avalanche.
Home prices
+0.4% in a year
Up 46% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Missoula, MT area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
82% good days
0 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Missoula, MT area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Missoula
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- The University of Montana in Missoula
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Missoula
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Missoula International Airport MSO | 5 mi | 511,553 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Missoula
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Montana | in town | 7,488 | $21,302 | 49% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Missoula
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before May 16, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around September 14 and the first frost comes around September 26.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Missoula Intl. Airport, MT, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Missoula.
Wildfire smoke in Missoula
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Missoula on about 85 days a year, including about 37 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Missoula
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 34,941 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Missoula
Downtown Missoula is in these districts. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula High School District | 9 to 12 | 3,959 | 5 | 15.1 |
| Missoula Elementary School District | Pre-K to 8 | 5,293 | 14 | 15.2 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Hellgate Elementary School District (1,464 students), Frenchtown K-12 Schools (1,314 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Missoula's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Missoula's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Cheyenne, WY71% matchCompare
- Billings, MT69% matchCompare
- Santa Fe, NM58% matchCompare
- Rapid City, SD58% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Missoula
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Missoula
- Montana Snowbowl 10 miles
- Discovery Ski Area 56 miles
- Lost Trail Powder Mountain 60 miles
- Blacktail Mountain Ski Area 80 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Missoula
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Commutes are short: 16 minutes each way on average.
- Data Low natural hazard risk: FEMA rates Missoula County relatively low overall.
Cons
- Data Homes are expensive for local pay: the median home costs 6.7 years of median household income.
- Data Winters are snowy: about 43 inches a year.
Missoula report card from locals
0 of 5 reports so far. We show the Missoula report card once 5 residents have rated it, so one opinion never stands in for a whole city. Live here? Add yours.
Rate Missoula (2 minutes)
Lived here once? Map every city you have lived in and see how your homes compare.
Ask a local about Missoula
No questions yet. Thinking about a move? Ask about neighborhoods, schools, winters, traffic or anything else, and people who live in Missoula can answer.
Missoula through locals' eyes
No resident photos yet. Share the view from your street, your favorite park or the city on a good day.
Share a photo
Contributions are read by a person before they appear. We remove ads, links, personal attacks and anything about private people. See the most helpful locals.
Cities near Missoula
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 142 mi | 58,179 | $483,500 | 98.3 | Compare |
| Spokane Valley, WA | 161 mi | 108,405 | $382,300 | 100.3 | Compare |
| Bozeman, MT | 164 mi | 58,814 | $687,900 | 102.5 | Compare |
| Spokane, WA | 170 mi | 230,783 | $363,500 | 100.3 | Compare |
| Pasco, WA | 246 mi | 82,848 | $376,300 | 100.1 | Compare |
| Kennewick, WA | 250 mi | 88,366 | $370,700 | 100.1 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Missoula with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Missoula a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show a growing population, short commutes; the trade-offs are expensive homes relative to local incomes, heavy snow. Compare Missoula side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Missoula?
The Census Bureau estimates Missoula had 78,903 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 74,190 in April 2020 (+6.4%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Missoula?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $72,300 in the Missoula area. The median household here earns $70,392.
When is the best time to visit Missoula?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, June to September are the most comfortable months. July averages 85°F and January 32°F for daytime highs.
What county is Missoula in?
Missoula is in Missoula County, Montana. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Missoula in?
Missoula is on Mountain Time (UTC-7, or UTC-6 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Missoula?
About 3,209 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Montana have a state income tax?
Yes. Montana has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 5.65% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Missoula. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Missoula, MT metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Missoula Intl. Airport, MT station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.