Missoula vs Provo
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $467,200 in Provo and $473,100 in Missoula.
- Households earn more in Missoula ($70,392 vs $64,171 median).
- Provo has the warmer winter: January highs of 41°F vs 32°F.
- Provo has more scorching days: 74 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 27.
- Missoula is growing faster: +6.4% since 2020 vs -0.6%.
Side by side
| Missoula, MT | Provo, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 78,903 | 114,527 |
| Growth since 2020 | +6.4% | -0.6% |
| People per square mile | 2,253 | 2,735 |
| Median age | 34.7 | 23.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53% | 45% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $70,392 | $64,171 |
| Median home value | $473,100 | $467,200 |
| Home value to income | 6.7× | 7.3× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,189 | $1,193 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 96.4 | 98.2 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 94.9 | 104.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $72,300 | $73,700 |
| Homeowners | 47% | 39% |
| Top state income tax | 5.65% | 4.5% |
| Combined sales tax | 0% | 7.42% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 15.8 | 18.4 |
| Work from home | 15% | 16% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 5% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 3.8% | 5.1% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 23% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 32° / 18° | 41° / 24° |
| July high / low | 85° / 52° | 95° / 62° |
| Precipitation per year | 14 in | 17 in |
| Snowfall per year | 43 in | 45 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 27 | 74 |
| Nights below freezing | 173 | 111 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 2 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Low | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 77.0 | 95.3 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 82% | 56% |
| Home prices, past year | +0.4% | +3.5% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +45.9% | +34.2% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Missoula: June to September. Provo: May and September.
Full monthly tables: Missoula weather by month and Provo weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $72,300 in Missoula and $73,700 in Provo. Moving from Missoula to Provo, you would need about $76,400 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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