Should I Move To
Bozeman, Montana is home to about 53,500 people. On cost of living, it lands in the expensive band — 13% above the national average. The median renter pays around $1,447 a month against a typical household income of $74,113. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 51 out of 100 (grade C-), putting it at #469 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Bozeman's composite cost-of-living index lands at 113 (100 = US average), which puts it in the expensive band. At $1,447/mo against $74,113 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 23% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $546,100.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is four-season — summer averages around 88°F, winter averages around 27°F. Precipitation totals about 12 inches a year. Very walkable in most central neighborhoods — daily errands rarely require a car. Air quality reads good (AQI 46).
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Bozeman doesn't obviously fit families. It earns 55/100 (grade C-) on the families profile. Strongest on education (93/100); weakest on climate (18/100).
Bozeman doesn't obviously fit retirees. It earns 42/100 (grade D) on the retirees profile. Strongest on education (93/100); weakest on climate (18/100).
Bozeman doesn't obviously fit remote workers. It earns 40/100 (grade D) on the remote workers profile. Strongest on education (93/100); weakest on climate (18/100).
Bozeman reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. It earns 56/100 (grade C) on the young professionals profile. Strongest on education (93/100); weakest on climate (18/100).
Bozeman, Montana pulls a 51/100 overall on the UrbRank Score (grade C-), currently ranked #469 nationally. The composite weights seven lifestyle dimensions: affordability, safety, climate, walkability, jobs, environment, and education.
Bozeman's cost-of-living index is 113 (with 100 as the US average), which lands in the expensive band — 13% above the national average. Median rent runs about $1,447/mo.
Four-season — summer averages around 88°F, winter averages around 27°F, with about 12 inches of precipitation a year.
Walk Score: 80/100. Very walkable in most central neighborhoods — daily errands rarely require a car.
Bozeman has about 53,500 residents, 64% of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher with a median age of 28.
Use UrbRank's comparison tool to put Bozeman head-to-head against any other US city — housing, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life metrics side by side. The leaderboard pages also show how Bozeman stacks up for families, retirees, remote workers, and young professionals specifically.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Bozeman with other Montana cities scored on UrbRank.
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