Should I Move To
Missoula, Montana is home to about 74,627 people. On cost of living, it lands in the affordable band — 5% below the national average. The median renter pays around $1,064 a month against a typical household income of $59,783. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 49 out of 100 (grade D), putting it at #539 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.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Missoula's composite cost-of-living index lands at 95 (100 = US average), which puts it in the affordable band. At $1,064/mo against $59,783 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 21% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $380,500.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is four-season — summer averages around 81°F, winter averages around 25°F. Precipitation totals about 16 inches a year. You'll need a car for most things, though the central core is more walkable than the citywide score suggests. AQI runs about 43 — a "good" reading.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Missoula reads as a moderate fit for families. The profile-weighted score is 63/100 — a C+. Its standout dimension is education (80/100); the soft spot is walkability (34/100).
Missoula doesn't obviously fit retirees. The profile-weighted score is 53/100 — a C-. Its standout dimension is education (80/100); the soft spot is walkability (34/100).
Missoula reads as a moderate fit for remote workers. The profile-weighted score is 56/100 — a C. Its standout dimension is education (80/100); the soft spot is walkability (34/100).
Missoula doesn't obviously fit young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 46/100 — a D. Its standout dimension is education (80/100); the soft spot is walkability (34/100).
Our overall score for Missoula is 49/100 — a D, sitting at #539 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, Missoula sits at 95 — affordable, 5% below the national average. Median renter pays around $1,064 a month.
Missoula runs four-season on the weather. Summer's near 81°F, winter's near 25°F; 16 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 34/100. You'll need a car for most things, though the central core is more walkable than the citywide score suggests.
Roughly 74,627 people live here, with 50% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 34.
Drop Missoula into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
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 Missoula with other Montana cities scored on UrbRank.
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