© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Missoula.
About
Life in Missoula
Living in Missoula means settling into a college town and regional center that's genuinely livable without being a major metropolitan area. The University of Montana anchors the economy alongside county schools and two hospitals, creating stable employment, though the median home price of $473,100 reflects competition for housing in a desirable market. The job market is healthy at 3.1% unemployment, and a 16.6-minute average commute keeps things manageable.
Missoula at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.8%
Foreign-Born
2.9%
Broadband Internet
93.2%
of households
Population Growth
+6.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.9% foreign-born, most often from Germany
Who lives in Missoula: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Missoula, the largest foreign-born group is from Germany (17.1%), and 1.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.6%
of residents
65 and Older
15.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.9%
of households
Married Couples
34.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.10
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 10% above MT average
Rent, home values, and income in Missoula
In Missoula, rent runs 10% above the MT average, and home values are 26% above the MT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,450
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
47.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $563,970 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MT
Unemployment in Missoula
Unemployment in Missoula is close to the MT average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Missoula Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.8 min avg
How Missoula residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Missoula, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 90% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Missoula Montana Airport (MSO)
Small hub525k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 80% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Missoula runs 80% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
591.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,861.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Missoula Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 37 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
77.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Missoula County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Missoula County, which includes Missoula, the most common type is winter weather, with 37 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | Winter Weather | $6,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | Winter Weather | $4.1M |
| 2023 | 24 | Winter Weather | $12,000 |
| 2022 | 39 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 25 | Winter Weather | $95,000 |
| 2020 | 22 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2019 | 25 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2018 | 23 | Flood | $485,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
8 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Missoula County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Missoula County, which includes Missoula, is typically good — 298 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
298
per year
Moderate Days
67
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Missoula County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Missoula has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/50°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
57°/35°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
17.4"
Annual Snowfall
50.2"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
163
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
132
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 20°F | 1.24" |
| Feb | 39°F | 22°F | 1.11" |
| Mar | 49°F | 27°F | 1.19" |
| Apr | 57°F | 33°F | 1.68" |
| May | 67°F | 41°F | 2.26" |
| Jun | 73°F | 47°F | 2.61" |
| Jul | 85°F | 52°F | 0.99" |
| Aug | 84°F | 51°F | 1.03" |
| Sep | 73°F | 44°F | 1.14" |
| Oct | 57°F | 34°F | 1.42" |
| Nov | 41°F | 26°F | 1.41" |
| Dec | 33°F | 20°F | 1.35" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Missoula
Missoula has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
6.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
St. Patrick Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: St. Patrick Hospital · 500 W Broadway
- Outpatient center: Providence Center · 900 N Orange St, Missoula
- Outpatient center: Providence Center · 902 N Orange St, Missoula
Community Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Missoula
Missoula's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 53.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
21
within city limits
Private Schools
10
within city limits
College Degree Rate
53.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Missoula
Public · 4-year · 7,488 students · in-state tuition $9,188 · 46% graduate · median earnings $48,823 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, 68 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Missoula
Missoula has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site (68 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
National Historic Site
68 mi awayBig Hole National Battlefield
National Battlefield
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Missoula
Missoula Public Library
455 E Main, Missoula
Big Sky Branch Library (Missoula Co.)
3100 South Ave W, Missoula
Cities Near Missoula
The closest cities within 60 miles
No other cities we cover are within 60 miles of Missoula.
Planning a move to Missoula?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Missoula FAQ
Is Missoula, Montana affordable?⌄
Missoula's median rent is $1,189/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $70,392/year. Median home value is $473,100.
Is Missoula, Montana safe?⌄
Missoula's violent crime rate was 591 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2862 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Missoula, Montana?⌄
Missoula has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Missoula, Montana?⌄
The cost of living in Missoula is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,189/month and median household income is $70,392/year. The median home value is $473,100. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Missoula, Montana?⌄
The average commute in Missoula is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from