Living in Missoula, MT

Explore Missoula and see how it fits the life you want to build.

76,514 Population Missoula County County City Place Type Montana State OrdinancesLocal Rules
Overall Match6.8 / 10

Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.

Missoula at a Glance

Key facts and current data

Population76,514
Median Household Income$70,392
Median Home Value$473,100
Median Gross Rent$1,189
Median Age34.7
Average Household Size2.1
Unemployment3.8%
Work From Home15.2%
Homeownership47.0%
Housing Vacancy6.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.

Missoula is a mid-sized community where local neighborhoods, nearby job centers and regional access can matter as much as citywide averages. Housing costs are high relative to local household income, making affordability one of the more important factors to examine before relocating here.

Experience the Area

Experience Life in Missoula Before You Move

Explore Short-Term Stays in Missoula →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate

NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Missoula and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.

NarrowTheList Ratings

Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.

Housing Value2.4 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Employment4.1 / 5Lower unemployment produces a stronger rating.
Housing Stability3.1 / 5Combines homeownership and housing vacancy.
Remote Work Friendly3.5 / 5Based on the share of residents working from home.
Income Strength4.0 / 5Household income compared on a national scale.

These are location-wide baseline ratings, not your personal match score. Your own priorities can change which factors matter most.

Housing & Cost of Living in Missoula

Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau

Median Home Value$473,100
Median Gross Rent$1,189
Homeownership47.0%
Housing Vacancy6.4%
Housing Value4.8/10
Housing Stability6.2/10

Home values are relatively high compared with local household income, so purchase affordability deserves close attention. Renters make up a substantial share of the local housing market.

Jobs, Income & Remote Work

Employment and household-income context for Missoula, MT

Median Household Income$70,392
Unemployment3.8%
Work From Home15.2%
Employment8.2/10
Remote Work Friendly7.0/10
Income Strength8.0/10

The reported unemployment rate is relatively low. Working from home is relatively common among employed residents.

Population & Household Profile

Who lives in Missoula and how households are structured

Population76,514
Median Age34.7
Average Household Size2.1

Missoula is a mid-sized community where neighborhood and nearby-employment patterns can materially affect a relocation decision.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.

Climate & Weather in Missoula

Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context

NOAA climate normals for Missoula point to hot summers, cold winters, moderate annual rainfall and substantial annual snowfall.

Average Summer High85.1°F
Average Winter Low19.8°F
Annual Rainfall17.4 in.
Annual Snowfall50.2 in.

Seasonal Life in Missoula

What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.

Spring

Spring should generally favor outdoor activity, although a relatively dry annual pattern makes water use, landscaping and local drought conditions worth noticing.

Summer

Summer is warm enough that shade and cooling still matter, but the typical high is below the extreme-heat range seen in many hotter U.S. markets.

Fall

Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.

Winter

Freezing winter lows and meaningful snowfall make snow removal, winter driving, heating costs and cold-weather routines important parts of evaluating the area.

Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.

Missoula is located in Missoula County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. Missoula County. Current county foreclosure activity is classified as medium, adding another housing-market signal for buyers comparing conventional and distressed-property opportunities.

County Intelligence

Missoula & Missoula County

Medium Foreclosure Activity

Missoula is located in Missoula County, Montana.

NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Missoula.

Current NarrowTheList data for Missoula shows a population of about 76,514. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.

Foreclosure Activity: Medium. Current signal uses NarrowTheList foreclosure-opportunity data until direct county delinquency and foreclosure datasets are connected.

For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.

County relationship Missoula County
How NarrowTheList uses it

County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Missoula.

For someone considering a move to Missoula, the available data currently points to housing affordability that deserves careful budgeting. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.

Nearby Cities & Communities

Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.