2026 editionWestPop. 1,144,694Capital Helena41st state, admitted 1889Cook PVI R+10
Is Montana a Good Place to Live? Montana Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes
Montana ranks #7 of 50 with a composite score of 75 and an A grade, strongest in livability (#1) and weakest in safety (#36). The median household earns $75,340 (7% below the national median), homes typically cost $471,746 (28% above the national average), and violent crime is 419 per 100,000 (28% above the national average).
Montana's mountain west, Bozeman, Missoula and the Flathead, fits people arriving with equity or a remote salary, since public land covers 29.9% and the state ranks #1 for livability. The trade is a price-to-income ratio of 6.3x, #47 nationally, and a hospital that recedes the moment you leave the valleys.
Montana by the numbers
Six measures every state is judged on, each with Montana's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.
Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.
Read the Montana overview
Montana scores above the national average in 10 of 11 categories and ranks #4 of 13 states in the West, behind 3 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is unemployment rate (3.3%, 0.7 points below the national average); its biggest shortfall is typical home value ($471,746, 28% above the national average). With 5 top-10 finishes and no bottom-10 category, its weaknesses are relative, not absolute.
Where does Montana rank in each category?
All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. Montana is top 10 in 5 and bottom 10 in 0.
| Category | Score | Rank | Grade | Weight | US avg | The numbers behind it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 51.5 | #17 of 50 | B+ | 15% | 47.1 | Its unemployment rate is 3.3% and median household income is $75,340. |
| Safety | 60.9 | #36 of 50 | C | 12% | 68.9 | The FBI estimates 419.1 violent crimes and 1,448.5 property crimes per 100,000 residents. |
| Health | 58.9 | #22 of 50 | B | 12% | 54.4 | Life expectancy is 77.3 years, 31% of adults have obesity, and 8.8% of residents are uninsured. |
| Education | 67.1 | #12 of 50 | B+ | 12% | 57.5 | Eighth graders average 279 in NAEP math and 261 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 85.8%. |
| Affordability | 68.9 | #26 of 50 | B | 10% | 65.2 | Typical home value $471,746 (6.3x median income); cost of living index 94.6 (100 = US); center-based infant care $15,476 a year. |
| Fiscal Health | 59.5 | #24 of 50 | B | 8% | 58.1 | It carries $2,750 of debt per resident, has 73% of pensions funded, and holds a AA+ credit rating. |
| Growth | 53.6 | #6 of 50 | A | 7% | 38.8 | Population grew 0.63% last year; Census net domestic migration is +5.6 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series). |
| Transportation | 58.7 | #7 of 50 | A | 7% | 49.8 | The average commute is 19.5 minutes, 0.8% of workers use public transit, and 11.7% work from home. |
| Livability | 61.9 | #1 of 50 | A+ | 7% | 34.3 | It has 2.007 restaurants and 0.038 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.473 bars and 0.147 social associations per 1,000. |
| Outdoor Access | 71.7 | #3 of 50 | A+ | 6% | 29.4 | 29.9% of its land is public, with 6.8 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents. |
| Environment | 62.9 | #6 of 50 | A | 4% | 42.5 | Its median air quality index is 27, 53% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 49.8. |
Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.
Category shape
Montana's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; Montana bulges toward livability and dips at safety.
How expensive is Montana?
Montana's cost of living index is 94.6 against a national baseline of 100, 5% below the national average and #22 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $471,746 (28% above the national average); buying it takes an income of about $119,850, $44,510 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Butte is cheapest (index 91.6) and Belgrade priciest (102.5).
Housing market snapshot · August
Warm marketRanked #13 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #44 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $44,510 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.
Full Montana housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →What a household keeps at $75,000
| Household | Montana | Median state | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare | −$21,152 | −$11,758 | #33 of 50 |
| Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare | +$26,443 | +$31,418 | #38 of 50 |
| Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax | +$30,682 | +$35,970 | #37 of 50 |
Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.
What are taxes like in Montana?
Montana's tax mix is low sales tax, with income and property taxes in the middle of the pack. The total state and local tax burden comes to 7.87% of income, 0.9 points below the national average (#13 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 0.79% of home value (#21), and combined sales tax averages 0% (#2).
Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.
Can the state pay its bills?
Fiscal health scores 59.5 out of 100, #24 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.
Is Montana safe?
Montana reports 419 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 28% above the national average and #42 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,449 per 100,000, 6% below the national average (#26 of 50). The safety score is 60.9 out of 100, #36 of 50; among tracked cities, Whitefish has the lowest violent crime rate.
Montana vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents
FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.
Safest tracked cities in Montana
| City | Population | Violent / 100K | Property / 100K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitefish | 8,749 | 176 | 1,266 |
| Laurel | 7,215 | 303 | 3,100 |
| Livingston | 8,780 | 317 | 1,397 |
| Belgrade | 11,872 | 331 | 1,420 |
| Miles City | 8,407 | 356 | 1,686 |
Lowest violent crime among the 20 Montana cities we track. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.
What is the job market like in Montana?
Montana's unemployment rate is 3.3%, 0.7 points below the national average and #9 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $75,340, 7% below the national median. Real GDP grew +2% in the latest year (#21 of 50) and GDP per capita is $53,889, 16% below the national average. The population is growing 0.63% a year, 0.1 points above the national average. The economy score is 51.5 out of 100, #17 of 50.
Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.
Highest-paying tracked occupations in Montana, adjusted for cost of living
| Occupation | Cost-adjusted | Median wage | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $199,317 | $179,385 | Billings |
| Lawyers | $128,043 | $115,239 | Billings |
| Software Developers | $116,186 | $104,567 | Billings |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $92,892 | $83,603 | Billings |
| General & Operations Managers | $90,166 | $81,149 | Billings |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.
How are Montana's schools and healthcare?
Montana's education score is 67.1 out of 100, #12 of 50. Eighth graders average 279 in NAEP math (#10 of 50) and 261 in reading (#11 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 85.8%, 0.2 points above the national average (#30 of 50).
Best public school cities we track, by graduation rate
| City | Grad rate | Students / teacher | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitefish | 92% | 14.9 | $13,169 |
| Miles City | 92% | 15.4 | $12,179 |
| Bozeman | 87% | 16.9 | $11,937 |
NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey, latest release. Cities with at least three schools.
Montana is #22 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 77.3 years, 0.4 years above the national average. 31% of adults have obesity (#10 of 50) and 8.8% of residents have no health insurance (#36 of 50). The health score is 58.9 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.
CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.
Who is moving to Montana, and who is leaving?
Montana gained a net 3,096 households from other states in the latest IRS release: 21,390 moved in and 18,294 moved out, +2.7 per 1,000 residents (#6 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $79,110 against $65,164 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net +834 people (35.7K in, 34.9K out, ±6.6K), consistent with the IRS direction.
Where they come from
- 1California2,817 · $108,914
- 2Washington2,530 · $86,888
- 3Colorado1,469 · $93,519
- 4Oregon1,172 · $66,497
- 5Idaho1,126 · $68,888
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.
Where they go
- 1Washington1,936 · $63,208
- 2California1,338 · $71,176
- 3Arizona1,144 · $80,184
- 4Colorado1,085 · $65,856
- 5Idaho1,078 · $59,536
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.
Where should you live in Montana?
By composite score, the best of the 20 Montana cities we track are Bozeman (64.2), Belgrade (60.3), and Missoula (58.6). Butte is the cheapest (cost index 91.6), Belgrade the richest ($97,328), and Sidney the fastest growing (+2.7% a year). City ranks are among the 20 Montana cities we cover, not every city in the state.
Standout cities in Montana
| Best for | City | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Safest | Whitefish | 176 violent crimes per 100K |
| Cheapest | Butte | cost of living index 91.6 |
| Most walkable | Bozeman | walkability 15.3 of 20 |
| Cleanest air | Bozeman | median AQI 11 (county) |
| Best schools | Whitefish | 92% graduation rate |
| Richest | Belgrade | $97,328 |
Among the 20 Montana cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.
Regions of Montana
The state's price run: university, tech, Yellowstone traffic and Big Sky money; Bozeman, Belgrade and Livingston cost the most and grow the fastest outside the Flathead.
Kalispell, Whitefish and Evergreen under Glacier: lake and ski money, the fastest-growing tracked city, wildfire smoke in August and the longest drive to anywhere else in the state.
College town, capital and copper town on the same highway: milder, wetter, greener than the east, with Missoula's rents, Helena's state payroll and Butte's cheap old houses.
The largest city and the cheapest tracked one: refinery, rail, hospitals and the highest tracked crime, with Laurel and Lockwood and the plains starting at the city limit.
Great Falls, Havre, Lewistown, Miles City and Sidney: wheat, cattle, the air base and the Bakken edge; cheap houses, hard winters, long drives, and towns holding or shrinking.
All 20 tracked cities, best to worst
| # | City | Grade | Score | Population | Income | Violent / 100K | Cost index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bozeman | A | 64.2 | 56,114 | $85,747 | 397 | 102.5 |
| 2 | Belgrade | B+ | 60.3 | 11,872 | $97,328 | 331 | 102.5 |
| 3 | Missoula | B | 58.6 | 76,514 | $70,392 | 591 | 96.4 |
| 4 | Whitefish | B | 58.0 | 8,749 | $73,811 | 176 | 91.6 |
| 5 | Helena | B | 57.9 | 33,639 | $71,036 | 582 | 95.7 |
| 6 | Kalispell | B | 56.6 | 28,504 | $63,415 | 409 | 91.6 |
| 7 | Butte | B | 55.8 | 35,052 | $61,857 | — | 91.6 |
| 8 | Miles City | C+ | 54.8 | 8,407 | $67,727 | 356 | 91.6 |
| 9 | Helena Valley West Central | C+ | 54.8 | 8,056 | $90,082 | — | 95.7 |
| 10 | Sidney | C+ | 54.6 | 6,171 | $62,538 | 655 | 91.6 |
| 11 | Billings | C+ | 52.8 | 119,434 | $73,712 | 763 | 93.5 |
| 12 | Livingston | C+ | 52.7 | 8,780 | $65,861 | 317 | 91.6 |
| 13 | Anaconda | C+ | 52.6 | 9,597 | $57,527 | — | 91.6 |
| 14 | Laurel | C+ | 52.6 | 7,215 | $68,474 | 303 | 93.5 |
| 15 | Helena Valley Southeast | C | 50.4 | 9,108 | $74,075 | — | 95.7 |
| 16 | Evergreen | C | 50.3 | 9,611 | $76,446 | — | 91.6 |
| 17 | Great Falls | C | 50.1 | 60,329 | $63,373 | 631 | 96.8 |
| 18 | Lockwood | D | 48.7 | 7,181 | $75,700 | — | 93.5 |
| 19 | Lewistown | D | 48.0 | 6,087 | $48,750 | 639 | 91.6 |
| 20 | Havre | D | 43.8 | 9,258 | $50,329 | 763 | 91.6 |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 Montana cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.
Best cities in Montana for…
| # | City | Score | Education | Safety | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miles City | 62.4 | 59.4 | 72.0 | 83.0 |
| 2 | Butte | 61.6 | 51.3 | — | 81.4 |
| 3 | Laurel | 61.2 | 54.6 | 65.1 | 79.8 |
| 4 | Bozeman | 61.1 | 50.8 | 69.9 | 46.3 |
| 5 | Belgrade | 60.7 | 53.4 | 75.6 | 50.9 |
Who is Montana best for?
The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best Montana cities for each.
Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →
How does Montana compare with its neighbors?
Montana ranks #7. Among its bordering states, Wyoming ranks highest (#2) and North Dakota lowest (#5). North Dakota is the most similar on the composite score and Wyoming the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.
| State | Overall | Score | Median income | Typical home | Cost index | Violent crime | Tax burden | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | #7 | 75.0 | $75,340 | $471,746 | 94.6 | 419 | 7.87% | |
| Wyoming | #2 | 79.9 | $75,532 | $371,854 | 92.7 | 180 | 5.79% | Compare → |
| South Dakota | #3 | 79.3 | $76,881 | $321,574 | 88.6 | 308 | 6.46% | Compare → |
| Idaho | #4 | 78.4 | $81,166 | $478,744 | 95.5 | 217 | 7.54% | Compare → |
| North Dakota | #5 | 75.5 | $77,871 | $292,293 | 89 | 257 | 6.61% | Compare → |
| United States | — | 57.9 | $80,903 | $368,697 | 100 | 328 | 8.74% |
Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.
How the score works
Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.
The weights
Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.
From raw numbers to scores
Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.
Letter grades
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.
Cities, budgets and neighbors
The 20 Montana city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.
Editor's notes
Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.
Always the latest release
Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.
What the score cannot tell you
Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.
Category briefs
Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →
Key takeaways
What the Montana numbers say when read together.
Livability is Montana's strongest suit
Montana is a #7 state overall but #1 of 50 for livability, 6 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 61.9 against a national average of 34.3. Outdoor Access (#3) is next. Livability carries 7% of the composite.
Safety is where Montana falls furthest behind
Montana ranks #36 of 50 for safety, 29 places below its overall #7, with a score of 60.9 against a national average of 68.9. At 12% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.
Unemployment rate is 0.7 points below the national average
Montana's unemployment rate is 3.3%, 0.7 points below the national average of 3.95%, #9 of 50 (1 = lowest). The largest gap in the other direction is typical home value: $471,746, 28% above the national average. Source: BLS LAUS, latest release.
More households arrive than leave
Montana ranks #6 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (+2.7). The households arriving report $13,946 more in average income than those leaving ($79,110 against $65,164), so the state is trading up on income even as the headcount grows. The largest source is California; the largest destination is Washington.
A middle income is squeezed harder here than in most states
A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $21,152 shortfall after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#33 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $26,443 surplus; a retiree couple at a $30,682 surplus. Infant childcare runs $15,476 a year, 1% below the national average.
Every bordering state outranks Montana
All 4 of Montana's bordering states rank above its #7; the closest match on the composite is North Dakota. Median income among them runs from $75,532 in Wyoming to $81,166 in Idaho; Montana is at $75,340.
Frequently asked questions about living in Montana
Is Montana a good place to live?
Montana ranks #7 of 50 with an A grade, #4 of 13 in the West. It is top 10 in livability, outdoor access, growth, environment, and transportation. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 3 of 6 (cost of living, unemployment, and tax burden) and trails on income, home prices, and violent crime. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.
Where does Montana rank among US states?
Montana ranks #7 of 50 overall with a composite score of 75 (grade A), and #4 of 13 states in the West. Its best category rank is #1 (livability) and its worst #36 (safety). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so A means rank 6–10.
Is it expensive to live in Montana?
At #22 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), Montana is 5% below the national average: its index is 94.6 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $471,746 (28% above the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $119,850 against a median household income of $75,340. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $21,152 shortfall after all costs, #33 of 50 (1 = most left over).
Does Montana have a state income tax?
Yes. Montana's top state income tax rate is 5.9% (#30 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 7.87% of income, 0.9 points below the national average. Property tax is 0.79% of home value and combined sales tax 0%.
What is the crime rate in Montana?
Montana reports 419 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 28% above the national average and #42 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,449 property crimes per 100,000, 6% below the national average (#26). Its safety score is 60.9 out of 100, #36 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.
Does Montana have good schools?
Montana is #12 of 50 for education (score 67.1 out of 100). Its public school students average 279 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#10) and 261 in eighth-grade reading (#11), and the high school graduation rate is 85.8%, 0.2 points above the national average (#30). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Whitefish has the highest graduation rate at 92%.
Why are people moving to Montana?
Montana gained a net 3,096 households in the latest IRS release: 21,390 moved in and 18,294 moved out, +2.7 per 1,000 residents (#6 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is California (2,817 households) and the most common destination is Washington (1,936). Arriving households report an average income of $79,110 against $65,164 for those leaving, so movers in earn more than movers out. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.
Is Montana a red or blue state?
Montana leans red: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is R+10, meaning it votes about 10 points more Republican than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.
Why is housing so expensive in Montana?
Because demand arrived faster than houses could, with cash. 21,390 households moved in against 18,294 out, and arrivals report $79,110 against $65,164 for leavers. Most landed in Gallatin, Flathead and Missoula counties, where buildable land sits between public land and mountains. The result is price-to-income of 6.3x, #47. East of Billings none of this happened; Miles City still costs what a house should.
What are the downsides of living in Montana?
Housing, distance and smoke. Price to income is 6.3x, and wages have not followed. Distance means the nearest specialist, airport or big-box store can be hours away; broadband reaches 91.5% of households, #39. Smoke fills the western valleys most Augusts; Missoula adds winter inversions. Safety ranks #36, driven by Billings. And the sales-tax savings can vanish into a property tax reappraisal.
Where in Montana should I live?
Depends on whether you bring money or earn it. With equity or a remote salary, Bozeman, Whitefish and Missoula are the draw, at a price. On a local wage, Billings gives the most job market for the least house; Helena a state paycheck and a quiet town. Great Falls and Butte are value plays; Whitefish is the safest tracked city, at resort prices.
Does Montana get wildfires?
Yes, every summer, mostly west of the Continental Divide, and the FEMA risk index of 49.8 (#44) counts them with winter storms. The practical costs are three: fire insurance at the forest edge, harder to place each year; smoke from July into September, turning an air quality index of 27 into unhealthy days in Missoula; and evacuation planning up a single-lane canyon road.
Is Montana tax-friendly for retirees?
Partly. There is no sales tax, and property tax at 0.79% is 0.2 points below the national average, but Montana taxes income, pensions included, at a top rate of 5.9%. A retiree couple on $75,000 ends the year at a $30,682 surplus, #37, because housing eats the tax savings. Wyoming and South Dakota next door tax no income. The state ranks #10 for retirees on livability, not taxes.
Do I need a car in Montana?
Yes. 0.8% of commuters use transit; Missoula and Bozeman run bus systems that work for students and little else. Commutes average 19.5 minutes, #3 shortest, because towns are small, but the distances between towns are the real number: Billings to Missoula is most of a day, and winter can close the passes. Buy something with clearance and good tires, and budget gasoline at $3.33 per gallon.
All the numbers
Every metric behind Montana's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.