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Government Data Sources

All rankings computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets. No proprietary, synthetic, or estimated data is used.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025) Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 Β· FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024 Β· America's Health Rankings, 2025 Β· WalletHub/NAEP, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Β· Cook Political Report, PVI 2024 Β· Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025 Β· ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025 Β· WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 Β· EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024 Β· FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025 Β· National Park Service API, 2024 Β· USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting) Β· FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024 Β· DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023 Β· NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24 Β· EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22 Β· NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23 Β· BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023 Β· NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023 Β· Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022 Β· S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025 Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023) Β· IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022

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AMERICA'S DASHBOARDRank & Score Every US State
StatesCities
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REAL DATA
National/MT/Best for Retirees
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Best Cities for Retirees in Montana

#11 of 50Β·Retirees Score: 75.3Β·See all 50 states β†’
Tax Burden
7.87%
% of income
Income Tax
5.9%
State + local
Life Expectancy
77.8 yr
CDC NCHS
Median Home Price
$523,000
Census / FHFA
Cost of Living
90
BEA RPP Β· 100 = avg

Why Montana Works for Retirees

Montana ranks #11 nationally for retirees, making it a strong destination for those entering their next chapter. The state's moderate fiscal health (60/100) and light overall tax burden of 7.87% help retirement savings go further.

For retirees, healthcare access and tax friendliness are non-negotiable. Montana's health score of 61/100 is middling β€” life expectancy of 77.8 years is roughly in line with national norms, but healthcare quality varies by region. On the tax front, the overall burden stands at 7.87% of income. The 5.9% income tax rate is worth factoring into retirement income projections. Property taxes run 0.79% (effective rate), which is among the lowest in the nation.

At $523,000, median home prices are above the national average β€” retirees relocating from lower-cost areas may face sticker shock. Safety is worth researching at the local level β€” the statewide safety score of 56/100 suggests some areas perform better than others. Community amenities like restaurants, cultural venues, and social organizations score well, suggesting an engaged and active retirement lifestyle is within reach.

All 20 Cities Ranked for Retirees

#CityGradeRetirees ScoreOverallHealthFiscal HealthAffordabilityPopulation
1Whitefish
A
63.961.67255578,422
2Belgrade
A
63.961.073566011,425
3Bozeman
A
62.562.979485555,042
4Helena Valley West Central
B+
62.558.86270668,224
5Kalispell
A
60.860.761486726,830
6Miles City
B+
60.857.85843748,412
7Missoula
B+
59.858.670477277,763
8Helena
B+
59.658.466546833,126
9Evergreen
B
58.956.46350708,908
10Sidney
B
57.453.55452726,235
11Livingston
B
56.754.86241688,635
12Laurel
B
56.753.65646727,198
13Lockwood
B
55.154.24746717,474
14Billings
C+
55.152.9575077120,874
15Helena Valley Southeast
B
55.054.05342689,533
16Butte-Silver Bow
C+
53.751.954367434,929
17Anaconda-Deer Lodge County
C+
53.552.95328759,512
18Great Falls
C+
53.552.049428060,412
19Lewistown
C+
53.451.75621756,028
20Havre
D
47.344.24635759,333

Compare: States with Similar Retirees Rankings

Nebraska
#678.5
North Dakota
#778.4
Minnesota
#878.2
Wyoming
#977.9

Also See: Montana for Other Lifestyles

🏠
Families
#15
πŸ’»
Remote Workers
#4
πŸ’Ό
Young Professionals
#7
πŸͺ
Small Business
#11
🌲
Outdoor Enthusiasts
#3

Data Sources

πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024πŸ“ŽFBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024πŸ“ŽAmerica's Health Rankings, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub/NAEP, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024πŸ“ŽCook Political Report, PVI 2024πŸ“ŽTax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025πŸ“ŽALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities, 2023πŸ“ŽEPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽFEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024πŸ“ŽFCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025πŸ“ŽNational Park Service API, 2024πŸ“ŽUSGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)πŸ“ŽFHWA Highway Statistics, 2023πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽEIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024πŸ“ŽDOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023πŸ“ŽNCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24πŸ“ŽEDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22πŸ“ŽNCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23πŸ“ŽBEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023πŸ“ŽNASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023πŸ“ŽCensus Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts, FY2022πŸ“ŽS&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)πŸ“ŽIRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022