Gallatin County vs Missoula County
Gallatin County, Montana versus Missoula County, Montana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Gallatin County edges out Missoula County on overall objective livability (45 vs 41 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Gallatin County | Missoula County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $83k | $67k |
| Cost of Living | $63k | $52k |
| Home Value | $527k | $382k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $29k | $30k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.65% | 0.94% |
| Income Tax | 5.90% | 5.90% |
| Sales Tax | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.00% | 11.25% |
| Unemployment | 2.1% | 4.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 22°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 67°F | 68°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.8 in | 19.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 79.3 in | 48.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 225 days | 212 days |
| Summer Humidity | 47°F | 45°F |
| Comfortable Days | 23 days | 32 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 81.0 | 77.0 |
| Air Quality | 26 AQI | 53 AQI |
| School Quality | 49.1 | 53.5 |
| Violent Crime | 852/100k | 1426/100k |
| Property Crime | 1295/100k | 2536/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 119,685 | 118,541 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 36.7 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.16 | 0.20 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.09 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | Even | D+24 |
| White (%) | 89.7% | 87.4% |
| Black (%) | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.3% | 3.6% |
| Asian (%) | 1.4% | 1.8% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.2% | 6.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 10.9/20 | 11.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 272 mi | 167 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 91.4% | 91.5% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.42 | 0.34 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Gallatin County or Missoula County more affordable?
- Missoula County has the lower cost of living: its index is $52k, compared with Gallatin County's $63k and Missoula County's $52k. Median rent is $1k in Gallatin County versus $1k in Missoula County.
- Is Gallatin County or Missoula County safer?
- Gallatin County has the lower violent crime rate. Gallatin County reports 852/100k and Missoula County reports 1426/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Gallatin County or Missoula County?
- The median home value is $527k in Gallatin County and $382k in Missoula County, so homes are more affordable in Missoula County.