Garrison vs Helena West Side
Garrison, Montana versus Helena West Side, Montana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Helena West Side edges out Garrison on overall objective livability (52 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Garrison | Helena West Side |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $44k | $71k |
| Cost of Living | $47k | $54k |
| Home Value | $173k | $334k |
| Monthly Rent | $475 | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $29 | $551 |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.27% | 0.86% |
| Income Tax | 5.90% | 5.90% |
| Sales Tax | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.95% | 9.94% |
| Unemployment | 7.7% | 0.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 22°F | 23°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 66°F | 69°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.6 in | 14.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.5 in | 37.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 244 days | 244 days |
| Summer Humidity | 44°F | 44°F |
| Comfortable Days | 18 days | 43 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 81.9 | 54.8 |
| Air Quality | 42 AQI | 47 AQI |
| School Quality | 84.0 | 46.5 |
| Violent Crime | 1331/100k | 721/100k |
| Property Crime | 623/100k | 522/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 127 | 1,591 |
| Median Age | 19.8 | 35.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.00 | 0.15 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.35 | 0.84 |
| Political Leaning | R+52 | R+34 |
| White (%) | 100.0% | 91.3% |
| Black (%) | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Asian (%) | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 0.0% | 7.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Walkability | 6.5/20 | 8.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 234 mi | 265 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 62.2% | 96.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.00 | 1213.07 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: 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 Garrison or Helena West Side more affordable?
- Garrison has the lower cost of living: its index is $47k, compared with Garrison's $47k and Helena West Side's $54k. Median rent is $475 in Garrison versus $2k in Helena West Side.
- Is Garrison or Helena West Side safer?
- Helena West Side has the lower violent crime rate. Garrison reports 1331/100k and Helena West Side reports 721/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Garrison or Helena West Side?
- The median home value is $173k in Garrison and $334k in Helena West Side, so homes are more affordable in Garrison.