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Gilman vs Helena Valley Northwest

Gilman, Montana versus Helena Valley Northwest, Montana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Gilman

Mixed · objective livability50/100

Helena Valley Northwest

Mixed · objective livability43/100

Gilman edges out Helena Valley Northwest on overall objective livability (50 vs 43 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorGilmanHelena Valley Northwest
Affordability
Median Household Income$85k$99k
Cost of Living$53k$53k
Home Value$217k$339k
Monthly Rent$2k
Monthly Owner Costs$14$1k
Property Tax Rate0.58%0.75%
Income Tax5.90%5.90%
Sales Tax0.00%0.00%
Estimated total tax burden7.37%8.47%
Unemployment0.0%2.3%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)24°F23°F
Summer Temp (Jul)68°F69°F
Annual Precipitation15.5 in11.6 in
Annual Snowfall45.9 in37.2 in
Sunny Days244 days244 days
Summer Humidity44°F44°F
Comfortable Days35 days41 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk48.564.7
Air Quality40 AQI45 AQI
School Quality41.946.5
Violent Crime1287/100k1287/100k
Property Crime1922/100k1922/100k
Community
Population255,143
Median Age58.935.3
Racial Diversity0.000.16
Male/Female Ratio0.920.93
Political LeaningEvenEven
White (%)100.0%91.1%
Black (%)0.0%0.0%
Hispanic (%)0.0%1.3%
Asian (%)0.0%0.1%
Other / Multiracial (%)0.0%7.5%
Getting Around
Walkability5.5/207.2/20
Airport Distance242 mi264 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access73.3%93.1%
Amenities Nearby1600.009.72
Park & Nature AccessLimitedModerate

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 Gilman or Helena Valley Northwest more affordable?
Helena Valley Northwest has the lower cost of living: its index is $53k, compared with Gilman's $53k and Helena Valley Northwest's $53k.
Is Gilman or Helena Valley Northwest safer?
Helena Valley Northwest has the lower violent crime rate. Gilman reports 1287/100k and Helena Valley Northwest reports 1287/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Gilman or Helena Valley Northwest?
The median home value is $217k in Gilman and $339k in Helena Valley Northwest, so homes are more affordable in Gilman.
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