Montana
Among the top 25% of US states for affordability.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B+, better than 75% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 25% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B+, better than 71% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 30% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade F, better than 6% of US states
- top 3% for sales tax
- top 4% for air quality
- bottom 1% for comfortable days
Montana is a U.S. state with about 1,092,000 residents. It grades B+ for affordability and F for lifestyle & connectivity. Standout strengths include sales tax, air quality, and commute time. It rates lower on airport distance and comfortable days.
Official websitemt.gov (opens in new tab)
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$66k22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$53kbetter than 46% of US states
Home Value$320k65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$973better than 69% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 51% of US states
Property Tax Rate0.81%better than 57% of US states
Income Tax5.88%better than 40% of US states
Sales Tax0.00%better than 97% of US states
Estimated total tax burden9.58%better than 58% of US states
Unemployment4.0%better than 78% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)24°F20th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)68°F4th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation16.7 in10th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall49.9 inbetter than 18% of US states
Sunny Days235 daysbetter than 59% of US states
Summer Humidity47°Fbetter than 92% of US states
Comfortable Days39 daysbetter than 1% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk67.1better than 82% of US states
Air Quality36 AQIbetter than 96% of US states
School Quality52.5better than 34% of US states
Violent Crime1234/100kbetter than 46% of US states
Property Crime1947/100kbetter than 40% of US states
Community
Population1,091,84014th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age40.582nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.218th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0392nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+1773rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)84.6%92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.5%2nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.2%12th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.8%6th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)9.9%90th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time19 minbetter than 94% of US states
Walkability8.1/20better than 37% of US states
Airport Distance281 mibetter than 4% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access86.5%better than 29% of US states
Amenities Nearby0.79better than 8% of US states
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 25% of US states
Frequently asked questions
- Is Montana an affordable place to live?
- Montana is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $53k, better than 46% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Montana?
- The median home value in Montana is $320k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Montana?
- Median household income in Montana is $66k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Montana?
- Median gross rent in Montana is $973 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Montana safe?
- Montana is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1234/100k (better than 46%). Property crime is 1947/100k.
- What is the weather like in Montana?
- Montana averages 68°F in July and 24°F in January, with 16.7 in of annual precipitation and about 235 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Montana?
- Public-school quality in Montana is below average, scoring better than 34% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Montana?
- The average one-way commute in Montana is 19 min.
Best places to live in Montana
Top cities in Montana
Counties in Montana
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)