19 have matched ACS place data.
wheretolive.us
Real data. Smarter moves. Better living.
State index
Montana state guide
Compare large Montana cities by 2025 Census population, young-grad fit, BLS state unemployment, schooling access, cost pressure, commute, and safety-check notes. The current Montana subset includes 19 Northeast city pages with a combined 2025 population estimate of 517,258.
What the current Montana catalog shows
Kalispell, Montana has the strongest verified population-growth signal in this Montana subset at +27.02% since the 2020 estimates base. Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, Montana has the lowest ACS rent-to-income baseline among the matched catalog cities at 14.5%. These figures describe the WhereToLive.us city subset, not a statewide average.
Median of matched city ACS gross-rent estimates; not a statewide rent.
Median of matched city ACS household-income estimates; not a statewide income.
Median of matched city ACS owner-occupied home values.
Helena, Montana leads this subset at 83/100.
Median of matched city approximate ACS commute estimates.
| City | Catalog | Grad fit | Median rent | Median income | 2025 population | City unemployment | Growth | Jobs | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, Montana | State starter | 72/100 | $1,138 | $73,712 | 121,239 | 3.5% | +3.49% | strong | rent watch |
| Missoula, Montana | Montana coverage | 79/100 | $1,189 | $70,392 | 78,903 | 3.8% | +6.35% | strong | rent watch |
| Great Falls, Montana | Montana coverage | 66/100 | $900 | $63,373 | 60,208 | 3.7% | -0.45% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Bozeman, Montana | Montana coverage | 78/100 | $1,717 | $85,747 | 58,814 | 3.0% | +9.74% | strong | rent stretched |
| Butte-Silver Bow, Montana | Montana coverage | 73/100 | $856 | $61,857 | 35,469 | 4.0% | +2.82% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Helena, Montana | Montana coverage | 83/100 | $1,092 | $71,036 | 35,138 | 2.9% | +9.44% | strong | rent watch |
| Kalispell, Montana | Montana coverage | 80/100 | $1,078 | $63,415 | 31,851 | 2.6% | +27.02% | strong | rent watch |
| Belgrade, Montana | Montana coverage | 76/100 | $1,877 | $97,328 | 13,107 | 3.0% | +25.17% | strong | rent stretched |
| Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, Montana | Montana coverage | 71/100 | $696 | $57,527 | 9,709 | 3.4% | +2.99% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Whitefish, Montana | Montana coverage | 82/100 | $1,354 | $73,811 | 9,358 | 2.4% | +20.22% | strong | rent watch |
| Livingston, Montana | 2025 population #3383 | 78/100 | $1,046 | $65,861 | 9,290 | 1.9% | +7.76% | strong | rent watch |
| Havre, Montana | 2025 population #3394 | 64/100 | $844 | $50,329 | 9,264 | 2.9% | -0.90% | strong | rent watch |
| Miles City, Montana | 2025 population #3616 | 69/100 | $926 | $67,727 | 8,450 | 3.9% | +1.29% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Laurel, Montana | 2025 population #4001 | 67/100 | $974 | $68,474 | 7,205 | 2.4% | -0.19% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Sidney, Montana | 2025 population #4341 | 64/100 | $931 | $62,538 | 6,217 | 3.4% | -1.91% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Lewistown, Montana | 2025 population #4353 | 66/100 | $1,007 | $48,750 | 6,179 | 7.0% | +3.73% | strong | rent stretched |
| Columbia Falls, Montana | 2025 population #4536 | 79/100 | $1,016 | $75,766 | 5,753 | 5.6% | +8.12% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Polson, Montana | 2025 population #4567 | 79/100 | $912 | $53,418 | 5,653 | 7.9% | +9.64% | strong | rent watch |
| Hamilton, Montana | 2025 population #4667 | 77/100 | $947 | $49,204 | 5,451 | 2.0% | +16.28% | strong | rent stretched |