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Missoula County, MT

RANK #469 / 996  ·  POP 118,541  ·  MT

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.8%

Missoula County sits in the middle of the pack — stable but not accelerating.

[01] Why Missoula County?

Missoula County, Montana, is defined by its natural setting, where three major rivers converge amidst five valleys and mountainous terrain. The county seat, Missoula, is approximately 115 miles northwest of Helena, the state capital. The community offers extensive outdoor recreation, including fishing, rafting, kayaking, and hiking in areas like the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and along the Clark Fork River. Missoula County maintains 91 parks and over 40 miles of trails, supporting a lifestyle connected to the outdoors. Public transportation, including a free bus service, helps residents navigate the area.

Life in Missoula County appeals to those seeking access to nature and a community-oriented atmosphere. The Missoula County Public Schools system serves over 8,400 students across seventeen K-12 schools, along with preschool and adult education programs. The economy sees growth in various sectors, with recent development efforts focused on improving infrastructure to support manufacturing, technology, and tourism. The county has also seen an increase in its workforce and population, with a notable percentage of residents working remotely.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
6.4x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+3.9%

Above national median

Home Prices
+0.8%

Below national median

Climate & Terrain
1.7

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
21x

Prices detached from rents

Housing is fairly valued at 6.4x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Missoula County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
118,541
+0.99% YoY
Median Household Income
$66,840
Median Home Value
$382,400
+0.76% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,068
Average Annual Pay
$59,583
+4.8% YoY
Employment
65,649
+1.3% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.1748
Less affordable than average
Migration Inflow
3.88%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$557,350
Days on Market
98
Slower market
Months of Supply
5.2
Buyer's market
Listings w/ Price Drops
13.4%
Building Permits (2024)
773
Single-Family Permits
380

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$700M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Krambu AI Data Center
Krambu
$500M Proposed
Clinton Community Microgrid (1 MW Solar + 2 MWh Battery Storage)
Missoula Electric Cooperative
$50M Planned
Diversified Plastics Manufacturing Expansion
Diversified Plastics, Inc.
$50M Operating
Blackfoot Crossing Development
Undisclosed
$50M Planned
Grant Creek Crossing Targeted Economic Development District (Infrastructure)
Missoula County
$50M Planned

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +3.9% 72 percentile
Population Growth +1.0% 72 percentile
Income Growth +8.8% 59 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.1% 50 percentile
Home Price Change +0.8% 41 percentile
Rent Growth +3.5% 60 percentile
Price/Rent 21x 5 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Missoula County, MT a good place to move to?

Missoula County has a Boom Town Index score of 53/100, ranking #469 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.3% and a median household income of $66,840, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Missoula County affordable?

The median home value in Missoula County is $382,400 with median rent at $1,068/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1748, which is less affordable than the national average.

Is Missoula County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +1.0% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.3%. Home values changed +0.8% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Missoula County?

Yes — 3.88% of Missoula County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Wilkes County, NC 63 San Francisco County, CA 63 Union County, NJ 63 Carbon County, PA 63 Natrona County, WY 63 Washington County, MD 63 Hunterdon County, NJ 63 Bucks County, PA 63