RANK #710 / 1001 NAT · POP 120,672
1YR FORECAST: -0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +25%
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.
Missoula County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.0% YoY, population +0.9%, wages +6.0%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Speculative pricing
Housing looks overvalued at 13.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 28/100, Missoula County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $75,598 combined with job growth of +0.1% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Missoula County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $472,100 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.16 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,190/month on average.
Missoula County's population is growing — up +0.9% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.1%). Home values shifted +1.0% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.45% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Missoula County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.