Bozeman, MT vs Missoula, MT
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | BozemanBozeman, MT | MissoulaMissoula, MT | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Safe | Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Defensible | Defensible |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At +3.6% year-over-year job growth, Bozeman, MT and Missoula, MT show a 2.3-point difference in this metric, with Bozeman ranking in the 93rd percentile and Missoula in the 59th percentile according to 2023 Census figures. The cost of living index stands at 170 for Bozeman and 118 for Missoula, a 44% higher figure in Bozeman that places it in the 85th percentile versus Missoula's 61st percentile. Median rent in Bozeman is $1,611 compared to $1,120 in Missoula, again 44% higher and ranking in the 75th percentile versus the 43rd percentile.
Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 7 in Bozeman and 59 in Missoula, a difference of 8.5 times higher in Missoula, which ranks in the 92nd percentile compared to Bozeman's 13th percentile. Property crime per 100,000 people is 1,590 in Bozeman and 2,844 in Missoula, with Missoula 79% higher and in the 90th percentile versus Bozeman's 62nd percentile. The air quality index is 18 in Bozeman and 43 in Missoula, a 2.4 times higher reading in Missoula that places it in the 52nd percentile while Bozeman ranks in the 2nd percentile.
Healthcare access scores are 89 out of 100 in Bozeman and 100 out of 100 in Missoula, an 11-point difference with Missoula in the 90th percentile and Bozeman in the 58th percentile. The violent crime rate per 100,000 people is 380 in Bozeman and 586 in Missoula, with Missoula 54% higher and ranking in the 90th percentile versus Bozeman's 76th percentile.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Bozeman, MT | Missoula, MT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 17084th pctl | 11861st pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Bozeman, MT 170; Missoula, MT 118; Bozeman is 44% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $614,90088th pctl | $427,40074th pctl | Median home value: Bozeman, MT $614,900; Missoula, MT $427,400; Bozeman is 44% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,61175th pctl | $1,12043rd pctl | Median rent: Bozeman, MT $1,611; Missoula, MT $1,120; Bozeman is 44% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $79,90359th pctl | $65,32938th pctl | Median household income: Bozeman, MT $79,903; Missoula, MT $65,329; Bozeman is 22% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $113,59089th pctl | $83,03676th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Bozeman, MT $113,590; Missoula, MT $83,036; Bozeman is 37% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $166,97889th pctl | $122,06376th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Bozeman, MT $166,978; Missoula, MT $122,063; Bozeman is 37% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Missoula needs about
$52,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 170 vs 118). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Bozeman, MT | Missoula, MT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 2.3%4th pctl | 2.9%18th pctl | Unemployment: Bozeman, MT 2.3%; Missoula, MT 2.9%; Missoula is 0.6 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +3.6%93rd pctl | +1.3%59th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Bozeman, MT +3.6%; Missoula, MT +1.3%; Bozeman is 2.3 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $48,99476th pctl | $42,26962nd pctl | Per-capita income: Bozeman, MT $48,994; Missoula, MT $42,269; Bozeman is 16% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 14.8%65th pctl | 12.8%56th pctl | Poverty rate: Bozeman, MT 14.8%; Missoula, MT 12.8%; Bozeman is 2.0 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 15.4 min4th pctl | 16.6 min7th pctl | Average commute: Bozeman, MT 15.4 min; Missoula, MT 16.6 min; Missoula is 1 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 15.0%70th pctl | 13.7%65th pctl | Work from home: Bozeman, MT 15.0%; Missoula, MT 13.7%; Bozeman is 1.3 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | Job market: Bozeman, MT A+; Missoula, MT A-; Bozeman is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Bozeman, MT | Missoula, MT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 38076th pctl | 58690th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Bozeman, MT 380; Missoula, MT 586; Missoula is 54% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,59062nd pctl | 2,84490th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Bozeman, MT 1,590; Missoula, MT 2,844; Missoula is 79% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Flat | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Bozeman, MT A+; Missoula, MT F; Bozeman is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Bozeman, MT | Missoula, MT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Montana, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Montana →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Bozeman, MT | Missoula, MT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 1,880 mi98th pctl | 913 mi86th pctl | Nearest large city: Bozeman, MT 1,880 mi; Missoula, MT 913 mi; Bozeman is 2.1 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Great | Poor | Target proximity: Bozeman, MT A+; Missoula, MT D-; Bozeman is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 229 mi26th pctl | 147 mi16th pctl | Distance to international border: Bozeman, MT 229 mi; Missoula, MT 147 mi; Bozeman is 56% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 560 mi73rd pctl | 395 mi62nd pctl | Distance to coastline: Bozeman, MT 560 mi; Missoula, MT 395 mi; Bozeman is 42% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Defensible | Defensible | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Bozeman, MT | Missoula, MT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,04276th pctl | 75,60083rd pctl | Population: Bozeman, MT 55,042; Missoula, MT 75,600; Missoula is 37% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,57171st pctl | 2,15863rd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Bozeman, MT 2,571; Missoula, MT 2,158; Bozeman is 19% higher. |
| Median age | 28.65th pctl | 34.321st pctl | Median age: Bozeman, MT 28.6; Missoula, MT 34.3; Missoula is 5.7 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 65.1%92nd pctl | 51.7%81st pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Bozeman, MT 65.1%; Missoula, MT 51.7%; Bozeman is 13.4 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.218th pctl | 2.113th pctl | About the same |
More about Bozeman's residents · Missoula's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Bozeman and Missoula
- Median rent: $1,611 in Bozeman, $1,120 in Missoula
- Median home value: $614,900 in Bozeman, $427,400 in Missoula
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 170 in Bozeman, 118 in Missoula
- Median household income: $79,903 in Bozeman, $65,329 in Missoula
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $166,978 in Bozeman, $122,063 in Missoula
- Unemployment: 2.3% in Bozeman, 2.9% in Missoula
- Average commute: 15.4 min in Bozeman, 16.6 min in Missoula
- Violent crime per 100k: 380 in Bozeman, 586 in Missoula
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More places like Bozeman and Missoula
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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