Missoula County, Montana Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
Missoula County, MT Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
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A
Health Above averageAmong the top 3 healthiest counties in Montana
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C
Income Below average
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B
Education Around averageAmong the top 3 best educated counties in Montana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Missoula County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 120,671 | 1,116,812 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 46.1 | 7.6 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.82% | 1.09% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 38.3 | 40.7 | 37.3 |
| Households | 52,679 | 458,835 | 130,235,071 |
Population in Missoula County grew by 14.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 120,671 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in Missoula County is Gen Z, aged 13–28, at 26.9% of residents. That is 5.4 points above Montana as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 32,449 26.9% +5.4 pts
- Millennials 29–44 27,667 22.9% +2.5 pts
- Gen X 45–60 22,230 18.4% -1.0 pts
- Boomers 61–79 18,990 15.7% -3.7 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below Montana, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 49.4% of the people living in Missoula County and men 50.6%.
- Women 49.4% Montana 49.4%
- Men 50.6% Montana 50.6%
How many residents match a customer profile?
Residents matching this profile
100% of everyone living in Missoula County
Pick an age range and a women/men split and the figure above answers with how many residents that profile reaches.
Economy
Missoula County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Missoula County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $75,565 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.24% | 5.17% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Missoula County is about 4% higher than in Montana.
Housing
| Metric | Missoula County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $463,380 | $249,140 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $1,189 | $1,081 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 58.8% | 69.2% | 65.2% |
The median home price in Missoula County is about 32.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,189 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Missoula County spend about 32 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 134 hours, about 5.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Missoula County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 16.1 | 16.0 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 32.2 | 32.1 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 134 | 134 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,164 | $4,143 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,990 | 2,162 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,202 | 403 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Montana:
Treasure County (7.2 min), Rosebud County (8.2 min), Fallon County (8.4 min).
Slowest:
Broadwater County (30.3 min), Stillwater County (27.8 min), Granite County (23.3 min).
The average commute time in Missoula County is about the same as in Montana.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Missoula County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Missoula County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.1% | 31.3% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.23 | 2.37 | 2.53 |
Highest education index among counties in
Montana:
Gallatin County (0.4), Missoula County (0.3), Lewis and Clark County (0.3).
Lowest:
Liberty County (0.2), Toole County (0.2), Wheatland County (0.2).
Health
Missoula County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Missoula County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.1 | 79.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 10.4% | 14.7% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 14.2% | 18.8% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Montana:
Gallatin County (0.8), Missoula County (0.8), Granite County (0.8).
Lowest:
Glacier County (0.7), Big Horn County (0.8), Roosevelt County (0.8).
Missoula County, MT Compared With Nearby Counties
How Missoula County, MT compares with the 2 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula County, MT | 120,671 | $75,565 #1/3 | $463,380 #2/3 | 16.1 min #1/3 |
| Lake County, MT | 32,553 | $63,733 | $402,194 | 17.1 min |
| Ravalli County, MT | 46,722 | $71,257 | $1,571,428 | 18.5 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Missoula County, Montana.
What is the population of Missoula County, Montana?
About 120,671 people live in Missoula County, Montana, in 52,679 households of 2.2 people on average. The median age is 38.3, close to the U.S. median of 37.3.
Is Missoula County, Montana urban or rural?
Averaged over its land area, Missoula County, Montana has 46 people per square mile, a density typical of rural areas. That is about 53% of the U.S. average of 86.
How affordable is housing in Missoula County, Montana?
The median home costs 6.1 times the median household income ($463,380 against $75,565), compared with 3.1 times nationally. A ratio of about 3 is traditionally considered affordable. Median rent of $1,189 a month takes about 19% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
Is unemployment high in Missoula County, Montana?
Unemployment in Missoula County, Montana is only 3.7%, well below the U.S. rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
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