1st Advantage MortgageThe median Missoula County household earns $75,598, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Missoula County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Missoula County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Missoula County
- The Missoula County job picture
- Where Missoula County households live
- Missoula County at the extremes
- Counties near Missoula County
- Missoula and the rest of Missoula County
- Missoula County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Missoula County
- Debt-to-income, Missoula County edition
- Before you sign
- Montana lender licensing
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Missoula County at a glance
With an estimated 120,672 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Missoula County ranks 3rd of 56 in Montana for population. Land area is 2,593 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 47 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Missoula, MT metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 17 places in the county (1 incorporated, 16 census-designated); the largest is Missoula, with about 76,514 residents, or 63% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Missoula County
Median household income in Missoula County: $75,598 (4% above Montana, $72,509). That places it 9th among Montana's 56 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Missoula County | +/- vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.9% | -0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | -1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.3% | +0.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.2% | +1.1 pts |
22% under $35,000 and 36% at $100,000 or more: that is the Missoula County income split. The poverty rate is 10.1%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.5%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Missoula County job picture
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 13% locally and 10% for Montana. The survey's unemployment rate for Missoula County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). About 69% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Missoula County workers | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.4% | +3.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.3% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -2.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.6% | +0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Where Missoula County households live
$1,190 a month is the median gross rent in Missoula County, 10% above the state. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. Missoula County homes are worth $472,100 at the median, a 6.2-to-1 ratio to income. Homeowners 59%, renters 41%. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| Housing | Missoula County | Montana statewide | Missoula County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,190/mo | $1,081/mo | 10% higher |
| Median home value | $472,100 | $375,800 | 26% higher |
| Owners | 59% | 69% | -10.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 45% | +3.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 30% | -1.5 pts |
| Vacant units | 7% | 13% | -5.7 pts |
Missoula County at the extremes
Ranked against the other 55 county-level areas in Montana, these are the Missoula County figures furthest from the middle.
- Homeownership: 59% in Missoula County, the lowest of 56 in Montana. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
- The housing vacancy rate: 7% in Missoula County. Only 1 of 56 Montana counties are lower. Low vacancy tends to push rents up over time.
- The share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 47% in Missoula County. Only 1 of 56 Montana counties are higher. Student loan payments count in a debt-to-income ratio, so list them.
- Missoula County ranks 3rd highest of 56 Montana counties for median gross rent: $1,190/mo, against $1,081/mo statewide. Rent this high leaves less room in a debt-to-income test.
Counties near Missoula County
Six nearby counties, 43 to 71 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Missoula County's $75,598 median trails 1 of the six and beats 5; the range runs $59,265 (Granite County) to $78,237 (Lewis and Clark County).
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula County | - | $75,598 | $1,190/mo | 59% |
| Lake County, MT | 43 mi | $63,360 | $901/mo | 75% |
| Powell County, MT | 47 mi | $66,923 | $820/mo | 73% |
| Granite County, MT | 49 mi | $59,265 | $675/mo | 78% |
| Mineral County, MT | 57 mi | $63,450 | $801/mo | 81% |
| Ravalli County, MT | 66 mi | $71,283 | $1,054/mo | 79% |
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 71 mi | $78,237 | $1,102/mo | 70% |
Missoula and the rest of Missoula County
The table lists the 14 largest of 17 Census places in Missoula County, by population. Together all 17 hold about 98,487 people, so roughly 18% of residents live outside any named place. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $80,843, Turah over Seeley Lake. Missoula and every other Missoula County community use this county guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | city | 76,514 | $70,392 | $1,189 | 12 mi |
| Orchard Homes | CDP | 5,588 | $64,904 | $1,000 | 15 mi |
| Lolo | CDP | 4,314 | $86,065 | $1,139 | 20 mi |
| East Missoula | CDP | 2,099 | $57,500 | $1,050 | 11 mi |
| Frenchtown | CDP | 1,927 | $94,500 | $1,609 | 17 mi |
| Bonner-West Riverside | CDP | 1,563 | $62,039 | $1,105 | 10 mi |
| Seeley Lake | CDP | 1,496 | $49,574 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Wye | CDP | 1,055 | $109,625 | $1,802 | 12 mi |
| Clinton | CDP | 1,040 | $103,750 | $1,565 | 19 mi |
| Carlton | CDP | 682 | $107,155 | n/a | 25 mi |
| Turah | CDP | 543 | $130,417 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Evaro | CDP | 466 | $70,469 | $1,153 | 7 mi |
| Piltzville | CDP | 383 | $68,867 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Twin Creeks | CDP | 361 | $86,029 | n/a | 11 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Missoula County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 47% of adults over 25. Health coverage gaps: 6.1% of Missoula County residents are uninsured.
| Residents | Missoula County | Difference from Montana | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | -3.3 yrs | -4.4 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 47.4% | +12.3 pts | +25.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 3.4% | -2.0 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | -2.5 pts | -1.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | +0.5 pts | -0.2 pts |
| Work from home | 14.6% | +2.1 pts | +5.9 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | -1.4 pts | -3.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | +0.1 pts | -0.7 pts |
| Minutes to work | Missoula County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.5% |
| 60+ min | 3.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Missoula County
A few patterns in the Missoula County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Missoula County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Debt-to-income, Missoula County edition
DTI math using Missoula County medians ($75,598 income, $1,190 rent):
- $6,300 a month: gross income for a household at the Missoula County median
- Median rent: $1,190, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $2,268 total minus rent leaves $1,078
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Missoula County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Missoula County borrowers:
- Price the Missoula County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Missoula County credit union about member loans.
Montana lender licensing
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Missoula County, check the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Montana: Montana personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
No city in Missoula County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is $75,598 a good income in Missoula County?
It is the county median, so half of Missoula County households earn more and half less; 36% earn $100,000 or more.
How much is rent in Missoula County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,190 a month; 48% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Is Potomac covered?
Yes. Potomac is one of 17 Census places in Missoula County, and this guide covers all of them.
Can Missoula County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Montana county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
What agency protects Missoula County borrowers?
The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions at the state level and the CFPB federally.