Signals
Great Falls
Moses Lake
Growth
50 · Top 49%
vs57 · Top 39%
Climate
56 · Bottom 13%
vs64 · Bottom 44%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 32%
vs63 · Top 39%
Housing affordability
90 · Bottom 36%
vs87 · Bottom 30%
Access
94 · Top 18%
vs95 · Top 17%
Economic stability
61 · Top 37%
vs48 · Bottom 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Great Falls | Moses Lake | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 84,606 | 101,799 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,690 | $73,267 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,795 | $33,242 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 31/sq mi | 38/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $265,300 | $299,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $939 | $1,116 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.5% | 66.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.4% | 18.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 15.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 250 | 403 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.0 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 28.9% | -26.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 15°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 14.8" | 7.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 21.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.6 | 33.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Great Falls
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Moses Lake
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, cold wave, earthquake.
Your best match
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Great Falls
68
Your Score
65
Area Score
Moses Lake
69
Your Score
—
Area Score
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Full profiles: Great Falls, MT Metro Area · Moses Lake, WA Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology