Missoula receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Rapid City
Missoula
Opportunity
71 · Top 21%
vs78 · Top 13%
Growth
65 · Top 26%
vs73 · Top 15%
Climate
54 · Bottom 9%
vs58 · Bottom 19%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 34%
vs66 · Top 36%
Housing affordability
87 · Bottom 30%
vs68 · Bottom 11%
Access
89 · Top 26%
vs92 · Top 20%
Economic stability
75 · Top 19%
vs85 · Top 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Rapid City | Missoula | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 152,950 | 125,631 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,255 | $74,989 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,169 | $45,638 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 20/sq mi | 33/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $307,700 | $466,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,140 | $1,184 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.1% | 59.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 2.0% | 3.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | 0.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.1% | 46.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 10.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 989 | 876 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 7.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -30.8% | 18.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 13°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 17.4" | 14.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 12 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 19.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.6 | 37.5 | 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
Rapid City
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire.
Missoula
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, avalanche, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Rapid City
69
Your Score
66
Area Score
Missoula
74
Your Score
72
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Rapid City, SD Metro Area · Missoula, MT Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology