Metro

Missoula, Montana Metro Retirement Score

Missoula is a stronger fit for retirees who prioritize cleaner air and lower risk profile, but it is less appealing for those who prioritize lower housing costs are a top priority.

Overall Retirement Score
66
Above average

Quick takeaway

Best for: cleaner air, lower risk profile, climate comfort

Think twice if: lower housing costs are a top priority, a stronger retiree community fit matters most

Score breakdown

Affordability
47
Expensive for retirees
Healthcare Access
63
Around average
Climate Comfort
66
Above average
Disaster Risk
77
Above average
Air Quality
83
Strong
Retiree Fit
62
Around average

At a glance

Median rent
$1,118
Median home value
$466,400
Age 65+
17%
Climate
Four seasons, lower heat burden
Healthcare
Smaller-market but workable
Risk
Relatively favorable
Air quality
Strong

Good fit for

Retirees who care more about cleaner air, lower risk profile, and overall practicality than their main tradeoff category.

Less ideal for

Retirees who need lower housing costs are a top priority or a stronger retiree community fit matters most to be clear strengths.

Biggest strengths

  • Air Quality is one of the strongest parts of the profile.
  • Disaster Risk helps this place stand out from weaker alternatives.

Biggest tradeoffs

  • Affordability is a meaningful weakness here.
  • Retiree Fit is more mixed than the strongest categories.

Affordability

Missoula scores around average for affordability. Housing and cost pressure are more of a tradeoff in this profile.

Healthcare Access

Healthcare access is around average here based on provider availability and broader access signals.

Climate Comfort

Climate comfort is above average here. Four seasons, lower heat burden is one of the clearer parts of the profile.

Disaster Risk

Disaster risk is above average here. Relatively favorable is a meaningful part of the long-term tradeoff.

Air Quality

Air quality is strong here based on annual summary measures.

Retiree Fit

Retiree fit is around average here and helps show how retirement-oriented the place may feel.

How to interpret this retirement score

Use the overall score as a quick summary, then look at the category scores to see whether affordability, healthcare access, climate comfort, air quality, disaster risk, or retiree fit is driving the result. A place can still be a good fit for you even if one category is a clear tradeoff.

Best next step after this page

Use compare pages when you have two realistic finalists. If you are still building the shortlist, use the related rankings and the broader state page to find nearby or similarly ranked alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

Is Missoula, Montana Metro affordable for retirees?

Missoula scores around average for affordability. Housing and cost pressure are more of a tradeoff in this profile.

What is the biggest retirement tradeoff here?

Affordability is the clearest tradeoff in this profile.

What to do next

Use this page as a narrowing step, then compare it directly against nearby or similarly ranked counties and metros. The overall score is the summary; the category scores explain the tradeoffs.