Department of Numbers

Missoula County Montana Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Missoula County MT was $909 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Missoula County was $1,033 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Missoula County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Missoula County rental vacancy rates, Missoula County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Missoula County.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Missoula County Montana (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Montana Median Gross Rent $831 +0.61% +7.09%
Missoula County MT Median Gross Rent $909 +4.24% +6.07%

Missoula County MT Real Gross Rent Trends

At $909, real median gross rent in Missoula County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,033, real average gross rent in Missoula County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Missoula County MT Median, Missoula County MT Average, Montana Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Missoula County

Date US
Median
Montana
Median
Missoula County MT
Median
Missoula County MT
Average
2019 $1,097 $831 $909 $1,033
2018 $1,077 $826 $872 $879
2017 $1,043 $783 $807 $859
2016 $1,027 $776 $857 $847
2015 $1,017 $809 $817 $833
2014 $986 $751 $787 $845
2013 $953 $727 $818 $873
2012 $940 $724 $776 $822
2011 $941 $702 $786 $810
2010 $955 $717 $831 $835
2009 $960 $715 $762 $841

more history ...

Missoula County Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2017 the rental vacancy rate for Missoula County Montana was 3.79% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Missoula County Montana

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Montana 7.08% -0.36% +0.90%
Missoula County MT

Trends in Missoula County MT Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Missoula County peaked in 2006 at 7.92%. Since then it has fallen by 4.13% to 3.79%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2008 post peak low of 2.96%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.83%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Missoula County MT, Montana, US

Rental vacancy rate in Montana

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Missoula County

Date US Montana Missoula County MT
2019 5.97% 7.08%
2018 6.15% 7.44%
2017 6.18% 6.15% 3.79%
2016 5.89% 6.18%
2015 5.85% 5.44%
2014 6.32% 6.13% 4.91%
2013 6.49% 5.47%
2012 6.77% 6.78%
2011 7.40% 7.56% 4.32%
2010 8.17% 6.76% 4.73%
2009 8.43% 6.58% 7.25%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Missoula County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Missoula County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.02% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Missoula County Montana Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Montana 17.45% -0.14% -0.33%
Missoula County MT 19.02% +0.85% -2.07%

Trends in Missoula County MT Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Missoula County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.58%. Since then it has fallen by 2.56% to 19.02%. From a 2017 low of 17.30%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 1.72%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Missoula County MT, Montana, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Missoula County Montana

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Missoula County Montana

Date US Montana Missoula County MT
2019 20.03% 17.45% 19.02%
2018 20.50% 17.59% 18.17%
2017 20.13% 17.06% 17.30%
2016 20.43% 17.77% 21.09%
2015 20.63% 18.49% 21.58%
2014 20.89% 18.42% 20.19%
2013 20.78% 17.63% 19.39%
2012 20.65% 18.13% 19.19%
2011 20.70% 17.64% 20.83%
2010 20.50% 18.06% 19.58%
2009 20.12% 17.78% 20.59%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Missoula County Montana

You can calculate the renter fraction in Missoula County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Missoula County as a fraction of total Missoula County households. In 2019 37.72% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Missoula County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Montana 31.12% -1.42% -0.87%
Missoula County MT 37.72% -5.00% -2.73%

Trends in the Missoula County MT Renter Fraction

The Missoula County household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 43.02% and is now 5.30% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Missoula County MT, Montana, US

Fraction of renters in Missoula County

History of Missoula County Renter Fraction

Date US Montana Missoula County MT
2019 35.89% 31.12% 37.72%
2018 36.05% 32.54% 42.72%
2017 36.13% 30.85% 42.11%
2016 36.88% 31.99% 40.45%
2015 36.97% 33.34% 41.30%
2014 36.90% 33.61% 41.65%
2013 36.50% 33.12% 43.02%
2012 36.09% 32.95% 41.84%
2011 35.42% 32.08% 42.78%
2010 34.65% 30.32% 36.84%
2009 34.13% 30.78% 42.40%

more history ...

1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability.

2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series.

3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied.