Residential comparison · 13 facts
Great Falls, MT vs Helena, MT
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Great Falls needs about $88,500 in Helena to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Helena, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $81,500 in Great Falls.
A few differences
- Helena is higher on median household income ($71,036 vs $63,373).
- Great Falls is lower on cost of living index (86 vs 96).
- Great Falls is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($956/mo vs $1,151/mo).
Great Falls vs Helena · facet by facet
| Facet | Great Falls, MT | Helena, MT |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $257,000 | $387,300 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $956/mo | $1,151/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| State & local income tax | 3.29% | 3.29% |
| Sales tax | 0% | 0% |
| Cost of living index | 86 | 96 |
| Groceries index | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | $130/mo | $130/mo |
| Median household income | $63,373 | $71,036 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| Crime index | 48/100 | 48/100 |
| School rating | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 190 days | 190 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Great Falls, MT · Helena, MT
Questions & answers
- Is Great Falls cheaper than Helena?
- Great Falls has the lower day-to-day cost index (86 vs 96 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Helena equals $85,000 in Great Falls?
- A household earning $85,000 in Great Falls needs about $88,500 in Helena to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Helena lifestyle costs about $81,500 in Great Falls.