Darby, MT vs Helena West Side, MT

Darby is moderately more affordable than Helena West Side, with a 9.7% lower cost of living index. Darby scores 81 compared to 90 for Helena West Side, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Helena West Side can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Darby is $883/month compared to $781/month in Helena West Side — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Helena West Side has cheaper rent, Darby actually has lower median home values ($263,200 vs $411,800).

Median household income in Darby is $40,943 compared to $67,692 in Helena West Side (-39.5%). While Helena West Side is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Darby spend roughly 25.9% of their income on rent, more than the 13.8% in Helena West Side.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.2°F vs 45.5°F). Darby receives more rainfall at 14.1" per year compared to 11.4" in Helena West Side.