Fairfield, MT vs Townsend, MT

Fairfield is moderately more affordable than Townsend, with a 11.7% lower cost of living index. Fairfield scores 70 compared to 79 for Townsend, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Townsend can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fairfield is $683/month compared to $976/month in Townsend — a 30% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fairfield is more affordable at $203,000 median vs $212,800.

Median household income in Fairfield is $66,544 compared to $70,774 in Townsend (-6%). The higher salaries in Townsend partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairfield spend roughly 12.3% of their income on rent, less than the 16.5% in Townsend.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (44.6°F vs 45.5°F). Fairfield receives more rainfall at 14.8" per year compared to 11.4" in Townsend.