Helena Valley Southeast, MT vs Polson, MT

Polson is moderately more affordable than Helena Valley Southeast, with a 9.2% lower cost of living index. Helena Valley Southeast scores 95 compared to 87 for Polson, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Helena Valley Southeast can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Helena Valley Southeast is $1,231/month compared to $921/month in Polson — a 34% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Polson has cheaper rent, Helena Valley Southeast actually has lower median home values ($308,000 vs $321,000).

Median household income in Helena Valley Southeast is $63,824 compared to $51,463 in Polson (+24%). While Helena Valley Southeast is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Helena Valley Southeast spend roughly 23.1% of their income on rent, more than the 21.5% in Polson.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.5°F vs 47.7°F). Polson receives more rainfall at 16.4" per year compared to 11.4" in Helena Valley Southeast.