Miles City, MT vs Polson, MT

Miles City is moderately more affordable than Polson, with a 12.7% lower cost of living index. Miles City scores 76 compared to 87 for Polson, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Polson can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Miles City is $932/month compared to $921/month in Polson — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Polson has cheaper rent, Miles City actually has lower median home values ($182,700 vs $321,000).

Median household income in Miles City is $60,732 compared to $51,463 in Polson (+18%). Miles City offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Miles City spend roughly 18.4% of their income on rent, less than the 21.5% in Polson.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.2°F vs 47.7°F). Polson receives more rainfall at 16.4" per year compared to 12.9" in Miles City.