Polson, MT vs Townsend, MT

Townsend is moderately more affordable than Polson, with a 9.5% lower cost of living index. Polson scores 87 compared to 79 for Townsend, 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 Polson is $921/month compared to $976/month in Townsend — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Polson has cheaper rent, Townsend actually has lower median home values ($212,800 vs $321,000).

Median household income in Polson is $51,463 compared to $70,774 in Townsend (-27.3%). Townsend offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Polson spend roughly 21.5% of their income on rent, more than the 16.5% in Townsend.

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