East Missoula, 2006
East Missoula’s story
East Missoula in pictures
Census counts: 1,707 in 1980, 2,465 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2006 and 3 maps from 1964 on.
Explore the history →
East MissoulaMT
Population 2,099: a town in Montana.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: A-Reck · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
2,099
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$359K
Census ACS
Household income
$58K
median
Median age
40.3
years
Jobs based here
260
A commuter town
Is East Missoula a good place to live?
The best of East Missoula’s subject grades is an A for walkability; the weakest is a C for cost of living. 3.6% of working residents work locally in East Missoula, against 39% in Montana’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. Among 43 Montana towns, just 4 have a lower share of children under 18 than East Missoula. East Missoula's public schools beat 76% of Montana towns on state tests and graduation. East Missoula has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes East Missoula stand out
Where East Missoula beats most towns.
A growing town
East Missoula has grown 14% from 2010 to 2020
2,157 counted in 2010 and 2,465 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How East Missoula grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Montana), ordered by how far East Missoula is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.9 of 20; 2.6% of households have no carAOpen →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsA−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $359K, 4.8 years of the Missoula metro’s $75K median household incomeCOpen →HealthSt. Patrick Hospital 2.5 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & income$58K median household incomeCOpen →Hazard riskAvalanches top the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 9% conserved landB+Open →HistoryLittle recorded history by comparisonC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to East Missoula: who provides what
East Missoula is unincorporated, so Missoula County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerNorthWestern Energy14.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMissoula WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesMissoula CountyMissoula County provides services here
SchoolsMissoula High School DistrictMissoula Elementary School DistrictBonner Elementary School District3 districts serve East Missoula; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteIn personMontana has no online registration; you can register in person up to and including Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMissoula County Election AdministratorMissoula County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2024
ZIP code5980259802 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in East Missoula.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
About two in three of East Missoula’s working residents commute to Missoula
The top destinations are Missoula (69%), Helena (2%) and Bozeman (2%). For most workers, East Missoula is a place to come home to: only 4% work in town. This Montana town had 260 jobs in 2023, up 158 from 2013. The typical journey to work here is 23 minutes.
4%work in town
| East Missoula | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $58,000 | $67,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 10% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In East Missoula4%
Missoula69%
Helena2%
Bozeman2%
Bonner-West Riverside2%
4 mi
median commute distance
260
jobs based in East Missoula
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 88% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, East Missoula is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns
The share of adults in East Missoula who have been diagnosed with depression: 28%. CDC measures, 32 in all: East Missoula beats Montana on 4 and trails on 2.
70%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| East Missoula | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 20% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 70% | 72% | 79% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 32% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 25% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Montana
4 better26 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | East Missoula | MT |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.7% | 9.3% |
| Fewer adults with arthritis | 23.7% | 28.4% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 70.1% | 73.4% |
St. Patrick Hospital
2.5 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
East Missoula has snowy winters and pleasant summers
A winter brings about 43 inches of snow, with January nights at 17° and July afternoons at 84°.
43″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–34°
Spring31–56°
Summer47–80°
Fall31–56°
Sep 26
typical first frost
May 16
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer children than Montana overall
Children under 18 are 14% of residents (21% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 28% of residents (22% statewide). Montana has just over a third of adults 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or more; here it is 31%. For East Missoula, the midpoint age is 40.3 years.
40.3median age · MT 40.4
| East Missoula | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 31% | 30% | 29% |
| Median age | 40.3 years | 38.9 years | 40.5 years |
East MissoulaMontanaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
20%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma9%
High school24%
Some college25%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s25%
Graduate7%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 38% and 59% women
The Census survey reached too few of East Missoula’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±10.6 points. Across Montana, 49.3% of residents are women.
| East Missoula | MT | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 5.8% | 11% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.4% | 10% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.8% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 20.2% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 17.8% | 12.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.4% | 11.1% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.7% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.3% | 12.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10.7% | 7.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 9.2% | 5.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 23.8% | 27.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 24.5% | 22.4% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.3% | 9.6% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.8% | 23.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.5% | 12% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,100, single groups can be off by several points
OutdoorsB+
Open space protected for good: 9.3% of East Missoula
In 2 parks and preserves, walkers have 0.7 miles of trail. The density of trails for East Missoula comes to 0.6 miles per square mile.
9.3%conserved
| East Missoula | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 9.3% | 9.2% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.6 miles per square mile | 0.6 | 0.4 |
9.3%
conserved · 70 of 759 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. East Missoula Lions Park | 0.2 mi | 4 |
| 2. Canyon View County Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Top of a moderate hazard risk in East Missoula: avalanches
FEMA puts 72% of East Missoula’s expected hazard losses down to avalanches, and 13% to inland flooding. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 54% of U.S. communities.
54risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
AvalanchesInland floodingCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade C
A home in East Missoula sells for about $465K at the median
Among households in East Missoula, 68% are owner-occupiers. Its going rate for rent is $1,050 a month.
$465Kmedian sale price
| East Missoula | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 68% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,050 a month | $1,000 a month | $1,185 a month |
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 7 attractions →Lake Missoula and 5 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around East Missoula. Close and well known come first.
10 mi LakeLake Missoula10 mi Ski areaMontana Snowbowl64 runs · 2,538 ft vertical
33 mi Park & preserveCSKT Bison Range
2 mi TheatreWilma Theater
2 mi MuseumMontana Museum of Art & Culture3 mi MuseumMissoula Art MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Lake Missoula: USGS, Public domain · CSKT Bison Range: Paul Frederickson, CC BY 2.5 · Wilma Theater: Publichall, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Montana Museum of Art & Culture: DocFreeman24, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about East Missoula
17pages on East Missoula
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of East Missoula
About 4 of every 100 East Missoula residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Montana.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave East Missoula for work
Where East Missoula’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
260jobs based in East Missoula
4%of working residents work in town
4 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About East Missoula
Census-designated place in Montana, United States
East Missoula is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Missoula County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Missoula metropolitan area. The population was 2,465 at the 2020 census, up from 2,157 in 2010.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3,264 ft
East Missoula’s neighbors
One town shares a border with East Missoula.
MissoulaEast Missoula
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MT rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Missoula | — | — | C | — | A− | B+ |
| Missoula | #21 | C+ | D | D | A− | A− |
East Missoula has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. East Missoula reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare East Missoula with a neighbor →
Questions about East Missoula
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is East Missoula, MT expensive?
The typical home is worth about $359,000, 23% below the Montana typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.