PlainRelocate

Relocation profile · Federal data

Helena, MT

LiveAbility 42.4/100 places Helena #307 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).

95.7
Cost index (US=100)
$1,748
2BR rent / mo
$66,812
Median salary
42.4
LiveAbility Score

The verdict

As of June 2026, Helena ranks #307 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (42.4/100), with its strongest marks in schools and low hazard.

#307
of 387 US metros · Below median
1,137,233
metro-area population
426
violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
826
schools in the state (NCES)

Weakest dimension: climate (4/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.

According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Helena ranks #307 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 95.7 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,748/mo, median salary $66,812; LiveAbility Score 42.4/100, strongest in schools and low hazard.

Signature: LiveAbility 42.4/100 places Helena #307 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).

Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 95.7 between corpus terciles 91.5 and 97.0. Median 2BR rent $1,748/mo.

LiveAbility 42.4/100 puts Helena in the bottom third (#307 of 387).

BLS OEWS total employment in the Helena area is 38,620.

Helena vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score

Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)

42 Top 79% higher than 21% of 387 US metros

Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026

Helena housing and rent

HUD Fair Market Rents for the Helena MSA; housing RPP 90.1 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,748/mo.

Studio
$1,240
/month
1 Bedroom
$1,595
/month
2 Bedroom
$1,748
/month
3 Bedroom
$2,096
/month
4 Bedroom
$2,856
/month

Helena wages and employment

Helena posts 38,620 total employment with median salary $66,812.

Median Salary
$66,812
Mean Salary
$69,875
Total Employment
38,620

Top Occupations by Employment

Occupation Median Salary
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $80,410
Retail Salespersons $35,990
Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,330
Office Clerks, General $46,450
Registered Nurses $98,690

Schools & Education

State-level education data for the Helena area from NCES.

Schools
826
Enrollment
146,015
Student:Teacher
11.8:1
Title I %
0%

Childcare Costs

State-average childcare costs for the Helena area (DOL data).

Infant (Center)
$11,466
per year
Toddler (Center)
$11,929
per year
Preschool (Center)
$10,243
per year

Life Score Breakdown

Helena's composite Life Score is 39.5/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.

Cost
39/100
Below average
Wages
58/100
Above average
Rent
18/100
Bottom decile
Crime
24/100
Weak
Schools
9/100
Bottom decile
Childcare
35/100
Below average
Environment
94/100
Elite

LiveAbility Score

View full rankings →

Helena ranks #307 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 42.4/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →

Strongest dimension: Schools (91/100)

Helena - dimension scores

Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)

score

What this shows Helena's strongest dimensions are schools and low hazard; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 4/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.

Source BEA · BLS · HUD · FBI · NCES · EPA · NOAA · FEMA As of Federal data, latest available vintage

Compare Helena to

Huntsville Idaho Falls Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood Iowa City Ithaca Jackson

Metros near Helena on cost, LiveAbility, or wages

Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Helena on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.

Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)

Similar LiveAbility score

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Helena cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Helena wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.

Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →

Thinking about Helena?

Helena runs a $66,812 median salary at a 95.7 cost index, ranking #307 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.

  • See exactly what Helena's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
  • Put Helena head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Helena
  • Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
  • A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide

Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.