City Comparison
Havre vs Butte
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Havre scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Havre
Butte
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Butte is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
1% lower than in Havre.
| Metric | Havre | Butte | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $950 | 0% |
| Groceries | $380 | $380 | 0% |
| Utilities | $210 | $175 | +20% |
| Transport | $110 | $115 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $1,870 | $1,850 | +1% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Butte offers 4% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Havre delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Havre is estimated at
$45,000 vs $48,000 in Butte.
| Metric | Havre | Butte |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $52,000 | $54,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 59,091 idx | 58,696 idx |
| Household Income | $50,329 | $56,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 2.9°F of each other.
For sunshine, Havre comes out ahead with 18 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Butte sees 17.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Havre | Butte |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 45.60°F | 42.70°F |
| Summer High | 78.30°F | 75.00°F |
| Winter Low | 10.00°F | 12.70°F |
| Rainfall | 18.10 in | 15.60 in |
| Snowfall | 39.00 in | 56.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 288 | 270 |
| Humidity | 55.00% | 55.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Havre has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Butte.
For walkability, Havre leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Havre | Butte |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 11 min | 17 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 22.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Butte is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Havre.
From a growth perspective, Butte is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Butte has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Havre | Butte |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,258 | 34,493 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.90% | 3.40% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Havre
Advantages
Typical home values remain highly affordable at around $234,000, well below national averages
Average commute times are exceptionally short at just 10.5 minutes
Direct passenger rail service via Amtrak's Empire Builder connecting to major hubs
Abundant access to outdoor recreation, including Beaver Creek Park and the Bears Paw Mountains
Strong sense of community safety with low rates of violent crime
Drawbacks
Geographic isolation makes long-distance travel and specialized shopping trips more difficult
Harsh winter weather features prolonged periods of sub-freezing temperatures and heavy snow
Limited high-tech or diversified corporate job sectors outside of healthcare, rail, and education
Median household income sits below the national benchmark at approximately $50,329
Local population growth has experienced slight downward fluctuations in recent years
Butte
Advantages
Median home prices remain significantly lower than the national average per recent housing data.
Exceptional access to world-class outdoor recreation, including skiing, fishing, and hiking.
Rich cultural heritage highlighted by annual events like the Montana Folk Festival.
Strong local economy anchored by education, healthcare, and mining services.
Tight-knit, welcoming community with a distinct historical character.
Drawbacks
Severe winter weather with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures can challenge daily commutes.
Limited public transportation options necessitate high car dependency.
Local wages often lag behind fast-growing metropolitan areas in the state.
Historic housing stock may require significant maintenance and renovation investments.
Limited nightlife and entertainment options compared to larger cities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Havre
#209Montana, USA
63.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
11 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
288/yr
Avg Temp
45.60°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.90%
Livability
75
Business
65
Butte
#348Montana, USA
60.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$54,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
270/yr
Avg Temp
42.70°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.40%
Livability
75
Business
66
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