City Comparison
Polson vs Lewistown
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Lewistown scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Polson
Lewistown
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Lewistown is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
39% lower than in Polson.
Housing costs are a major driver: Polson's average rent is
133% higher than Lewistown's.
| Metric | Polson | Lewistown | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $750 | +133% |
| Groceries | $400 | $380 | +5% |
| Utilities | $180 | $175 | +3% |
| Transport | $120 | $110 | +9% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $220 | +14% |
| Monthly Total | $2,700 | $1,635 | +65% |
| Cost Index | 101 | 91 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Polson offers 34% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Polson delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Polson is estimated at
$55,000 vs $42,000 in Lewistown.
| Metric | Polson | Lewistown |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $48,500 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $42,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 64,356 idx | 53,297 idx |
| Household Income | $53,418 | $48,750 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 3.1°F of each other.
For sunshine, Lewistown comes out ahead with 13 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Lewistown sees 19.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Polson | Lewistown |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 48.10°F | 45.00°F |
| Summer High | 79.60°F | 75.50°F |
| Winter Low | 21.00°F | 13.20°F |
| Rainfall | 23.60 in | 23.00 in |
| Snowfall | 46.60 in | 66.40 in |
| Sunny Days | 248 | 261 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 60.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Lewistown has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Polson.
Polson scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Lewistown leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Polson | Lewistown |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 13 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | 25.0/100 |
| Walkability | 27.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Lewistown is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Polson.
From a growth perspective, Polson is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Polson has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Polson | Lewistown |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,428 | 6,231 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.05% | 0.84% |
| Median Age | 43.0 | 44.7 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.20% |
| GDP | $61.9B | $0.6B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Polson
Advantages
Stunning natural beauty with proximity to Flathead Lake and outdoor recreational activities.
Growing economy supported by tourism, agriculture, and small-scale manufacturing.
Affordable cost of living compared to the national average, with housing costs on par.
Strong community spirit and family-friendly neighborhoods.
Montana's favorable tax environment with no state income tax.
Drawbacks
Car-dependent with limited public transportation options.
Housing market shows rapid rent acceleration and high median listing prices.
Weather can be unpredictable.
Poverty rate of 17.5% in 2024.
Job growth has seen a slight decline in recent years.
Lewistown
Advantages
Median home values remain significantly lower than the national average and western Montana hubs, offering strong housing affordability.
Exceptional public safety with violent and property crime rates well below national medians.
Extremely short average commute times of roughly 13 minutes eliminate daily traffic stress.
Immediate proximity to pristine central Montana wilderness, mountains, and world-class outdoor recreation.
Access to renowned natural resources, including Big Springs and some of the purest drinking water in the world.
Drawbacks
Lower median household incomes compared to state and national averages.
Geographic isolation requires traveling significant distances to access major metropolitan airports or specialized retail.
Limited local public transit infrastructure creates absolute car dependency for residents.
Rigid winter climate with heavy seasonal snowfall demands preparedness and cold-weather adaptation.
Tight rental housing inventory can make finding immediate leasing options challenging for newcomers.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Polson
#302Montana, USA
61.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
101
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
27.0/100
Sunny Days
248/yr
Avg Temp
48.10°F
Pop. Growth
2.05%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
74
Business
68
Lewistown
#158Montana, USA
64.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$750
Avg Salary
$48,500
Cost Index
91
Commute
13 min
Transit Score
25.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
261/yr
Avg Temp
45.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.84%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
75
Business
67
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