Quality of life comparison
If you lived in South Dakota instead of Montana, you would:
Health
be 11.9% more likely to be obese
In Montana, 31.8% of adults are obese as of 2022. In South Dakota, that number is 35.6% of people as of 2022.
Economy
make 16.6% more money
Montana has a GDP per capita of $52,945 as of 2024, while in South Dakota, the GDP per capita is $61,724 as of 2024.
be 35.1% less likely to be unemployed
In Montana, 3.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In South Dakota, that number is 2.4% as of 2025.
Safety
be 21.4% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
Montana has a violent crime rate of 437 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In South Dakota, that number is 344 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 12.3% less likely to be a victim of property crime
Montana has a property crime rate of 1,815 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In South Dakota, that number is 1,591 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 30.0% less for a home
The median home value in Montana is $338,100 as of 2023, compared to $236,800 in South Dakota as of 2023.
pay 11.5% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Montana is $1,031 as of 2023, while in South Dakota, it is $912 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 1.6 minutes less
The average one-way commute in Montana takes 19.2 minutes as of 2023. In South Dakota, it takes 17.6 minutes as of 2023.
be 2.1 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Montana, 1.0% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In South Dakota, that number is 2.1% as of 2023.
live among residents who are 2.5 years older on average
The median age in Montana is 40.2 years as of 2023. In South Dakota, the median age is 37.7 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 56.7% more densely populated
Montana has a population density of 3.0 people per sq km as of 2023. In South Dakota, that number is 4.7 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 14.7% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Montana, 23.2% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In South Dakota, that number is 19.8% as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
