Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Montana instead of South Dakota, you would:
Health
be 10.7% less likely to be obese
In South Dakota, 35.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Montana, that number is 31.8% of people as of 2022.
Economy
make 14.2% less money
South Dakota has a GDP per capita of $61,724 as of 2024, while in Montana, the GDP per capita is $52,945 as of 2024.
be 54.2% more likely to be unemployed
In South Dakota, 2.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Montana, that number is 3.7% as of 2025.
Safety
be 27.2% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
South Dakota has a violent crime rate of 344 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Montana, that number is 437 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 14.0% more likely to be a victim of property crime
South Dakota has a property crime rate of 1,591 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Montana, that number is 1,815 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 42.8% more for a home
The median home value in South Dakota is $236,800 as of 2023, compared to $338,100 in Montana as of 2023.
pay 13.0% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in South Dakota is $912 as of 2023, while in Montana, it is $1,031 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
live among residents who are 2.5 years older on average
The median age in South Dakota is 37.7 years as of 2023. In Montana, the median age is 40.2 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 36.2% less densely populated
South Dakota has a population density of 4.7 people per sq km as of 2023. In Montana, that number is 3.0 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 17.2% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In South Dakota, 19.8% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Montana, that number is 23.2% as of 2023.
commute 1.6 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in South Dakota takes 17.6 minutes as of 2023. In Montana, it takes 19.2 minutes as of 2023.
be 52.4% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In South Dakota, 2.1% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Montana, that number is 1.0% 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.
