The University of Montana

Missoula, MT

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The University of Montana - Missoula, MT Area Guide

One of the nation's most picturesque campuses is located in the Garden City

Mountains River Outdoor Activities Walkable Sports Grizzlies Tailgating Football

Located along Clark Fork River and surrounded by mountains, the University of Montana has earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. The 220-acre campus sits at the base of Mount Sentinel, which features a 620-foot "M" for Missoula. The campus isn't just pretty to look at -- students enjoy a variety of outdoor adventures like mountain climbing, hiking, skiing, fishing, and camping. UM is a public research university established in 1893 as Montana's flagship campus. It is a top-ranking university, considered one of the best in the nation. It ranks fifth in producing Rhodes Scholars and offers 11 colleges. The Montana Grizzlies compete in NCAA Division I as part of the Big Sky Conference. Watch the Grizzlies play football at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, catch a basketball game at Dahlberg Arena, cheer on the soccer teams at South Campus Stadium, and catch the softball team at Grizzly Field. Missoula is a terrific city at the convergence of five mountain ranges, providing scenic views in every direction. Founded in 1860, the city began as Hellgate Trading Post. When looking for apartments near UM, be aware that Downtown Missoula is across the river and to the west of the university. Downtown apartments are ideal for enjoying both the historic downtown and university events. To be within walking distance of Washington-Grizzly Stadium, look near the intersection of 6th Street and South Van Buren Avenue.

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Missoula, MT is $1,087 for a studio, $1,356 for one bedroom, $1,662 for two bedrooms, and $2,056 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Missoula has increased by 1.5% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 478 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,087/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 666 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,356/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 942 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,662/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,074 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $2,056/month

    Average Rent

Getting Around

Moderately Walkable

Walkability

60 / 100

Limited Public Transit

Transit

30 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

90 / 100

Moderately Bikeable

Bikeability

60 / 100

Daily Essentials

Supermarket Within a 30 Minute Walk

Groceries

20 / 100

Fair Restaurant Variety Nearby

Restaurants

50 / 100

Limited Café Variety Nearby

Cafes

30 / 100

Fair Variety of Shops Nearby

Shopping

40 / 100

Local Vibe

Vibrant Atmosphere at Times

Vibrancy

40 / 100

Limited Nightlife Variety Nearby

Nightlife

30 / 100

Moderately Noisy

Quiet Score

50 / 100

Schools

Hellgate El Intermediate

Public

Grades K-5

520 Students

Paxson School

Public

Grades PK-5

463 Students

Jeannette Rankin Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

461 Students

Rattlesnake Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

445 Students

Hawthorne School

Public

Grades PK-5

387 Students

Target Range 7-8

Public

Grades 6-8

137 Students

Washington Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

663 Students

Meadow Hill Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

472 Students

Hellgate Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

329 Students

Porter Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

579 Students

Sentinel High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,378 Students

Hellgate High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,304 Students

Big Sky High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,186 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • spectrUM Discovery Area
  • Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum
  • Children's Museum Missoula
  • Montana Natural History Center
  • Beavertail Hill State Park

Airports

  • Missoula Montana

Top Apartments Near The University of Montana

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Property Management Companies

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.