Gainesville, FL vs Helena, MT
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Gainesville
68
#1355 nationally
Helena
69.1
#1251 nationally
Helena leads in median household income ($64,798 vs $43,783). Helena leads in crime level (14.1 vs 20.2). Helena leads in average commute (13.4 min vs 18.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Helena, MT |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68 (#1355) | 69.1 (#1251) |
| Population | 145,812 | 34,464 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $298,659 | $484,550 |
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $64,798 |
| Average Commute | 18.8 min | 13.4 min |
| Walk Score | 37 | 49 |
| Crime Level | 20.2 | 14.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 104 | 110 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+21.0 | R+5.7 |
D+
68 Score
Gainesville, FL
Mid-size Florida city with community character
Median Home
$298,659
Population
145,812
Crime
High
Walk Score
37
Southeast
View Gainesville, FL →
D+
69.1 Score
Helena, MT
Small Montana city with local appeal
Median Home
$484,550
Population
34,464
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
49
West
View Helena, MT →