Livability Score Comparison
Quality of Life

California vs Montana: Livability Score

Montana has a higher livability score than California.

California flag
California
CA • West
50.49
Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).
Montana flag
Montana
MT • West
Winner
55.21
Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).

Visual Comparison

California 50.49
Montana 55.21

Difference: 4.72 points — Montana leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for livability score.

California #32 · 50.49
Montana #15 · 55.21
Lowest Highest

Top 10 States — Livability Score

#1 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
60.23
#2 Idaho flag Idaho
60.19
#3 New Jersey flag New Jersey
59.81
#4 Wisconsin flag Wisconsin
59.66
#5 Minnesota flag Minnesota
58.69
#6 Florida flag Florida
58.51
#7 New Hampshire flag New Hampshire
58.21
#8 New York flag New York
57.94
#9 Utah flag Utah
57.94
#10 Pennsylvania flag Pennsylvania
57.90
Selected states
#32 California flag California
50.49
#15 Montana flag Montana
55.21

California ranks 32nd and Montana ranks 15th nationally for livability score.

Related Context

What Drives the Score

The livability score synthesizes several quality-of-life signals — here are the key inputs.

What This Means

California vs Montana: Livability Score in context

Montana has a livability score of 55.21, compared with 50.49 in California. Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).

California
50.49
Montana
55.21
Difference
4.72 points

People Also Ask

California vs Montana Livability Score — Common Questions

Q What is California's livability score?

California's livability score is 50.49.

Q What is Montana's livability score?

Montana's livability score is 55.21.

Q Which state has a higher livability score — California or Montana?

Montana has a higher livability score than California.

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.