Getting To Know Missoula’s Neighborhoods: Heart of Missoula

Missoula's neighborhoods are what makes our city what it is. They are where we live, work, and play. Our neighborhoods are what make the Garden City thrive. Our neighborhoods are as diverse as the people that live in them. From rivers to hills, from homes to apartments, from grade schools to the University of Montana, our city seems to have a little bit of everything.

In this series, we'll take a look at information from the City of Missoula's Neighborhood Profiles for each of Missoula's Neighborhoods, with all data cited below coming from the Neighborhood Profile. In this article, we'll look at the Heart of Missoula Neighborhood.

Where is the Heart of Missoula Neighborhood?

The Heart of Missoula neighborhood is what most people would consider Missoula's Downtown area. The borders of this neighborhood are the Clark Fork River to the south, the eastern border ends right before you enter East Missoula. The border to the west are the old railroad tracks that cross the river into McCormick Park and to the north are the railroad tracks that are still in use, that travel along Interstate 90.

Who Lives in the Heart of Missoula Neighborhood?

The Heart of Missoula neighborhood is mostly made up of younger people, with just over 43% of the population aged between 15-34 years of age. The Heart of Missoula neighborhood has also seen a 29% growth between 2010-2022. That is a lot higher than Missoula's 10% growth over the same period.

The Heart of Missoula neighborhood has a higher Hispanic population, at 5.3% than the Missoula population of 2.9%. When it comes to education, the Heart of Missoula Neighborhood has 63% of its population with at least a Bachelor's degree, Missoula's overall percentage is 49%. The median income is $33,995, while Missoula's as a whole is $54,820.

What is Housing Like in the Heart of Missoula Neighborhood?

Renters dominate the Heart of Missoula neighborhood. 80% of occupants are renters with 20% being owner-occupied. The median gross rent at $764, is also below Missoula's median gross rent of $895.

The housing in the Heart of Missoula neighborhood is also older than some other neighborhoods with more homes being built between 1900-1910 than any other ten-year period. The median home price of $437,000 is below the Missoula median home price of $519,000.

Key Feature of the Heart of Missoula Neighborhood: Downtown Missoula

The Heart of Missoula neighborhood includes a majority of Downtown Missoula. Caras Park, Brennan's Wave, the Missoula Public Library, and the new Beartracks Bridge are all a part of this neighborhood. There is so much that takes place in Missoula's downtown, that maybe this neighborhood should be renamed the "Heartbeat of Missoula" neighborhood.