Missoula, Montana Is One of the Best Run Cities in the United States

The past year has been a real test of how effectively local governments are being run. City leaders have faced a range of challenges, from economic pressures such as high inflation to ongoing public safety concerns, including more than 400 reported mass shootings in 2025, keeping gun violence at the center of national debate.

Even in more stable periods, managing a city is no easy task. As cities grow, so does the complexity of governing them. Beyond representing residents, local officials must balance competing community priorities with limited financial resources. This often means making difficult trade-offs—deciding which services are most essential, which departments should receive more or less funding, and whether taxes need to be adjusted.

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer