The Best Places to Live in Montana
Whitefish, Billings, Helena, and Glasgow are just some of the best places to live and buy a house in Montana.
Written by Claire Beaney
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
A quality education system, manageable cost of living, and affordable housing make cities like Whitefish, Billings, Helena, and Glasgow, some of the best places to live in
Montana
.The name "Big Sky Country" conjures up images of gorgeous outdoor scenery, but Montana is so much more. The state has thriving college towns, a flourishing tech industry, and close-knit, business-friendly towns. With tons of family-friendly communities and a pretty affordable cost of living, the possibilities of where you call home in Montana are endless.
Here to help you narrow down your options is
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. We’ve put together a list of the best places to live in Montana—continue reading to learn about The Treasure State’s top spots!RECOMMENDED
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What makes a good place to live?
No matter where you are in life, having a place to call home is always a good feeling. There are a lot of things to think about when you move, whether it's to a new apartment, your own house, or across the state. The livability of your home often depends on how close it is to grocery stores, public transportation, shops, and other conveniences.
To help you decide, we’ve gathered the facts on seven towns in Montana: Whitefish, Bozeman, Billings, GreatFalls, Helena, Glendive, and Glasgow. We’ve looked at the following factors to help rank these spots:
- Median household income
- Median home price
- Crime rates
- Educational access
- Cost of living
- Average commute times
- FEMA Risk Index ratings
We've used these parameters to find the best places for families to live, the cheapest places to live, and the best places to buy a house.
The best places for families to live in Montana
If you're looking for a place to raise a family, you usually want good schools, low crime rates, and a vibrant community. We've found the best places for families to live in Montana by looking at these three aspects.
Whitefish
Location: Flathead County
Population: 8,713
Median household income: $48,813
Median home price: $614,100
Whitefish
is a town in Flathead County near the Canadian border that is great for outdoor enthusiasts. With a population of around 8,000 people, this town is one of the best places to raise a family in Montana.Living there has a suburban feel to it, with lots of restaurants, coffee shops, bars, theaters, and other services.
This town is well-known for its skiing, its proximity to lakes and mountains, and its highly-rated public schools—with Whitefish High School ranking as the second-best public high school in the state.
Whitefish is also close to Glacier National Park, making it an ideal location for families who enjoy getting out and about and taking in some of Montana's spectacular scenery.
Bozeman
Location: Gallatin County
Population: 46,746
Median household income: $55,569
Median home price: $365,600
Bozeman
is frequently considered one of the most livable towns in Montana, and it’s easy to see why! With around 50,000 residents, Bozeman residents live in a moderately dense, suburban environment with a mountainous backdrop.Bozeman has a lot to offer in terms of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, wildlife, and parks—and the schools are excellent!
The town has a great variety of restaurants, coffee shops, and pubs, as well as a strong arts community with galleries, museums, and cultural centers.
Street festivals, local activities, and farmers' markets are also popular in Bozeman. The main disadvantage of raising a family here is that Bozeman has become increasingly popular as a tourist destination in recent years, increasing the cost of living slightly.
The most affordable places to live in Montana
Aside from wanting to live somewhere safe and fun, pricing is an important consideration when picking where to live. While the cost of living is increasing everywhere, it differs by location, so finding a place you can live affordably is important!
Montana sits around the middle of the pack in terms of affordability, so it’s definitely possible to find a place that suits your budget.
We combed through data to identify the three most affordable places to live in Montana, taking into account the overall cost of living and average commute times—or how much you're likely to spend on gas.
Billings
Location: Yellowstone County
Population: 106,000
Median household income: $49,265
Median home price: $185,900
With a lower cost of living compared to the rest of Montana and the U.S., you can really stretch your dollar in
Billings
. Billings' many advantages come at a low cost; the median home value is $185,900 (versus the state average of $245,262), while the average commute time is only 16.7 minutes (far below the U.S. average of 26.4).
Like many other places in the state, Billings is a popular destination for outdoor recreation. Hikers and climbers flock to the Rimrocks, a natural wonder with stunning views of the city, while Lake Elmo State Park is popular for fishing, boating, and swimming. Billings' countless miles of trails have also given the town the moniker "Montana's Trailhead."
Great Falls
Location: Cascade County
Population: 59,000
Median household income: $43,374
Median home price: $158,900
Great Falls
, known as the "cowboy Mayberry," has a small-town ambiance at the junction of the Missouri and Sun rivers. Despite its smaller size—its current population is 59,000—there are tons of things to do in this close-knit community. Residents, for example, can get some exercise on the River's Edge Trail, spanning over 48 miles along the Missouri River, while Great Falls' historic downtown district is filled with restaurants, stores, and entertainment venues.
If you think this town sounds amazing, you're in luck—Great Falls is pretty affordable! The median home value is $158,900, and commute time in the city is only 13.7 minutes.
Helena
Location: Lewis and Clark County
Population: 32,091
Median household income: $50,311
Median home price: $201,000
Montana's capital city,
Helena
, has a long history that goes back to 1864 when gold was found in what is now the town’s Main Street.Exercise enthusiasts enjoy hiking the trails at Mount Helena City Park and Helena National Forest, while history aficionados can learn about the Lewis and Clark expedition on a boat excursion along the Missouri River. For entertainment year-round, visit the Holter Museum of Art and Grandstreet Theatre.
Helena is an affordable option for many. The median home value is $201,000, and the average commute time is 16.3 minutes, well below the U.S. average.
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Best places to buy a house in Montana
Buying a home is pretty intimidating and always a significant financial investment. Aside from the design and look of your home, the housing market and climate in the area where you want to buy are important considerations. We used Realtor.com's housing market summary and the FEMA Risk Index to determine the best places in Montana to buy a house.
Glendive
Location: Dawson County
Population: 5,030
Median household income: $50,995
Median home price: $142,600
Glendive is nestled between the badlands and the Yellowstone River, and it’s known as the center of the rich agricultural area found in eastern Montana and western North Dakota.
It has a median home value of $142,600, far below both the state ($244,900) and national ($229,800) averages. Home prices have actually dropped by 11.7% in recent years.
And, like most of Montana, Glendive ranks very low on the FEMA Risk Index with an average of 4.71. The main issue homeowners in Glendive may face is winter weather, which can damage your roof.
Glasgow
Location: Valley County
Population: 3,315
Median household income: $49,708
Median home price: $191,300
Glasgow is surrounded by magnificent rolling lowlands and open farms. There’s access to the beautiful Fort Peck Lake and Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge through roads surrounding Glasgow.
If you’re looking for a place to buy a home, Glasgow is one of the best choices in Montana. Housing costs here are a whopping 35% less than the national average, with a median home price of $191,300.
Glasgow’s FEMA Risk Index is 9.88, below the national average of 10.60. Glasgow only ranks high in terms of cold waves and winter weather risks, similar to Glendive.
How to find affordable homeowners and car insurance in Montana
Whether you decide to settle down with your family in Whitefish or take advantage of the housing prices in Glendive,
Jerry
is here to save you money on home
and car insurance
. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and helps cancel your old policy. Even better—Jerry will help you bundle your home and auto policies for maximum savings.
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