Is Montana A Good Place To Live? 2024

Introduction:

Is Montana a good place to live? Is a popular question being asked by many people who desire to move to Montana. This article contains all valuable information to guide you.

After conducting extensive research, I was able to create this brilliant article, which will guide you step by step. Please read this article to the end to learn more about Montana.

If you are a big fan of outdoor activities, then Montana is for you.

Montana has one of the highest percentages of citizens engaged in outdoor recreation each year. Every year, an estimated 82.1% of the state’s people engage in outdoor activities.

The Pros And Cons Of Living In Montana are also listed below this article. Please read to the end to find out some of the advantages and disadvantages of living in Montana.

Montana has one of the least population densities in the U.s. According to a report, every year, over 35 million Americans relocate to Montana, and many prefer to reside in Montana, than other parts of the country.

Every city in Montana has something special to offer its citizens, so why not give it a try and learn more about Montana? Below is all helpful information to guide you.

Is Montana A Good Place To Live?

Absolutely YES! Montana Is A Good Place To Live. The surrounding cities are lovely, tranquil, and brimming with opportunities.

Furthermore, Montana people have direct access to natural wonders such as Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park.

Montana holds the national record for cold, with a measurement of 70 degrees below zero near Helena.

Also, from early November through March, the reported low temperatures in most Montana communities vary from – 10 to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.

From November 18 to February 25, the cold season lasts 3.2 months, with an average daily high temperature below 40°F. With an average low temperature of 14°F and high temperature of 31°F, December is the coldest month of the year in Montana City.

During the winter, Montana transforms into a snowy paradise, and in some places, the snowfall lasts long into the spring and beyond.

It boasts some of the most breathtaking views of mountains and meadows covered in deep, fluffy snow in the nation and is one of the most well-liked winter sports destinations.

Additional Information:

There is more to do in Big Sky Country this winter than just skiing; Montana is recognized for some of the greatest skiing in the country, and you can find it at Montana Snowbowl. 

There are endless activities you may do with friends or family on a snow day or throughout a snow week, from Yellowstone to Southeast Montana, Glacier Country, and everywhere.

The state of Montana is more reasonably priced. The western region of Montana is where you’ll find the greatest ski areas. Late November or early December marks the beginning of the season, which lasts until mid-April.

Additionally, Montana is unique and it is home to some of the most stunning wildlife in the nation. From the craggy Rocky Mountains to the vast Great Plains, the state’s 147,000 square miles of sweeping territory is home to some of the species.

It also contains a variety of distinctive cities and towns with hospitable locals, reasonably priced neighborhoods, and plenty of employment opportunities.

When it comes to cost of living, Montana comes in at number 30. Therefore, Montana has a higher cost of living than the other half of the nation.

Wyoming, which is placed 18th on the list, is a far more economical choice if you have your heart set on living in the Rocky Mountain region.

When traveling in the United States, Montana is undoubtedly one of the safest states you can visit.

No matter where you go, you can count on having a safe and enjoyable trip whether you are exploring the local national parks or visiting the little villages in the vicinity.

For anybody who enjoys the splendor of nature, Montana is a fantastic location.

Montana, which is primarily rural, is home to national parks, vast expanses of open land, an abundance of animals, and breathtaking scenery. Try Montana if you’re looking for a spot to retire.

What Must I Know Before Relocating To Montana?

• Montana is a great place to retire:

Montana is a generally tax-friendly state, but depending on their individual financial situations, retirees may find it to be either very friendly or very unfavorable.

The state has comparatively cheap property taxes and no sales tax, which decreases everyone’s cost of living. Social Security retirement payments are completely exempt in the majority of other states, although many pensioners pay taxes on them.

Retirement in Montana is reasonably inexpensive, which now results in a low cost of living.

The average 65-year-old in the state will spend $998,983 to retire comfortably, which is roughly $121,400 less than the average 65-year-old in the United States. A sizable proportion of Montana’s population is 65 or older.

• Montana Has A Scarcity Of Housing:

Making preparations for your apartment before relocating to Montana is a smart idea.This is because many families and individuals have difficulty finding affordable accommodation.

Since they can’t locate homes, around 83 percent of the workforce in Big Sky, Montana, travels into the city every day.

The primary cause of the housing crisis is a lack of new construction; however, other contributing factors include: rising population. Because of changing lifestyles, more individuals are living alone or in compact families.

There aren’t enough rental properties in Montana that are both inexpensive and accessible to those with very low incomes. The expense of housing for many of these people consumes more than half of their income.

Compared to other tenants, they are more likely to skip other requirements like wholesome food and medical care due to the cost of an apartment.

• In Montana, The Population Density Is Low:

There aren’t many people residing in the state because of its low population density. You can move into a property that is miles away from your closest neighbor or travel for extended periods of time on lonely highways.

However, with just 6.86 persons on average per square mile (2.65 per square kilometer) of land, Montana is the 48th most highly populated state in the United States.

Montana’s low population is due to the fact that it was inhabited by homesteaders on enormous swaths of land that were shared among families.

This demographic dispersion adds to the low population density as well as the major economic activity, farming. To cultivate cereal grain and rear livestock, large areas of land were used.

• In Montana, The Winters Are Severe:

The temperature in Montana fluctuates between 50 degrees above and 50 below zero between November and March. Dress appropriately for the weather if you’re relocating to Montana, and also maintain a winter survival pack in your car.

The summers in Montana City are brief, warm, and often clear, while the winters are extremely cold, snowy, and partially overcast. The average annual temperature is between 12°F and 85°F; it is infrequently below -8°F or over 94°F.

Such intense cold is not unusual in some areas of the Lower 48 states for a few days to at most a week. But such exceptional, dangerously cold weather persisted in some areas of Montana throughout the entire month of February and even into March.

The unusual terrain of NW Montana is the cause for Montana’s cold; the vast valleys and high mountains retain the cold air and prevent it from being forced outside. 

In general, places in western Montana get substantially more snow throughout the winter than those in eastern Montana. However, significant snowfall is potentially throughout Montana.

Is It Costly To Live In Montana?

In Montana, the average cost of living for a single adult is ($42,568) Per Year.

When compared to the national average, living in Montana is not very expensive.

In terms of cost of living, Montana is ranked 34th in the third quarter of 2022 by MERIC statistics. Therefore, Montana has a higher cost of living than the other half of the United States.

Within city boundaries, there isn’t much property that can be used for construction, and the land that is available is expensive.

As a result, the builder must factor the cost of the land into the price of the home. Nevertheless, the cost of building a house in Montana has grown dramatically as a result of the pandemic.

In 2019 values, Montana had a median house price of $230,000. Additionally, $810 per month was stated as the median rent.

Housing and rent prices are noticeably cheaper than other parts of the United States. However, Montana’s housing costs are higher than the national average.

In Montana, a family of four spends, on average, $9,179 per year on food, compared to $3,178 for a single adult.

For comparison, the average yearly food expenditure in the United States is $9,354 for a family of four and $3,240 for an adult, so it is affordable to live here. 

If you are considering relocating to Montana, these are the Best Cities To Live In Montana. The article also includes the costs of living in each of the cities. Please read it carefully.

What Does Living In Montana Look Like?

Most Montanans are active people. It’s normal to be an outdoor lover here. In addition, a lot of people in Montana work in outdoor jobs like farming, ranching, or the oil business.

Even people who work in offices are eager to get outside and go hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and other activities.

With 5,800 acres of skiable territory, Montana boasts 15 ski resorts and ski regions.

Gun ownership and a love of the great outdoors are deeply ingrained cultural ideals. Be careful to get the necessary permissions and keep your guns properly if you’re thinking about taking up hunting and fishing.

Personal space has been a hot topic since the year 2020, and many individuals are looking for locations where they may find more of it.

With slightly over 1 million citizens, Montana is one of the biggest and least populous states in the country.

Bozeman, Missoula, and Whitefish are safe places with significant population growth during the past ten years.

The real estate market is currently feeling the pressure from Montana’s rapidly rising popularity. Compared to this time last year, there are 86% fewer houses for sale in Bozeman.

Homes are hard to come across, expensive, and the marketplaces are tough. Finding a place to live in Montana is difficult for many people who are moving in for the first time. So try hard to plan ahead.

Additional Information:

By wearing your clothing, always carry a sweater, and have a survival kit in your car, because Montanans have learned to always be prepared for any weather.

The difficulties of living in Montana include extreme weather changes, unusually lengthy winters, and blizzards in June, to name just a few.

In Montana, if you live there long enough, you’ll probably experience snow every month of the year.

What Is Causing Individuals To Relocate To Montana?

In the days of the pandemic, people are leaving metropolitan areas in search of greater space.

According to a survey from the University of California’s California Policy Lab, more San Franciscans migrated to Montana than to any other state during the pandemic.

Also, not just the global pandemic that has made Montana famous. But tourism, an increased interest in outdoor sports, and individuals looking for a greater standard of living have all added to Montana’s recent rise.

According to statistics given by the American Moving and Storage Association; Montana is one of the states with the lowest population density, thus many individuals opt to relocate here.

In fact, Montana ranks sixth among the states where the number of inbound movers is more than twice as high as the number of outbound trips.

The Western state is really frequently named as one of the most stunning locations to reside.

If you relocate to Montana, you’ll undoubtedly be surrounded by a wealth of natural beauty wherever you turn, from the sweeping grasslands to the rugged mountains.

Whether it’s the lovely mountain air, the vibrant feeling of community, or the fact that we can go skiing at lunch, Montana is a terrific place to call home. It is necessary that all of us play a part in preserving this Beauty.

Additional Information:

Missoula has more millionaires than any other city in Montana, according to a 2021 study. Two billionaires, totaling $8.3 billion in wealth, reside in Missoula.

Dennis Washington, who has an estimated net worth of $6.3 billion, is the richest Missoula citizen with a minimum 10-figure income according to research.

Are There A Lot Of Jobs Available In Montana?

The rate of labor force participation in Montana is comparatively high. In Bozeman, Billings, Missoula, and Helena, around 83% of people in their prime working age are employed.

Each of these locations is among the top 10% of micro-areas. As a result, Montana’s capacity to increase employment participation is constrained.

For anyone looking to relocate to Montana, the job and employment scenario is just bleak.

Some parts of Montana have exceptionally high unemployment as a result of job losses in resource extraction (mine and forestry) that have not been compensated for in other industries.

Despite the fact that Montana is a rural state, the majority of its jobs are concentrated in the seven cities; which are Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Kalispell, Great Falls, Helena, and Butte.

Nine of Montana’s 56 counties are covered by these centers, which account for 72 percent of the state’s jobs and 68 percent of its residents.

The state minimum wage in Montana is $9.20 per hour as of 2022. This is more than the $7.25 Federal Minimum Wage. You should be compensated with the greater state minimum wage.

While the average yearly salary for workers in Montana was 51,322 dollars. This value has increased since 2001, when it was 25,195 US dollars.

In addition, the typical hourly wage at Walmart ranges from about $9.19 for a maintenance associate to $26.43 for customer service/data entry.

From around $18,000 per year for a Garden Associate to $130,000 per year for a Staff Pharmacist, that is the typical Walmart compensation range.

Additional Information:

In Montana, Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Kalispell, Great Falls, Helena, and Butte are the major centers of employment.

Nine of Montana’s 56 counties are covered by these centers. Therefore, after you have fully relocated to this great region, searching for a job in Montana shouldn’t be too difficult.

Does Montana Have Favorable Tax Laws?

The tax policy in Montana is largely favorable to pensioners. Income from Social Security is partially taxed.

Retirement account withdrawals are subject to full taxation. Your marginal state tax rate is 5.90 percent, and wages are taxed at standard rates.

It is a state that is comparatively tax-friendly. Big Sky Country has no sales taxes, and its average effective property tax rate is at 0.83 percent, which is lower than the national average.

However, the state does impose a personal income tax, with rates ranging from 1% to 6.9%.

Residential real estate taxes in Montana are comparatively inexpensive.

The average effective property tax rate in the state is 0.83 percent, which is much lower than the current 1.07 percent national average. The system is set up in Montana to lessen the burden on homeowners, which contributes to the state’s low rates.

The individual income tax in Montana is also graded, with rates ranging from 1.00 percent to 6.75 percent.

In Montana, the corporate income tax rate is 6.75 percent. Both the state and municipal sales taxes are absent from Montana.

In Montana, real estate taxes are not very high. All residential property is given a statutory exemption, which significantly lowers the cost of property taxes for homeowners.

Homeowners in the state pay an effective property tax rate of 0.83 percent on average. Why not move to Montana today?

Is Montana An Ideal Place To Retire?

Montana can be the destination for you if you are seeking a peaceful and relaxed retirement.

This lovely and secure Midwestern state is ideal for active folks who prefer wide-open areas since it boasts breathtaking landscapes and flourishing cities. For retirees, the Treasure State is a refuge.

For retirees, Montana is a reasonably tax-friendly state. You can find it to be extremely kind or extremely hostile, depending on your own financial situation.

First off, there is no sales tax in the state, which decreases everyone’s cost of living. In addition, the property taxes are not too high.

Retirement in Montana is reasonably inexpensive, which contributes to low cost of living.

The average 65-year-old in the state will spend $998,983 to retire comfortably, which is roughly $121,400 less than the average 65-year-old in the United States.

Additional Information:

With a -0.17 Safety Index score, Kalispell and Bozeman share the title of Montana’s safest cities (within population constraints).

On estimate, the larger city of Bozeman appears to be the more impressive of the two, with a 2.78 per 1,000 violent crime rate that is lower than the state and national averages in the group.

Montana had a significant increase in violent crimes compared to last year, with the violent crime rate increasing from 4.2 to 4.7 per thousand residents. 

Property crime, on the other hand, fell somewhat from 22.4 per 1,000 to 21.2. Besides that, this is higher than the national average of 19.6. However, Montana is an excellent retirement option.

According to the National Council for Home Safety and Security, Bozeman has Montana’s second-lowest crime rate.

When we look closely at the statistics, Bozeman has the fewest crimes committed per 1,000 residents, while Kalispell being classified as the safest city with the fewest crimes overall.

Pros And Cons Of Living In Montana

Pros Of Living In Montana:

Cons Of Living In Montana:

Final Thoughts

The population of the state is small. And because of its vast land area, the population density is low.

Due to its low population, you won’t have to deal with traffic, crowds, or long lines. But It all depends on the Montana lifestyle you prefer, and the costs of living are also affordable.

The pristine nature of Montana sets it apart from other US continental regions. Due to its vast quantities of valuable minerals, including gold, sapphire, and silver, it has long been regarded as “The Treasure State.”

If you are considering relocating to Montana, here’s the Best Cities To Live In Montana. And the costs of living in each of the cities are also included in the article. Please read it carefully.

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