5 Best places to live in Montana

Montana is a great place to move to if you love wide open spaces, beautiful forests, hunting, hiking, and snow sports. There is no shortage of things to love about living in Montana and people are often overwhelmed by the beauty of the state as well as the number of incredible experiences that you have access to when you move here.

If you are considering moving to Montana, there are some key places that are the most enjoyable to choose to settle down. You might not be sure which city you should choose because they are all so wonderful for different reasons. While all of Montana is beautiful, there are some key areas that are the most ideal places to live in Montana for a variety of reasons.

If you have been trying to figure out where to live in this state, you need to read on for more information about the best places to live in Montana.

Best Places to Live in Montana

1. Kalispell, MT

This beautiful city is growing rapidly and it is located right by Flathead lake, which is the biggest freshwater lake in the Western US. Glacier Lake and Glacier National Park are also quite close by which is a great feature of choosing this city for your new home. For those who love hunting, fishing, hiking, and snowshoeing, this is a great place to settle down. 

This is not a huge town which makes it have a cozy feel and it is definitely a family-focused area. There is something very authentically Montana about this area and the fact that it offers access to some of the most scenic parts of the state without a long drive making it a great place if you are moving to Montana for adventures and enjoying nature.

This is one of the best cities in Montana and if you love outdoor recreation, there is no better choice to make for your move. Big sky country is the right place for you if you love small towns with a reasonable cost of living. You will not feel like you have compromised when you choose this small town because it will offer you everything that you could ever need plus access to the best parts of what Montana can offer.

2. Billings, MT

This is the largest city in Montana and it offers access to mountains as well as rolling hills. Yellowstone National Park is not that far from here which makes it an easy jumping-off place for seeing the great outdoors in ways that you cannot in any other state. The oil industry has a large presence here in this town which can make for lots of great job opportunities, and the city is large enough to offer up various kinds of jobs for any skill set.

This city is full of culture, rich history,  things to do, and excellent dining options. You can enjoy craft brewery creations, walk through art exhibits and visit museums, and more. This is a great place to choose for your new home or apartment, if you want to move into one of the most quintessentially Montana locations in the entire state. The feeling of Billings is so specific to what we all associate with Montana that you will be fully immersed in the Montana lifestyle from the first day that you move in.

3. Missoula, MT

This is a college town, where the University of Montana is located, and it offers all the fun nightlife and activities that you would expect to find due to this demographic having a large presence in this town. College towns can be very fun to live in because you will get a lot of great restaurants from various cultures as well as access to dancing and fun that you would probably miss out on in other cities. There are various ski resorts near Missoula, so if you are an avid lover of snow sports, this is the city for you.

Rent is reasonable here since there is a college presence in town and you can easily find a great place to live that is close to your favorite places to hang out or your job. The craft brewery scene is big here as well, which means that people who love a good brew are in luck! Bigsky Brewing Co is located in this town as well which means that you can enjoy live music and other fun activities all year round.

Make time to check out the Missoula Art Museum when you move here and check out the hiking trails and other exciting outdoor adventures that you can access when you choose this town for your home.

4. Helena, MT

There is a local college here but it is not as big as the University in Missoula. This town is right at the headwaters of the Missouri River and you have access to mountain areas as well as the river and some meadow spaces. This is a very suburban area that is not as picturesque as Missoula or Kalispell, but it offers some other benefits that these locations do not. City living is not possible here but you will still have access to all the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

Job hunting is very easy here and this is a great place to raise a family as the schools are ranked quite well compared to the rest of the state. This area also offers reasonable rents which can be nice if you are younger and are just getting started in a new career. The downtown is cozy and charming and many people say they feel right at home as soon as they set foot in this city.

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5. Bozeman, MT

This city has become the key location for tech jobs in the state and it has lost its local town feel somewhat. However, this does not mean that this location is not still an excellent place to choose to move to alone or with your family. There is still great access here to many outdoor activities and you can travel easily to snow, or to locations to hunt and fish in peace.

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This city has great public schools and you will love downtown Bozeman because it offers so many great things to do and see. Montana State University is also located in this city. Rents and housing costs are higher here than the other cities on the list due to the growing nature of the town, but you will love that you have easy access to everything that you need in this town. If you get a tech job in this city and want access to good schools for your kids, there is no better place to choose for your move to Montana.

Montana is a Beautiful Place to Live

If you want to move to a place where you can get all the benefits of a big city without the large town feel and you want to be in close proximity to nature and outdoor adventures, Montana is the place for you. There are so many things to love about Montana, from the small city feel, to the affordable housing and rents, to the scenic trails and gorgeous sights that can be found when you are out hiking, hunting, or fishing.

For outdoorsy folks, Montana is like a dream come true, but even if you are not a part of this group of outdoor lovers, you can enjoy cultural experiences like art galleries, music venues, and local amenities in each of these cities. There is something for everyone in Montana and you will not find anywhere else that offers so much beauty with such an affordable cost of living.