Montana: What you need to know
Living in Montana gives residents access to some of the best trout fishing in the country, massive mountains and wide open prairies. Some of the best places to live in Montana include Billings, Bozeman and Missoula. These cities offer thriving economies, vibrant culture and lots of things to do, including shopping, great restaurants and museums. Downtown Bozeman draws many tourists while Missoula’s microbreweries, concert venues and charm lures new residents.
Best Places to Live in Montana
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Take a look at Montana's most budget-friendly cities that also happen to be great places to live
Read More About Montana
- Companies represent healthcare, agriculture, banking and more.
- List includes two hospitals and the University of Montana
- Local Food Advocacy Group ranks Montana in Annual Index
- Check out Helena's can't-miss attractions and activities
Featured Cities in Montana
Find a City in Montana
Search for any city in Montana to find your best place to live..Montana Profile
Quick Facts about MT
| Population | 1,014,699 |
| Latest Population Increase | 0.00% |
| Median Household Income | $47,169 |
| Median Home Price | $193,500 |
| Median Property Tax | $1,294 |
| Median Rent | $67 |
Employment Rate in MT
| Employed | 96% | |
| Unemployed | 4% |
Featured Cities/Population in MT
| Great Falls, MT | 59,563 |
| Billings, MT | 108,134 |
| Polson, MT | 4,643 |
| Kalispell, MT | 21,142 |
| Butte-Silver Bow, MT | 33,671 |
| Missoula, MT | 69,190 |
| Hamilton, MT | 4,501 |
| Bozeman, MT | 40,319 |
| Whitefish, MT | 6,692 |
| Livingston, MT | 7,136 |
Race in MT
| Ethnicity White | 89.2% | |
| Ethnicity Black | 0.5% | |
| Ethnicity Asian | 0.7% | |
| Ethnicity Hawaiian | 0.1% | |
| Ethnicity Hispanic | 3.3% | |
| Ethnicity Indian | 6.5% | |
| Ethnicity Other | 0.5% |
Employment Rate in MT
| Employed | 96% | |
| Unemployed | 4% |
Educational Levels in MT
| Bachelor's Degree | 20% | |
| Associate's Degree | 8.4% | |
| Graduate or Professional Degree | 9.5% | |
| High School Graduate | 30.1% | |
| Some College, No Degree | 24.8% | |
| Percent Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.5% | |
| Percent High School Graduate or Higher | 92.8% |
Industry in MT
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting and Mining | 7.3% |
| Construction | 8.1% |
| Manufacturing | 4.5% |
| Wholesale Trade | 2.3% |
| Retail Trade | 12.2% |
| Transportation and Warehousing, and Utilities | 4.8% |
| Information | 1.8% |
| Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 5.4% |
| Professional, Scientific and Management and Administrative and Waste | 8.2% |
| Educational Services and Health Care and Social Assistance | 23.2% |
| Arts, Entertainment and recreation and Accommodation and food Services | 10.9% |
| Other Services, Except Public Administration | 4.9% |
| Public Administration | 6.4% |
Housing in MT
| Homes Rent | 67.2% | |
| Homes Owned | 32.8% |
Data Sources : U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 2010 Census Gazetteer, GreatSchools, WalkScore, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service, Veterans Administration (VA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Montana Rankings
Best places to Live in Montana
| Title | Population | Median Home Price | Median Household Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | 108,134 | $191,200 | $51,012 |
| Missoula | 69,190 | $238,200 | $41,421 |
| Great Falls | 59,563 | $160,900 | $42,896 |
| Bozeman | 40,319 | $259,800 | $45,729 |
| Butte-Silver Bow | 33,671 | $129,800 | $37,686 |
| Helena | 29,600 | $205,500 | $49,852 |
| Kalispell | 21,142 | $186,700 | $41,097 |
| Havre | 9,790 | $134,400 | $45,146 |
| Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | 9,211 | $130,100 | $39,399 |
| Miles City | 8,627 | $124,400 | $46,935 |
| Helena Valley West Central | 8,564 | $206,500 | $66,692 |
| Belgrade | 7,738 | $198,800 | $47,379 |
| Lockwood | 7,437 | $165,100 | $53,085 |
| Helena Valley Southeast | 7,383 | $180,300 | $54,223 |
| Livingston | 7,136 | $170,400 | $40,619 |
| Evergreen | 6,955 | $134,300 | $36,814 |
| Laurel | 6,933 | $151,900 | $50,143 |
| Whitefish | 6,692 | $275,200 | $51,122 |
| Sidney | 6,216 | $167,200 | $56,034 |
| Lewistown | 5,883 | $105,800 | $35,990 |