Fall in Love With This Stunning Montana City
Looking for a new place to call home? Life in Great Falls offers an ideal blend of affordability, adventure and arts.
Folks seeking an affordable lifestyle in beautiful surroundings naturally think of Montana. The state’s forests, mountains and waterfalls are a huge draw for those looking to escape the rat race and enjoy unparalleled natural beauty.
But residents don’t have to live in the middle of nowhere to enjoy Montana’s natural resources (unless they want to, of course). Life in Great Falls offers the perfect blend of urban and rural amenities. Whether you’re living in the heart of the city, just outside the limits or in a surrounding community, it’s easy to experience everything that makes the region the perfect place to grow roots.
Did You Know?
Median home values in Great Falls, Montana, are a third lower than the statewide average.
Affordable Life in Great Falls
Since it doesn’t levy state or local sales tax, Montana’s tax burden is lower than other states, and tax policy nonprofit the Tax Foundation has named the state No. 5 in the nation in its 2023 State Business Tax Climate Index report. In addition, Great Falls is one of the most affordable areas to live in Montana, especially in terms of mortgage and rent costs.
“In the building my restaurant is in, rent is pretty reasonable. I’ve heard of other locations, and I’m floored by the rent they pay,” says Saibeen Acord, owner and chef of Saibeen’s Kitchen. “When you look at other cities in Montana, Great Falls is still more reasonable than anywhere else.”
Acord has noticed an increase in housing construction in the area recently, with centrally located apartment buildings like Arc Apartment Homes, The Station District and Aurora Apartments sprouting up to accommodate growth in the city. She lives about 6 miles outside of the city on a 5-acre parcel.
“I love it! It’s awesome,” she says. “I love that the mountains are so close. I have some amazing views from my home.”
And for those wanting to live in a smaller community (but still within 30 minutes of Great Falls), cities like Belt and Cascade offer a true small-town feel, with under 1,000 residents.
The Great Outdoors Beckon
Life in Great Falls means plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Acord and her husband own a boat and often spend time on nearby Holter Lake, which she says she can be at within an hour. But there’s no need to leave Great Falls for outstanding outdoor access.
“In Great Falls, the trail system is a treasure,” says Carrie A. Tobiness, a 25-year resident of Great Falls and general manager of music and event venue The Newberry.
She counts the River’s Edge Trail as one of her favorite things about the city. The nearly 60-mile trail starts in downtown Great Falls (which is located on the Missouri River), and passes through green spaces on the southern riverbank including Elk’s Riverside and Gibson parks as well as Pacific Steel and Recycling Trailside Dog Park.
It connects with Giant Springs State Park, home to one of the largest freshwater springs in the U.S. (Over 150 million gallons of water are produced each day!) before following the river 30 miles northeast to the Morony Dam and doubling back on the northern riverbank. Along the way, hikers, bikers and runners can enjoy public art installations as well as numerous scenic views as the trail transitions from downtown to mountain environments.
The Terrific Tunes and Tables
Great music and food will also fill your life in Great Falls. Tobiness has managed The Newberry, which has room for over 1,000 standing-room guests, for nearly three years.
“What we are seeing in Great Falls the last couple of years is amazing,” she says. “Aside from The Newberry bringing in national recording artists to our stage and to Voyagers Stadium, you are seeing more area bars book live music. There truly is something for everyone every week in the area.”
Recent Newberry headliners include singer Henry Rollins and comedian Reggie Watts. Other venues such as the Mansfield Center for the Performing Arts and the Four Seasons Arena also draw a variety of performances. Annual events like the Downtown Summer Jam concert series and 4th of July Hootenanny are musical mainstays.
As for the dining scene, Acord points to the growing food truck scene: N Thai Food serves Thai cuisine while Okii Eats makes Native American/Korean fusion dishes. In Cascade, the over 50-year-old Missouri River Bar & Grill was purchased by new local owners in 2019 and serves up roadhouse fare with great views of rugged cliffs and bighorn sheep that frequent its parking lot.
And, she says, “people are hungry” for the East Indian and African cuisine that she turns out at her eatery. “The people here have accepted me wonderfully. They’re awesome and open to trying new things,” she says.
Get to Know Great Falls
Want to learn more about living and working in Great Falls, MT? Check out the latest edition of Livability Great Falls, Montana.