11 Best Places to Live in Montana [Big + Small Towns]

Looking for the best places to live in Montana?

I recently took a huge road trip across the US, and Montana was easily one of our favorite stops! There were so many beautiful mountain towns here, but there’s much more to choosing a new home than the scenery.

Don’t get me wrong, the natural scenery is a huge perk, but you have to look at the whole picture. It’s also a personal preference. One person might find a high-end ski town like Big Sky, while another might prefer a more low-key town like Kalispell. 

I’ve lived in at least a dozen countries, including the US, so I have loads of experience researching new places to live! 

So, I’ve pulled together all of the best places to live in Montana, from small towns to cities, to help you figure out exactly which town is right for you! 

Editor’s Picks

• Big Sky: Higher-end, more isolated Ski Town
• Bozeman: Modern college city with a lively downtown
• Whitefish: Small town charm, 30 minutes from Glacier National Park 

1. Bozeman

Bozeman is by far the best place to live in Montana for young adults. It’s not a huge city (the population is just 57,000), but it has a large university, and the downtown area is full of coffee shops, art galleries, and bars. 

The weather is unbelievable, with over 300 sunny days per year, low humidity, and mild winters. 

We drove through Bozeman on our way to Yellowstone National Park, which was just 1.5 hours from the city.

If I moved to Bozeman, I would go to Yellowstone all the time, and it would be great to visit during the shoulder season after summer crowds thin out. The only thing is, if you have a dog like me, keep a close eye on them. In Montana, you do have to watch out for bears and bison.

The only downside is that housing is expensive. A 1-bedroom apartment goes for around $1,900. But the unemployment rate in town is less than 3%, so there are also solid job opportunities to make ends meet.

2. Missoula

Missoula is another college town in Montana, also known as Zootown, which is bustling with parties, festivals, and outdoor adventures all year round! 

I also noticed that the locals here have a strong sense of community and love the outdoors, regardless of season. 

In summer, the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, and Clark Fork Rivers are perfect for canoeing, rafting, and fishing. There are also plenty of mountain biking and hiking trails surrounding the city. In the winter, locals love to head up the road to Snowbowll Ski Area!

If spending time outdoors, tasting craft beer, and having a close-knit community sounds like your style, then Missoula would be a fantastic place to move to!

The only downside is that Missoula is one of the most expensive cities to live in Montana, right behind Bozeman, with the average cost of purchasing a home around $675,000. 

3. Whitefish

If you like the idea of a close-knit community but don’t want to worry about college parties and tourists, Whitefish might be a better option for you! 

The population here is just 10,000, and over half the people living in Whitefish own their homes, so it’s one of those towns where everybody knows everybody. 

Housing and cost of living are higher than the average in Montana, but it’s a steal compared to places like California. Trust me. I lived in California, and that “sunshine tax” is brutal.

Whitefish is just a 30-minute drive from Glacier National Park and even closer to the local ski area, Whitefish Mountain Resort. You’ll also find some big brand stores and growing suburbs around the town, which is not guaranteed in Montana! 

Quick heads up – If you work from home like me, you might struggle to get high-speed internet in certain parts of Whitefish. It’s also much less sunny than Bozeman, Helena, and Billings.

4. Kalispell

Kalispell is about 25 miles south of Whitefish, so it shares the same weather patterns and surrounding attractions. 

But it’s a lot bigger. 

In fact, Kalispell is the largest city within 100 miles of Glacier National Park. It’s less of a ski town and more of a proper city with excellent infrastructure. 

The public schools are some of the best in Montana –if you happen to have kids – and you can still take advantage of the outdoors, from swimming to horseback riding, skiing, camping, and hiking.  

My friend took her kids snowboarding for the first time last winter, and the picture of them on their tiny snowboards was adorable!

5. Four Corners

Like Kalispell, the schools in Four Corners are high quality, but instead of hiking and skiing, locals prefer water sports, such as boating, waterskiing, fishing, and rafting! 

It’s also so close to Bozeman that some people consider it a suburb outside of the city.

More than 80% of the small population owns their home and the city brags about its healthcare and education options. 

Four Corners is the best place to live in Montana for families to plant roots in a community that offers history, outdoor activities, and a small-town vibe with big-city benefits.

6. Helena

Helena is the state capital and sits at the center of Montana. It’s a proper city with many brand-name stores, public schools, and everything else you could need, but it’s just a couple of hours from Glacier NP, Yellowstone NP, and other major cities in Montana! 

The current population is about 32,000, so it’s smaller than Bozeman but a lot bigger than Whitefish or Big Sky. I’d consider it a smaller suburb city. 

The median income and unemployment rate in Helena are around the state average, but you’ll notice that housing is significantly cheaper than other places to live in Montana. 

There may not be ski slopes like Whitefish or Big Sky, but Helena is rich in gold mining history and has a cozy downtown area full of restaurants, cafes, and parks. 

If you want to settle somewhere quiet, I’d look in East Helena, a bit outside downtown.

7. Big Sky

Big Sky, Montana, is an even smaller town in Gallatin County with a population of 3,141, and it’s a popular place for ski bums moving to Montana.

Big Sky Resort, the 2nd largest ski resort in the United States, is less than 10 minutes from town, and Yellowstone National Park is just an hour away. In the summer, locals also have endless hiking trails and mountain biking opportunities up in Gallatin Canyon. 

But you’ll need a lot of dough if you want to buy a house here. Real estate is absurd here, with an average cost of 1.4 million dollars!

That said, if you’re looking for an upscale mountain town where you can enjoy high-end living, Big Sky is the city for you.

8. Dillon

Big Sky’s price tag isn’t for everyone, but there are more affordable small towns in Montana, like Dillon.

Dillon’s median household price of about $350,000 USD is way more approachable for families looking to settle down. 

The small town in Beaverhead County is the kind of place where everyone knows your name, and the crime rate is way below the national and state average. 

But the best part about living in Montana is the outdoor recreation opportunities. Dillon is known as one of the prettiest towns in the state. It has plenty of hiking, biking, and fishing available.

Dillon is also home to two fascinating ghost towns – Bannack State Park and Coolidge – left behind from the 1800s gold rush and 1900s silver mining era! 

9. Lewistown

In central Montana, you’ll find Lewiston. I personally don’t love how far it is from the best things to do in Western Montana, but if you’re looking for a quiet, small town with affordable living, Lewistown is an excellent option.

The community focuses on a simple life with good neighbors and a connection with the outdoors. Some smaller mountains and lots of hunting and fishing opportunities surround the town.

One of the city’s charms is the annual Chokecherry Festival. Next time I travel to Montana, I’d love to time it up with this event! The festival included a 5k race, a 10k race, and unique interesting activities like pit spitting. 

10. Butte

Butte is a historic city with a larger population than Dillon or Lewistown but a small-town feel. 

It isn’t a polished, picture-perfect city, but it’s also not one of the worst places to live in Montana, and the grit is part of its appeal.  The city was once a booming mining town for gold, silver, and copper. You can still feel a lot of the history just walking through downtown.

People in Butte have a strong sense of community but still respect each other’s space. This is perfect if you don’t like everyone getting involved in everyone’s business.

Butte is one of the most affordable places to live in Montana, too. The average salary is around $56,000 as of 2023, and you can snag a home for a median price of $156,000. 

11. Libby

Libby has an even smaller population than Lewistown, at less than 3,000 people.

Like most of the best places to live in Montana, there is a significant focus on the outdoors, and you’ll have beautiful mountain views from everywhere in town. People here joke that they don’t need a painting on the wall, just more windows! 

The only issue is that there are limited job opportunities in town. The unemployment rate is nearly 9%, much higher than the national average. 

So, I would call it the best small town in Montana for retirees or remote workers who love the outdoors and don’t mind being far from the city!

So, What’s the Best Place to Live in Montana?

The best place to live in Montana depends on each individual or family. The cities and small towns across the state offer slightly different opportunities, cost of living, and communities.

Big Sky Montana is a more expensive place to live, but if you’re a big skier, it might be worth it for you! 

Lewistown is perfect for living in a small mountain town with a tight-knit community. Missoula and Bozeman have a similar emphasis on community but far more people and vibrant universities! 

Hopefully, this helps you decide which city is right for you! If you’re still unsure if Montana is the perfect state, check out my full synopsis for the pros and cons of living in Montana!