We wanna move. (Missoula, Bozeman, Livingston: fit in, mortgage, home)

[Tetonguy]

Hi, My wife and I are interested in moving from our present home in Jackson Wyoming to a small town (pop. <= 10,000). I'm an accountant with many (many) years experience. I actually have an arts background. My wife was a kitchen manager for many years and is now in guest services. Living here is high buck, with many McMansions. We'd like to cash out of our home, relocate to a more modest, rural-ish area, and thereby lower our mortgage debt. Have been looking at Stevensville and Hamilton. Jobs in the region? Would appreciate any input. Thanks for your help.

[Carolina_Belle92]

I grew up in Stevensville. It's a wonderful town, but the job market is a little shaky. Hamilton would be a better bet in general, economy-wise, but it is being rapidly developed, so is losing some of the rural charm you are hoping for. There should be quite a few positions for accountants in either Hamilton or Missoula, which is about 30 miles north of Stevi (lots of people make the commute, only about 40 minutes on a bad day).

Stevi is also close to Florence, and Florence is setting up a little thingamajigger called Il Vilaggio (the village). It's a little Italian cultural center, sort of a miniature Little Italy. They're setting up restaurants and such very quickly, so that might be a good bet for your wife.

If you are not religious, you will do better in Hamilton. Be warned: the Bitterroot Valley is extremely evangelical. If you are also evangelical, welcome home. If you're not, beware.

There are two towns squarely situated between Stevi and Hamilton: Victor and Corvallis. Victor is a family town, but is a little poor, and the schools are very small. Corvallis is a hair bigger, but still a very small town (pop. 443). Its schools, however, are quite good. The best in the valley. For four years I would make the 20-minute commute to get from my home in Stevi to my midde and high schools in Corvallis. For raising children, Corvallis or Stevi would be your best bet. Jobwise, I'm going to say Hamilton.

I will say this: Stevi has an inordinate number of restaurants and bars relative to population. Tons and tons and tons of restaurants. None are particularly upscale (except Food Fetish... mmm), but they're plentiful.

Any more questions that I can answer would be AWESOME. I love talking about my hometown.

[sweetmemorypic]

I know this isn't your part of town, but what info could you offer as far as kalispell and the surrounding cities? I'm looking to relocate out of the Salt Lake City Smog. With a teen son, he proclaims to be a hick, I thought it would be good for him to really live the hardworking life style that he seams to thrive in and has a wonderful appreciation for.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by sweetmemorypic

I know this isn't your part of town, but what info could you offer as far as kalispell and the surrounding cities? I'm looking to relocate out of the Salt Lake City Smog. With a teen son, he proclaims to be a hick, I thought it would be good for him to really live the hardworking life style that he seams to thrive in and has a wonderful appreciation for.

See your other post "missoula or kalispell".

[Tetonguy]

Hi, Thanks for the info. The part about evangelical was very improtant to us and we appreciate your knowledge. Kinda turned off by that. Still looking around MT. Found a likely property in Corvallis. Needs to be a little cosmopolitan or at least accepting/tolerant. We are not unconventional, get along well with others, but are not the least bit religious and avoid talking politics. Know any other place in region where we might fit in better? Thanks again for your help.

[GiftShoppeGuy]

Originally Posted by Tetonguy

Hi, My wife and I are interested in moving from our present home in Jackson Wyoming to a small town (pop. <= 10,000). I'm an accountant with many (many) years experience. I actually have an arts background. My wife was a kitchen manager for many years and is now in guest services. Living here is high buck, with many McMansions. We'd like to cash out of our home, relocate to a more modest, rural-ish area, and thereby lower our mortgage debt. Have been looking at Stevensville and Hamilton. Jobs in the region? Would appreciate any input. Thanks for your help.

The Bitterroot Valley?
These days it's getting to be anything "but" modest.

You'll be moving from "high dollar" into "high dollar".....
From "McMansions" to "McMansions"...
You may find yourself moving from one Jackson into another Jackson.

On the bright side of it all though......

The Bitterroot is pretty liberal...... you should fit right in as far as that goes. There are a ton of low paying service industry jobs there (so your wife will find work at about 8 bucks an hour) and, it seems an artist on every corner these days.

With you being an accountant, you should do alright there.... especially in Missoula.

[rambrush]

I have assisted a couple to relocate south of Anaconda along Mill Creek, they are very pleased with the area. they chose a place on the flatter side the the mountain for year around access.
So don't give up on the Anaconda,Butte, Rocker or Ramsay areas
So there is more than just the bitter root valley look at such areas as wise river / wisdom

[Carolina_Belle92]

Originally Posted by GiftShoppeGuy

The Bitterroot Valley?
These days it's getting to be anything "but" modest.

You'll be moving from "high dollar" into "high dollar".....
From "McMansions" to "McMansions"...
You may find yourself moving from one Jackson into another Jackson.

On the bright side of it all though......

The Bitterroot is pretty liberal...... you should fit right in as far as that goes. There are a ton of low paying service industry jobs there (so your wife will find work at about 8 bucks an hour) and, it seems an artist on every corner these days.

With you being an accountant, you should do alright there.... especially in Missoula.

The Bitterroot, liberal??? Are you kidding? It is very conservative, although Missoula has a definite left-wing flair to it. As a moderate, however, I find that I fit in well in the Bitterroot. People are fairly tolerant, more curious than closed-minded.

TetonGuy, I hate to say this, but nowhere in Montana could you find someplace "cosmopolitan" enough to suit your needs. Missoula is going to be the closest you can get, and there is only so much culture in a city of 65,000 people.

I'm glad you've found a potential place in Corvallis; it is one of the nicer places in the Bitterroot. Much better bet than Victor (what a junkyard).

And I'm sorry, GiftShoppeGuy, but you are WAY off with your McMansion statement. For the most part, the Bitterroot is retaining its rural charm, although a little unpleasant "affordable housing" development is springing up in Hamilton (urgh). I would advise you to stick to topics that you are more up-to-date with. JMAO.

I'm going to recommend you stick with something on the north side of the Bitterroot (think Florence, Lolo, Missoula, or Frenchtown) for your political and religious viewpoints (or lack thereof, ). You will find a very tolerant atmosphere, and the people are quite nice. The commute from Lolo to Missoula (where the jobs are) is quite easy, around twenty minutes on a bad day. Usually takes me about fifteen minutes to get from Lolo to Missoula. It is a very nice town without so much of a religious/political element to it, and it is very family-oriented. Housing is nice, and cost of living is lower than it would be in inner Missoula.

[countess1166]

I think you will like Red Lodge best in my humble opinion.

[Vulcan500]

Livingston/Bozeman area sounds right up your alley.