Billings area (Bozeman, Livingston, Laurel: sales, new home, unemployment)

[Elkman]

I'm researching areas as possible places to move my family and I don't know a lot about Billings, could any tell me how it is there? Basic info like jobs, schools, Universities, shopping, weather, etc. Thanks!

[georgiainwyo]

Billings....you either love it or you hate it! I guess it's that way with anywhere you go. I, myself, love it! I've been here for 13 years now, moving from small-town Wyoming. If you are from a metropolis area Billings will seem small to you, but to us it's big. It is the largest "city" in Montana, with about 120K population. There are smaller towns in the surrounding area as well. Billings is the medical hub of the region with 2 good hospitals and specialists in every field. It is the home of two colleges, Montana State University-Billings, and Rocky Mountain College. MSU-B also has a College of Tech. campus. If interested in colleges you should check out their websites. Shopping is the best in the area, but not like a big city. All of the big box stores are here of course, as well as a mall. Everything we need is available. The only thing I wish we had that we don't is an outlet mall! There are most of the well known chain restaurants as well as some nice local eateries and all the fast food you could ever want. The weather isn't bad, but I guess that's a relative statement, depending on where you are from. Eastern Montana is in the high desert, so the climate is very dry. We get some rain in the spring, but once summer arrives moisture is hard to come by. There is more moisture in the nearby mountains. Winters can be windy and cold, but the extreme cold temps (down to 20 or so below zero) are usually short-lived. Billings doesn't usually get a lot of snow. We're lucky to see a white Christmas. Most snows come later in the winter with some nasty wet snowstorms in the early spring. Summers can get hot, around 100 degrees and dry, but summers in Montana are comfortable. With mountains about an hour's drive away and Yellowstone Park just beyond that there is the opportunity to be out of town and enjoy the beauty of the state. Billings has some trees, but not the evergreens that Western Montana provides. Billings also has the area's largest airport. I have found that people in the area are friendly and are good neighbors. I teach in Laurel, 10 miles from Billings. I don't know if you have children, but if you do, Billings has 3 public high schools, 4 public middle schools, and 20-something elementaries. There is also a Catholic high school, middle & elementary as well as a few Christian schools. If you have any more questions please let me know, or leave me a personal message & we can email. Good luck in your new venture!
Georgia

[georgiainwyo]

I forgot to mention jobs until I re-read your post. Unemployment in Montana and in Billings is very, very low. Non-skilled jobs are abundant. Everywhere you look in Billings you see Help Wanted signs. Fast food restaurants, etc. are offering quite a bit above min. wage because they are having a hard time finding people to work. I guess I would have to know what your interests and skills are as far as work before I could address how jobs are in Billings. It seems that people either make a modest living or make lots of money...like doctors, executives, etc. Wages in Montana aren't very high in general, but it depends on what kind of job you are talking about. However, the cost of living is low compared to a lot of places in the country. Modest brand new homes are running in the $200K's, and "used" homes average around $180K. Some say that property taxes are high here, but we don't have a sales tax so you could say it all evens out in the wash! Cost of living in Billings is much less than the larger towns in the Western part of the state. I hope this helps!

[georgiainwyo]

Being your name is Elkman I take it you are an outdoorsman. I forgot to mention that Cabela's is supposed to be building a large store in Billings soon. They say it isn't a "done deal" yet, but it looks like everything will pan out so it will be built. There is also another large outdoors retailer building in Billings, I just can't remember the store name! Montana has a lot to offer as far as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and just being out in the beautiful country we have to offer!

[Elkman]

Thanks for the info! That is great to hear. It sounds like a place for me. I'm in Indiana along the lake effect snow area and I'm used to cold winters for months. I am an outdoors person but I have to travel out of state to get my fill of nature and it's beauty and it's inhabitants. I will definitely consider Billings high on my list.

[Elkman]

Is the Billings area a very windy area day in and day out?

[GlenEd gal]

Originally Posted by Elkman

I'm researching areas as possible places to move my family and I don't know a lot about Billings, could any tell me how it is there? Basic info like jobs, schools, Universities, shopping, weather, etc. Thanks!

It's a nice place to visit....but you have to realize that it ain't Indiana. I am from the midwest as well, and although Montana is beautiful and my family lives there it is a definite culture shock. Professional jobs don't pay and the average income is way below what we have in Hoosier land. I guess you trade the beauty for the salary. There is also a problem with drugs. Go back and read articles online about the problems with being the only "big city" in the state.

Bozeman is fabulous, you should take a look at it as well. But it isn't all bad and I'm truthful to that. I love to visit and would consider moving but only if I'm retired and can afford a nice place out in the mountains. Hope I'm not ruffling any feathers in big sky country.

I hope I haven't discouraged you, just helped a fellow midwesterner.

[Elkman]

that info is helpful to know. I think drugs abuse in the West is rampant. But then again maybe it is everywhere even where I live but I don't just see it or hear about it. I have relatives in Colorado and drugs seem to be a problem there too from what they say. I've read on other forums on other states and towns and places I thought would be nice mention drug problems there too. Maybe there's no escape from it.
Bozeman is listed high on my list of places I would like to move to, but it sounds expensive for housing and sounds like they don't like outsiders. I'm not from California or Florida or the East Coast. I have morals and respect for others.

[georgiainwyo]

Hi Elkman! Nice to see you again! As for your question about wind...no, it's not that windy in the Billings area. Sure, we get an occasional storm that passes through, but they are usually pretty short-lived. Billings is in the Yellowstone Valley, so there doesn't tend to be as much wind as in some places. If you don't already know, there are huge sandstone bluffs known as "the rims" that border the northern edge of Billings. I think this serves as a nice barrier to wind. Billings Heights, which is NE of the main part of town, tends to be windier. If you want wind, though, go West on the interstate to the Big Timber/Livingston area!!! Wow, do they get the wind there! I have also found in my travels (spent years on the road working as a school photographer so have been all over the state) that the Browning area can be really windy during the winter, as well as some of the wide-open plains areas.

As for drugs, I think they are everywhere. It's just that a lot of use aren't exposed to them so aren't as aware. I believe one thing about Montana is that they make what is the truth well-known to everyone. Montana has a very strong anti-drug community. If you have ever heard of the Montana Meth Project you know what I mean. It has become a nationally known anti-meth advertisement campaign. Authorities here in Montana make it clear that there is a drug problem and aren't afraid to make people aware. I think that in many places this isn't the case......drugs are there, but people just aren't aware. Personally, I know a lot of people in a lot of places, both in Montana and in other states. I am aware of people who are involved in drugs, but don't actually "know" anyone who is. In my present role as a middle school teacher I know of families who have drug problems and have learned that it is no different anywhere you go. Drugs are everywhere nowdays. If you are truly concerned about there being problems wherever you may consider moving it would be my suggestion that you do some research. It's my guess that you will find that drug problems are pretty widespread and that they are just more well-known in some areas than in others.

Let me know if there is anything else you need! Oh, by the way, a big bull elk was hit by a car on the interstate just outside of Billings the other day. If you want to see the picture I can send you the link. They don't often get down this low. I think he was lost Take care!
Georgia

[Elkman]

Please, send me the photo! I just got back from my Colorado vacation and it was great to see wildlife besides the usual squirrel and rabbits from where I live now. The Billings area sounds it could be a nice fit for me and my family someday and I will continue to research it before I make the big move someday. I appreciate(GeorgiaINMT, and all others) all the info you are giving me. Again I would love to see that photo. Elk is my hobby and I need to be closer to my hobby and my need for the West.