Wanting to move to Montana. (Billings, Missoula: best towns, job openings, good schools)

[jbkmbell]

My family and I current live in a town with a population of about 23,000 in central Arkansas. I am a RN and my husband works in the oil/gas field. We have two young children. We are wanting to travel and visit different places to see where we want to settle down. I would love to move to West Montana. What towns would you suggest that is small but not to small. Safe for children with good schools, a hospital close. I currently drive 15mins into town to work. Any suggests welcomed. Thank you.

[ericsvibe]

All of Montana fits your description.

Most of MT is a different world from what you are used to. Almost every hospital in the state needs RN's. I would go to the MT state website that has job openings and go from there. It is easier to find the jobs, and then research the towns. If you have questions after that, then just ask.


Here is the website.

https://jobs.mt.gov/jobs/login.seek

Good luck.

[NW Crow]

Hamilton by itself is small but add up everybody right outside it and it adds up to near 25,000 and there is 40,000 in the full county.

Kalispell, Missoula, Helena and Butte are all a lot bigger but may be not too big. That is your call. Living on outskirts may make it work better for you.

Everything else is a lot smaller than Hamilton area. Dillon is small but may not be "too small" for you. It is though for many probably. Polson and Deer Lodge are other options not as often chosen by new arrivals, though Polson has started to get more.

[historyfan]

In Montana the gas/oil fields are in the extreme Eastern part and the Northeastern part of the state. Refineries are in Billings.

RN & medical field jobs are statewide because the state is such a large rural area with small and larger facilities.. RNs can also get hired by counties as the county health nurse.

The state might be too rural for you. Towns of 25,000 or more are few. For example, my county is 3 times the size of Rhode Island with 65,000 mother cows and 1,700 people...population density 1/2 person per square mile.

Secure the jobs and then decide about the towns.

[Senah]

Originally Posted by historyfan

in montana the gas/oil fields are in the extreme eastern part and the northeastern part of the state. Refineries are in billings.

Rn & medical field jobs are statewide because the state is such a large rural area with small and larger facilities.. Rns can also get hired by counties as the county health nurse.

The state might be too rural for you. Towns of 25,000 or more are few. For example, my county is 3 times the size of rhode island with 65,000 mother cows and 1,700 people...population density 1/2 person per square mile.

Secure the jobs and then decide about the towns.

[jbkmbell]

Thanks everyone. My husband and I grew up in a small town of 600 people which is about 20 minutes from where we currently live. The big city isn't for us, just needs to be big enough to have a hospital close if you know what I mean. I'll will start with the job openings. Thank yall!

[Dangerous Dave]

Eastern Montana is where the oil field jobs are in the state, and eastern Montana is kind of a pit. Things have slowed down in the industry there, another place to look is Sheridan, WY. No state income tax, and it's 18k people with not much around it. Decent hospital and Billings is two hours away for major medical issues. Sheridan has a VA hospital also that is almost always looking for RN's. I lived there for seven years. Just a little too small and remote for my tastes.


Western Montana is great, if you're not too concerned about the hubby's job prospects. The Bitteroot Valley is nice, and so is the area around Flathead Lake and Glacier NP.

[Reichilu]

Best Towns 2016 | Outside Online

Come to Billings, it has 2 really good hospitals and refineries.

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

Eastern Montana is where the oil field jobs are in the state, and eastern Montana is kind of a pit. Things have slowed down in the industry there, another place to look is Sheridan, WY. No state income tax, and it's 18k people with not much around it. Decent hospital and Billings is two hours away for major medical issues. Sheridan has a VA hospital also that is almost always looking for RN's. I lived there for seven years. Just a little too small and remote for my tastes.


Western Montana is great, if you're not too concerned about the hubby's job prospects. The Bitteroot Valley is nice, and so is the area around Flathead Lake and Glacier NP.

So Sheridan, Wyoming is great if you want to live in a rural area free of traffic and not having to wait in lines wherever you go?

[NW Crow]

Sheridan is rated one of the best small cities in the west. Traffic and "waiting" will be low generally but 8 am or 5:15 pm there will be traffic commensurate with a town of 20,000 and people using the main roads to get to and from home. If you walk into Walmart or a fast food restaurant at peak time you miggt wait some but not enough for most people to be bothered.