A "Billings, 101" tutorial?? Help, STAT, please! (Laurel, Lockwood: house, rental)

[DietitianVicky]

Hi everyone. I just found out today, that I have been offered a position in Billings, MT. Sounds great; from the superficial research I've done on the area, it looks like it might be a good fit for me, but I'm not sure. Can anyone help me out, and fill me in on their own perspectives regarding Billings and the surrounding area?

1. How well can one make it on approximately $52K per year? It's what I make now; going to ask for this and I'm wondering how well that'd be in MT?

2. How scenic is Billings? I am an avid hiker, and part of the draw for me to move, would be outdoor recreation VERY proximal to where I choose to settle. I am looking, specifically, for hiking in/around the area. Is this available? I don't mean within an hour's drive. I mean within Billings/Laurel/Lockwood immediate vicinity (as in, I could leave work and go straight out to the trailhead).

3. Climate? Traffic? Cost of living/availability of quiet, pastoral areas to settle? (I am moving from the sprawling metropolis of FL, and I NEED space/solitude/coolness. I HAVE lived in SE Idaho, and LOVED it).
I am young, and am looking for a place to PERMANENTLY settle (i.e. buy home, have a horse/land, and then lay my roots down....no more transience!). Is Billings the right kind of place for this? BTW, I am 28, so having others (potential hubbie material??) around that don't have 60 years on me, would be fantastic!)

4. Would YOU move there?? Why or why not?

5. Specific highlights/deterrents to living in Billings.

6. If I DID decide to take this position, where are there apartments in nice areas that take pets? Rent.com only lists one complex for the whole entire city, and it is NOT pet-friendly. Me having to move without my precious furbeast = dealbreaker

I need to let the career recruiter know by Thursday, whether I accept the position or not. Thanks so much!

[mtnlady]

I don't currently live there but grew up there and have family still there. I'll try to help some. I liked living in Billings--it was big enough for things to do but not too big and easy to get out of town to do something.

Outdoors stuff--there is a trail that follows the river in several places on the south edge of town. There's a place on the rims to hike around. The mountains are an hour away in Red Lodge. Everything near town is not challenging but great anyway.

There are several little towns near Billings and areas outside of the city that would be great for land/horses.

The summer weather can be hot 90s/100s but it cools off in the evenings (50s/60s) usually. The winter can be cold (below 0) and snowy or it can be pretty mild. Depends on the year. Spring and fall are generally great. It's windy quite a bit but not gale force.

I can't help in regards to apartments, but most areas of town are ok. I don't care for the downtown and North Park area, but I guess it's ok.

52k should be ok. I can't speak for all costs but food and gas and entertainment is similar to where I live in Boise. Can you say what industry the job is for? Would it be stable? In some cases it may be hard to find another job if for some reason this one doesn't pan out.

If you have any other specifc questions I can try to answer.

[jimj]

You should be fine on what you're making, many, many people do fine on a lot less here.
Do a web search on the local papers and look at the rental sections. Worse case is you can find an extended stay motel that will accept a pet while you look for a house. I've seen extended stay americas that do that as well as some Holiday inn express'...

[CTC]

To the OP, we are moving to Billings later this month-my wife has been up there for several months now, and I have spent a few weeks up there.

One of my favorite places to hike is Phipps park on the west edge of town. Very nice sandstone rim topography. You can get a good work out if you hike to the top. There are many informal trails and the park in undeveloped-I am guessing you could probably get a 5 mile of hike in...there is an amazing frisbee golf course built within the rims as well.

You will have to poke around to find hiking in Billings-it is there though-get a MT gazetteer and look for some of the BLM land north of town.

There are several urban corridor bike trails which are being connected to form the "Heritage Trail" which I think will be around 30 miles long.

We are renting for a year until we decide what exactly we want, and which neighborhood etc. Found a brand new town home for 1200/month.

at 52k you will be doing pretty well for Billings-I would hold out for that.

Our impression of Billings has been very favorable-It reminds me of Boise 20 years ago.

[jimj]

And the way things are going in a few years it'll remind you of Boise today!

[CTC]

Originally Posted by jimj

And the way things are going in a few years it'll remind you of Boise today!

lets hope not

[CTC]

For being the largest city in the state, there is a major paucity of info on Billings in this forum-come on Billings people chime in for a change!

and to the OP-you asked a question-are you even out there/some good info came your way-give a sign.

Sorry, but I find it pretty frustrating-not much progressive dialog going on here about Billings

[HiLine]

I live in Billings and love it. You will do well on $52K - many people do well on less. And, CTC is right about Phipps Park. It's near the Yellowstone Country Club and a great place to hike. It has a fun Folf (Frisbee golf) course and lots of room to hike. I hike it all the time. Just keep an eye on the rattlesnakes - you can't help but run into them.

There are a lot of activites going on here and I'm sure you'll find several of interest to yourself.