Considering Moving To Montana (Missoula, Helena: to rent, low crime, how much)

[johnbain]

Hello everyone.

I took a look at your state and it seems that the W and NW areas
are GORGEOUS!

I have a few questions.

I am looking to move to a place with low crime, good schools,
great health care, clean air/water and decent housing costs. I would be looking to rent for the first year and would be looking for a house in the price range of 2k a month or lower.

I do enjoy LOTS Of sun. I know I can't ask for that during the winter but what about spring, summer and fall? How cold does it get and how warm does it get. I prefer warm weather during spring, summer and fall so how warm during those months?

I want to live in a city around 30k or under with lots of great things for my my children to do (ages 13 and 18).

Thank you all for your time.
John

[bigtrees]

OK, here we go again. Your questions are pretty typical of a lot of people touring the area, and my answers are always the same.

Weather in the Northwest parts of the state varies from town to town. The greener, prettier (in my opinion) towns get more clouds, the drier, more desolate (but still pretty) parts of the state get more sun.

How much clouds? The towns of Whitefish and Kalispell are known for long, gray winters. I was born in Whitefish, lived there for twenty years, and since moved to Seattle. I'd say that Seattle and Whitefish are roughly comparable on gray weather. You can count on it turning nice in Whitefish around the 5th of July or so and will have great weather into early October. Mid October through Early May are very gray. Overcast, cloudy, and very low clouds. May can be nice. June is traditionally very rainy and gray.

So - people that love lots of sun oftentimes love Montana in the summer and go crazy in the winter. That's why the population in the Flathead Valley grows in the summer and declines in the winter.

As far as rents, 2000 a month should get you a typical place. The bigger question is do you need to work to afford 2000 a month? If you're retired or are bringing money from elsewhere, no problem. But 2000 a month is a big amount to pay on Montana wages.

Good luck!

[bigtrees]

Oh, yeah, most people say Montana is hot in the summer. Western part of the state will get to 95 in July (most often), eastern part will get to 100 pretty easily in July.

Winters are cold and long, though. It's not the heat in the summer that people notice, it's the winter weather.

[johnbain]

What's it like around the area of Helena?

[johnbain]

wow...ok...not to much help I see...

[Montana Baby]

Originally Posted by johnbain

wow...ok...not to much help I see...

I think Helena (east of the continental divide) is colder than western Montana. I think Plains and area around it get more sun than Missoula or Kalispell.