Where in Montana? (Billings, Missoula, Bozeman: low crime, home, job market)

[taulbania]

We are seriously considering moving to Montana. We have lived in a rural community in California our whole lives and are ready to move on. We have children to raise and we feel like this just isn't the place for that. We love the small town feel of our hometown and the family focus that it has brought, however, many people from LA and other places are infiltrating and bringing their big city views to our small town and pushing out our down home country values. It just ruins it!

Anyways, I have a good friend that lives in Billings, so we were looking there. Also, I have heard good things about Missoula, Butte and Bozeman. Anyone out there have any suggestions as to where in Montana is a good place to raise a family with good "down home" values? I know the weather will be an adjustment, so maybe a "milder Montana climate" would be better?

Thanks in advance for all your suggestions!

God Bless!

Paula

[bigtrees]

Uhh....lots of people from LA are inflitrating Montana and pushing out our down home values....

I've your trying to escape relocating Californians, I wouldn't recommend moving to Montana as we have the same problem here!

[theRain]

You will have a MAJOR shock adjusting to the climate here, after SoCal. You are quite brave to take on that sort of change. I know folks who were born, raised, and lived many years in MOntana, who LOVE SoCal now that they have moved that way. The climate in MOntana, while it varies, it is HARSH, so be prepared. Otherwise, there really is no paradise, most all the towns you mention are nice and have pros and cons. Bozeman will be your most expensive. Billings is the biggest and much more affordable. But, overall, this will be a big adjustment. If your kids participate in any kind of competitions, prepare to drive long distances for them.
It took me a couple of years to fully realize just how very different life is here from the coast. (Though most of the cities you mention are very suburban feeling, to me.) I can't wait to move back, but to each his own, they say! Hope you find a spot you like.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by taulbania

We are seriously considering moving to Montana. We have lived in a rural community in California our whole lives and are ready to move on. We have children to raise and we feel like this just isn't the place for that. We love the small town feel of our hometown and the family focus that it has brought, however, many people from LA and other places are infiltrating and bringing their big city views to our small town and pushing out our down home country values. It just ruins it!

Anyways, I have a good friend that lives in Billings, so we were looking there. Also, I have heard good things about Missoula, Butte and Bozeman. Anyone out there have any suggestions as to where in Montana is a good place to raise a family with good "down home" values? I know the weather will be an adjustment, so maybe a "milder Montana climate" would be better?

Thanks in advance for all your suggestions!

God Bless!

Paula

It'd help to know where exactly you're leaving from since there's many different areas in MT to suggest.

[taulbania]

We live in a farming community on the coast between santa barbara and san luis obispo. The weather is 60's and 70's year round, we get about 17 inches of rain per year and have only had "snow" 2 times in the past 30 years (it just stayed on the ground long enough to take a picture then it was melted).

I know the weather will definitely be a huge change, but it will be worth it to have the kids grow up in a family friendly state that still has some morals and values! Definitely NOT California's strong point!

[jimj]

We used to live near Napa and the SF peninsula. Anywhere you move here will be a shock and will take at least a year to get used to. Most people I've talked to (us as well) agree that for the first year they hated it here (after the oh wow honeymoon ended) and after the second year we went back to our old street to visit and couldn't imagine how we ever lived there, it felt sooo clustered and packed together.
While we need warmer climes due to health issues I will miss this area and hope I can re-adjust to somewhat city life.
The biggest warning I can give you about moving here is about montanaitis. It's a bug that gets in your blood once you've lived here a while and forces you to come back if you ever leave...

[theRain]

Originally Posted by taulbania

We live in a farming community on the coast between santa barbara and san luis obispo. The weather is 60's and 70's year round, we get about 17 inches of rain per year and have only had "snow" 2 times in the past 30 years (it just stayed on the ground long enough to take a picture then it was melted).

I know the weather will definitely be a huge change, but it will be worth it to have the kids grow up in a family friendly state that still has some morals and values! Definitely NOT California's strong point!

The weather you describe sounds like PARADISE after 3 yrs in Montana! I am SO drooling. I have horses and dogs, and they would love that, too. (though the lack of fleas here in MOntana is pretty cool) We want moderate, and you describe that about where you live!! My animals' comfort is as important as mine, if you didn't notice, as they are very central in my life. But, to be able to go out every day and not worry about walking on slick snow or ice for several months a year, or have to hide from the heat of the day for the summer months, wow, that would be so nice. Consistency! You don't get that with Montana weather; it is schizophrenic!

I don't think you can generalize as to one state being more family friendly than another. I think they all have their pros and cons. I think the biggest influence on kids is the parents. California does have some excellent schools, but of course you live there, I don't, so you are better qualified to judge that!
I hear that Californians live life at a faster pace, but I have found that that is very individual. You live as fast as you decide to. I have lived a pretty fast pace here in Montana, growing a business. I have lived on the West Coast and lived a much slower pace. You really set the speed for your own life, and if you find it is too hectic, too fast, you need to make changes. Sometimes a person needs to relocate to feel able to do so, but I think we all have the power to slow our lives down or speed them up, wherever we are living.

[ExilefromCa]

Hi Taulbania,

I grew up in California and I love it here! If you are looking for a great place to raise your family with low crime, safe neighborhoods, and awesome neighbors, I think you'll find it here. However, my first recommendation is that you spend plenty of time just visiting and exploring the community you are considering before you take the plunge and actually move here. Montana isn't for everyone. My sister had a hard time adjusting to life here and didn't really care for the state at first, but she's finally coming around.

I've lived in both Livingston and Bozeman, and both towns are nice, with different advantages and disadvantages. Livingston has more of a "small town" feel, with a well-preserved historic downtown, a nice park by the Yellowstone river, and friendly people. You can commute to Bozeman from Livingston (it's about 20 minutes), so you have access to Bozeman's shopping and job market as well. On the downside, if you have teenagers, there might not be a lot for them to do in Livingston, depending on their interests.

Bozeman, on the other hand, is a thriving small city with a large out-of-state population. On the positive side, you have just about every store and convenience you would have in California, while still enjoying the "down home" feel of a smaller town. There's plenty of recreation, both in the city and outside of it. In terms of appearance, Bozeman is very clean and safe (I would say cleaner than Billings, since there is no industry here, but that is just my personal opinion). Bozeman has a relatively good job market and a major university (MSU), as well as a huge modern library. The downside of Bozeman is that there is more of a California influence here than there is in other parts of the state -some call it "Bozeangeles." While wholesome values are still the "norm" in Bozeman, you will encounter more of a California mindset here than you would in Livingston. With that being said, I would say that Bozeman is still not nearly as bad as California in terms of traffic, crime, pollution, etc. It's really not a fair comparison. I just got back from a trip to Southern California, and getting back to Bozeman feels like a (literal) breath of fresh air after being away for so long

As for the other towns you mention, I am not familiar enough with Missoula to comment on it. I know that it has another major university (University of Montana) and is known to be more liberal than the rest of the state. Butte is interesting; I'll let some of the natives tell you more about it. I've been there a few times, and while it is a fun place to visit (it has one of the biggest historic districts in the state), I personally would not want to live there because of the Berkley Pit superfund site. Billings is another city that you will get mixed opinions on. There are a lot of refineries in the area, so if you're looking for clean Montana air, Billings may not be your best choice. On the other hand, there is a lot to do in Billings if you are looking for "city life" - plenty of shopping, some culture, a good library, etc. You could move to one of the suburbs outside of Billings, in which case you would be further away from the refineries, while still having access to the city. I've spent a lot of time in Billings and have had some good times there, but it wouldn't be my first choice of places to live.

My personal recommendation (if you're looking at southern Montana) would be Bozeman, Livingston, or one of the surrounding communities (Belgrade, Three Forks, etc). You'll find most of the same benefits of a bigger city here in Bozeman that you would find in Billings, minus the pollution.

The other two cities you haven't mentioned are Helena and Kalispell. I can tell you a little about Helena, but I'm not familiar enough with Kalispell to comment on living there, except to say that it seems to be a nice area.

[bmjko]

Me, and my wife and kids live in North Alabama, and dream about MT or WY. We have a little land and 4 horses, and 4 dogs. We want to move to a place where there is less pressure on your kids to make the all star baseball team, or have the highest GPA. We want a simple life we other people who do the things we like to do. Like ride horse, hunt, fish, and maybe start the kids in a jr redoe association. Does this kind of life exist, or is this only in the movies? I know the winter would be a BIG factor as well, but I want to find out about the way of life for people who are not ranchers, but enjoy things my family and I enjoy.

[jarsmom]

The biggest warning I can give you about moving here is about montanaitis. It's a bug that gets in your blood once you've lived here a while and forces you to come back if you ever leave...[/quote]


I think that goes twice for those in the flathead. Ive talked to prev outsiders who say They have never seen anything like it.