Bozeman: great for college students, but how 'bout Toddlers? (Livingston: rent, daycares)

[eggmama]

Hey there! My family and I are considering moving to Bozeman, and from everything that we've heard it's great for college students, which I will be, so that's good to hear. However we have 2 kids, under 2 and I would like to avoid a daycare sort of situation, but would love to find fun activites for them just for a few hours a day while I take classes. I know it's a pretty picky situation, but I hope it's possible. If not how are the daycares in the area??

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by eggmama

Hey there! My family and I are considering moving to Bozeman, and from everything that we've heard it's great for college students, which I will be, so that's good to hear. However we have 2 kids, under 2 and I would like to avoid a daycare sort of situation, but would love to find fun activites for them just for a few hours a day while I take classes. I know it's a pretty picky situation, but I hope it's possible. If not how are the daycares in the area??

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. What are you referring to "fun activities"? I'm assuming that you'd like them under adult supervision during these hours?

The MSU has a daycare that is reasonable in price and many students will use it. Other MSU students staff it and I'd speculate that it's a good place to drop your kids off while you go to school. ASMSU (read - other MSU students) pay a considerable amount to keep the hourly cost down for student-parents.

As far as "other activities" under adult supervision, I don't really have any ideas....

[eggmama]

Thanks! that's awesome to hear that there is an on-campus daycare! I will probably utilize that!!
As for "fun activities" I think I found my answer...the Bozeman recreation dept seems to have some great preschool classes that I'm excited about.

So am I right in thinking that Bozeman is more of a college town? Does that also mean that many of the students stick around after graduation and have babies? We're really looking for a community where there are lots of other young families!

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by eggmama

Thanks! that's awesome to hear that there is an on-campus daycare! I will probably utilize that!!
As for "fun activities" I think I found my answer...the Bozeman recreation dept seems to have some great preschool classes that I'm excited about.

So am I right in thinking that Bozeman is more of a college town? Does that also mean that many of the students stick around after graduation and have babies? We're really looking for a community where there are lots of other young families!

Well, it's hard for me to say. Most students don't stick around (remember there are 11,000 students and the city population is only about 20,000 or so), most move back home or on to better places. Housing is expensive so that drives a lot of young families away. Some students do stick around but you'll see a lot more kids still in college than you will recent graduates that are gainfully employed.

[Radek]

Originally Posted by bigtrees

Well, it's hard for me to say. Most students don't stick around (remember there are 11,000 students and the city population is only about 20,000 or so), most move back home or on to better places. Housing is expensive so that drives a lot of young families away. Some students do stick around but you'll see a lot more kids still in college than you will recent graduates that are gainfully employed.

I think your numbers for population are a bit off... City-data itself estimates City population at 35k for July 06.
Thats not counting the Belgrade commuter population.


I believe more and more people are sticking around, and the main change for that, as far as I can see... are engineering companies setting up offices in Bozeman and recruiting from the University's engineering programs.

I'd suggest you look at the best place to get the use out of your degree, and sadly, Bozeman might not fit that bill in the long-run. Other than that, there are plenty of opportunities around here and I know multiple people who have graduated, and appear to be settling down long-term in the area.

[ElkHunter]

Here's the most current stats.

Bozeman Population: 32,414
Gallatin County Population: 78,210
Montana State University Enrollment: 11,314
Elevation: 4,810'

Average Cost of Home (3BR, 2BA):

Bozeman City - $278,982
Bozeman Suburbs Under 1 Acre - $303,000
Bozeman Suburbs Over 1 Acre - $315,625
Belgrade City - $222,984
Belgrade Suburbs Under 1 Acre - $229,247
Belgrade Suburbs Over 1 Acre - $450,200

Average Rent (2BR): $600-800/mo.

Unemployment Rate: 3.2%
Per Capita Personal Income: $26,442
Median Family Income: $54,053

Airlines serving Gallatin Field: Delta Connection, Northwest, Horizon, United Express

Surrounding Communities: Belgrade, Manhattan, Three Forks, Big Sky, West Yellowstone, Livingston

[Radek]

Thanks Elk! Where did you get those stats from?

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by Radek

Thanks Elk! Where did you get those stats from?

haha The Chamber of Commerce in Bozeman. They have a website and are pretty good at keeping it current.

[Radek]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

haha The Chamber of Commerce in Bozeman. They have a website and are pretty good at keeping it current.

Well, i'll be damned. thats good that they keep it current.