Great Falls vs Smaller Community (Cascade, Vaughn: pros and cons, living in, versus)

[Andie13]

I am considering moving to Montana in the next year. I'd appreciate opnions on the pros and cons of living in Great Fals versus a smaller outlying community.

[rickers]

If you live right in Great Falls or very close you may get the smells from the oil refineries.
If you live further out then you may have to drive a bit more to shop and work.

[severdsoul]

Lived there for about 7 years, its not bad, easy to navigate, for the most part.
The smells are not bad depending on what part of town you live in.
There are many smaller communities around GF that are nice.. winters are ok there, cold and windy.... oh yea.. wind... constant wind.. The only time we didnt have wind was when it got realy cold.. well most the time.. i remember one winter we had -30F and a 45mph wind. I was on my way out side to do something to the car, made it to the car and called it quits and went back in. But that was rare that it got that cold and windy at the same time.
I think it all just depends on what you are looking for if you pick in GF or smaller community

[Anonymous999]

If I had to live in Gt. Falls...I would.
Russell Country is a great area of MT, I love it!
There are small places just outside Gt. Falls, short driving distance...Manchester, Vaughn...there is also Belt and Cascade. But if you're looking to live in a smaller outlying community, the drive isn't all that bad - atleast in the summer, that is. Winter is another thing, the winds, can make driving hazardous.

[mtn_viking]

I grew up in Great Falls and there are only a few areas where you can smell the refinery. Most of those are not residential areas. The pros/cons of Great Falls vs the surrounding areas would depend on what you are looking for. Do you value seclusion? Being close to shopping? It all depends on what you're after.