Yaak.. or other family friendly small town? (Billings, Bozeman: 2015, crime)

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by MTSilvertip

Yep, that is true. However, I don't need a McMansion, I don't need to drive a new car each year, and I prefer to be happy to being rich. I like living the way I want in a place I want to be. Money is just a tool for getting stuff, and I don't need a lot of stuff as long as I have a place to live, enough to eat, and money to buy fuel to go fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, gathering wild edibles, and to make sure my family and parents are provided for.
Beyond that, I don't care if I have a few million stashed in the bank. I don't derive my self worth from my paycheck.


I've never understood the mindset of those that blame an inanimate object like a state for their own failings and shortcomings.


I've never liked California, especially while I was stationed there, but I did my job, and left. I've never had to go back and blame California for all the evils in the world, or that I didn't get the job I wanted, or that I wasn't appreciated for the special person that I am there.


I don't go troll their state board on City Data either just to make sure everybody knows how miserable I am that I didn't make a fortune there.


You live in North Dakota now right? Why not spend your time there instead of attacking a state you left?

I'm not blaming it attacking Montana. All I'm doing is sharing my experiences. And since you don't like the way I think you should be glad I'm talking people like myself out of moving there.

[MTSilvertip]

Yep, I agree. We don't need anymore disgruntled people here. Folks should go where they can find what they want.
You wanted money, fine. North Dakota should be good for you.


However, disinformation due to personal bias is not honest for either side. I love the state and couldn't live anywhere else. I've tried.
While I think we have plenty of folks here already, I'm certainly not going to shut out good folks that want a good life for themselves and their family.


Montana isn't perfect, but it isn't the hellhole you would like to portray. No, you probably won't get rich here in a teaching job, but not everyone is a teacher or liberal. People that just want a good life for themselves and their family away from the crowding and crime of other areas and aren't that politically active, who just want to live and let live will do fine here.

[historyfan]

Originally Posted by NDak15

I'm not blaming it attacking Montana. All I'm doing is sharing my experiences. And since you don't like the way I think you should be glad I'm talking people like myself out of moving there.

I don't find your posts to be Negative Nancy at all. Perspective is really important on these forums.

Reality is Montana is not going work out economically for many who wish it would. I hate to see people fail. I personally think you need to make a min 75k with no existing debt to be able to afford to buy a smallish house & that's probably low.

People move here thinking they can buy a mini farm/ranch 100 acres & live off of it. They might be able to subsist, but they will not likely be able to service any debt.

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by MTSilvertip

Yep, I agree. We don't need anymore disgruntled people here. Folks should go where they can find what they want.
You wanted money, fine. North Dakota should be good for you.


However, disinformation due to personal bias is not honest for either side. I love the state and couldn't live anywhere else. I've tried.
While I think we have plenty of folks here already, I'm certainly not going to shut out good folks that want a good life for themselves and their family.


Montana isn't perfect, but it isn't the hellhole you would like to portray. No, you probably won't get rich here in a teaching job, but not everyone is a teacher or liberal. People that just want a good life for themselves and their family away from the crowding and crime of other areas and aren't that politically active, who just want to live and let live will do fine here.

hOW does Montana compare to Wyoming?

[MTSilvertip]

Originally Posted by nowhereman427

hOW does Montana compare to Wyoming?

More water.


Wyoming has some good points, cheaper, lots of jobs, heavy on the natural resources extraction, moreso than Montana, but not as nice a place to live if you can't afford Cody.


Wyoming has a sales tax, Montana doesn't. Land is cheaper in Wyoming, but there are more undesirable places too.


Personally, I like Sheridan, but a lot of folks that live in Sheridan come up to Billings to shop to get away from the tax.


Wyoming has some really well grounded and thoughtful people that are very opposed to political correctness too. I find that refreshing.

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by MTSilvertip

More water.


Wyoming has some good points, cheaper, lots of jobs, heavy on the natural resources extraction, moreso than Montana, but not as nice a place to live if you can't afford Cody.


Wyoming has a sales tax, Montana doesn't. Land is cheaper in Wyoming, but there are more undesirable places too.


Personally, I like Sheridan, but a lot of folks that live in Sheridan come up to Billings to shop to get away from the tax.


Wyoming has some really well grounded and thoughtful people that are very opposed to political correctness too. I find that refreshing.

That is my thinking also. Sheridian appears to be nice because it is right below Montana.
I have heard that the Wyoming weather is pretty rough.
But I look for the newest home that I can afford with no neighbors or traffic. I have had enough of the city/urban life.


Montana doesn't have sales tax
I have heard something about owning a vehicle in Montana is more expensive to register?
Wyoming doesn't have a state income tax but has a 5% sales tax.
Montana doesn't have a sales tax and it would seem that the houses in Montana are more expensive than Wyoming?


I just need 1 acre + of land. Not 10 or 20 acres but enough so I can enjoy the quiet life and have lots of privacy away from traffic and noise. A house that doesn't need tons of work maybe built from 2005 and up with attached garage. $200-$350,000 range with 2,500 sq feet or more.

[MTSilvertip]

Originally Posted by nowhereman427

That is my thinking also. Sheridian appears to be nice because it is right below Montana.
I have heard that the Wyoming weather is pretty rough.
But I look for the newest home that I can afford with no neighbors or traffic. I have had enough of the city/urban life.


Montana doesn't have sales tax
I have heard something about owning a vehicle in Montana is more expensive to register?
Wyoming doesn't have a state income tax but has a 5% sales tax.
Montana doesn't have a sales tax and it would seem that the houses in Montana are more expensive than Wyoming?


I just need 1 acre + of land. Not 10 or 20 acres but enough so I can enjoy the quiet life and have lots of privacy away from traffic and noise. A house that doesn't need tons of work maybe built from 2005 and up with attached garage. $200-$350,000 range with 2,500 sq feet or more.

Doable.
I was just looking at a place in Townsend, just 4 miles out of town. On a county road, so it was plowed and a school bus route so the road is kept up pretty well. 9 acres with a 1300 ft. 1994 single wide manufactured home on it. No garage, but excellent water.
That one was priced at $110K.


If you have a 10 year old vehicle, you get lifetime plates on it and you only pay once. Montana weather can be pretty rough too, but that's just part of life in the northwest.


If you don't have to commute to a job every day, there's lots of good places a little further out that would work well. Just depends on what you want.

[MTSilvertip]

Originally Posted by historyfan

I don't find your posts to be Negative Nancy at all. Perspective is really important on these forums.

Reality is Montana is not going work out economically for many who wish it would. I hate to see people fail. I personally think you need to make a min 75k with no existing debt to be able to afford to buy a smallish house & that's probably low.

People move here thinking they can buy a mini farm/ranch 100 acres & live off of it. They might be able to subsist, but they will not likely be able to service any debt.

Personally, I don't make anywhere near 75K, and I have a 2 bedroom house with a double lot and detached garage, car, truck, small 160 acre ranch with a cabin, some cows, and I raise dogs and rabbits, and I sell my blacksmithing on the side.
I work at a town job so no, I'm not living off the land, but with prudent investments, I'll be able to retire here shortly and live comfortably if not well off.


I do most of my own mechanic work, I can build my own buildings, I can do my own wiring and plumbing, if you don't hire it out, life isn't that expensive.


It just depends on what you value and what you're willing to do for yourself.

[mjstef]

Originally Posted by MTSilvertip

Personally, I don't make anywhere near 75K, and I have a 2 bedroom house with a double lot and detached garage, car, truck, small 160 acre ranch with a cabin, some cows, and I raise dogs and rabbits, and I sell my blacksmithing on the side.
I work at a town job so no, I'm not living off the land, but with prudent investments, I'll be able to retire here shortly and live comfortably if not well off.


I do most of my own mechanic work, I can build my own buildings, I can do my own wiring and plumbing, if you don't hire it out, life isn't that expensive.


It just depends on what you value and what you're willing to do for yourself.

You didn't buy recently within the last 10 years for sure. 160 acres that's not desert is going to run at least 2K an acre and 10-15K an acre near the bigger cities. Young people are leaving the state in droves for better opportunity. Sad with all the natural resources Montana ranks 49th in wages nationwide.

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by nowhereman427

hOW does Montana compare to Wyoming?

Virtually identical culturally. Wages in Wyoming are (or were when I was there) better and kept up with the cost of living. Silvertip also gives an accurate description.