15 Pros and Cons of Living in Montana

Last Updated on March 12, 2021 by Filip Poutintsev

Montana is a unique undamaged state that differs from other continental areas of the US. Since of the huge reserves of various precious mineral resources including gold, sapphire, and silver, it has always been known for its nickname ‘The Treasure State.’ Big Sky Country is another name of this state because magnificent plains open up a stunning view of the infinite sky.

How are people considering moving to MT? Of course, like every other territory, Montana has its advantages and disadvantages to consider before you make a final relocation decision. Go through the information is given below and decision making will be much easier.

Table of Contents

Pros of Living in Montana
Cons of Living in Montana
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Pros of Living in Montana

1. Education

Montana University and Montana State University are both highly respected public higher education institutions that you can attend after you have established your residence in the state.

If you have children wanting to learn something different in these schools or you wanted to go back to your degree, these public choices are certainly a good choice to consider. One of the best ways to make the most of this opportunity is to take early retirement here and then take university classes by seeking the Lifelong Learning Status that is available in the Montana State.

2. Cost of Living

The cost of living in Montana is 6.29% lower than in the rest of the country. That is because a lot of energy resources like coal, oil, gas and water are readily available in the state. Montana also profits from the lowest level of taxes.

Here property taxes are very low, and this makes owning cars and houses very affordable. Although the average household income is quite low at $36,000, it is sufficient to pay very few taxes and switch for an average period of 18 minutes.

3. Job Market

Montana is the fourth largest state, but the population of a little more than 1 million is scattered all over this country. Most of the jobs are therefore concentrated in the big cities. You can, of course, live in rural areas if you are ready to work in agriculture or construction.

Yet many people also choose to live in towns and cities and work in traditional industries such as business, education, health care, etc. Overall, Montana’s unemployment rate is about 4.1 per cent and the minimum hourly wage is $8.30. Healthcare professionals, architects, and engineers earn the highest wages in Montana according to Zillow.

4. Small Population

Montana is the 3rd least populated state in the United States. There are only 1.07 million people living there being the 4th largest state by area. The average population per 1 square mile is 6.86. There is therefore much pure untouched land and the majority of the population is centred in county seats.

5. Adventurous Outdoor

Montana is a renowned state for its natural beauty. You’ll see a lot of shots in movies and on TV, because of how mountains, valleys, and glaciers come together in a spectacular combination. So much of this land is barren, with the population density of the state the third-lowest in the world, behind Wyoming and Alaska.

Living here gives you the opportunity to be active as no other state can be, which may again be the exception of Alaska and Wyoming. Most residents often work outside as part of their jobs, whether they are farmers, ranchers or oil company, professionals. Then they all take the chance to get some hiking, camping, and hunting in whenever possible.

6. Warm and Friendly Environment

You will find the people who live in Montana are usually very friendly. Even if someone doesn’t know who you are, there’s usually a nice way to wait for you when you get on the lane.

It’s not uncommon for someone in a diner to chat with a stranger just to pass the time. If you’re used to the Northeast or Pacific Northwest atmosphere, where people occasionally stick to their comfort zone, you may find this is a unique change of pace.

7. Helpful Neighbours

When you’re living in Montana you’ll find that neighbours rely on each other to make it through the tough times. Hearing a knock on your door isn’t uncommon when someone wants a helping hand out in the fields or has a problem dealing with their car.

When you have a particular skill in contributing to your neighbourhood, town, or ranching area, people can rely on what you can do to make everyone’s life better. Here, there is a very real attitude of encouraging the community to lift everyone up so that every household has the same chances of succeeding.

8. No Traffic

Most of the local people undoubtedly own a car, as it is not easy to get from one place to another on this large wide-open area. In addition, if you decide to go anywhere, you might feel lonely on the road as traffic on the highways is almost absent.

Of course, in cities and towns, there are public buses and many other vehicles, but still, traffic cannot be called heavy too. The number of drivers in winter also decreases considerably as roads get slippery and it turns out that commuting here is a funny experience.

Cons of Living in Montana

1. Weather

Maybe there are big skies to explore in Montana, but you’ll need to manage some challenging weather events too. Despite the place in the mountains, the state is unable to endure any severe thunderstorms from spring to autumn.

Summers can be really hot if you don’t end up living in one of the mountain areas. Winter will bring freezing temperatures in some years as early as October unless you live close to the Canadian border.

It’s not uncommon to witness 100-degree fluctuations in temperatures from week to week between the months of November in March, ranging from -50°F to 50°F above. That means dressing in layers is important, and having a survival kit always in your car.

2. Lack of Housing

If you are planning to move to Montana in the future, you will want to have a temporary rental set up for your family. The housing market isn’t very solid, and never really will. Affordable housing is practically non-existent across much of the state. And if you can find a great job in one of the towns, 4 out of 5 people would drive to work from a rural home because within the community they can’t afford a house.

Many areas have incredibly inexpensive housing, with Blaine County having an average sales price of only $59,500. The average cost in the state of a property is just $99,500, but there are places where you can’t find a place for less than $600,000 too.

3. Lots of Tourists

It’s natural that amazing landscape beauty, as well as top-notch ski resorts, attract thousands of tourists each year. Local people are not happy with this fact, however, because they believe that tourist crowds can spoil their ‘last truly wild state.’

Often it may seem that the number of visitors exceeds the amount of the local population, but if you intend to move to Montana, it is pointless to ask for help there.

4. Predator Attack

Extensive uninhabited areas create a perfect environment for diverse flora and fauna. There are only more than 100 species of mammals, let alone other birds and animals.

If you live in the city or downtown area, of course, you probably won’t see a lot of them. Nevertheless, Montana has over 30,000 farms spread across the entire state, and local people have to protect themselves from frequent predator attacks.

5. A Constant Need to be Self-Sufficient

In Montana’s rural areas, it is not common for us to run into issues such as a power outage after a storm that can keep the lights off for several days at a time. Thanks to the weather you can find here, you may encounter a car battery which freezes and fails to start your vehicle.

It is imperative that when you have your home in the state you have the basic survival supplies needed for at least 7 days. These would also help keep supplies in your car worth for at least three days. To overcome this drawback, you don’t need to become a doomsday prepper, but it might be some time before you can find any help.

6. Lack of Public Transportation

You can ignore the thought of living in Montana without owning a car unless you want to stay in Helena and never want to leave. Since winters can be difficult here, having a four-wheel-drive vehicle to meet your needs is almost 100 per cent important.

The rural roads are not getting as much care as you think they would, and many are still gravel. If you’re caught in a storm or stuck in the snow, chains won’t get you out of that predicament at all. Whether you decide to purchase a vehicle or lease a vehicle, you’ll want to own something that can withstand the difficult winters in the state.

7. Many Farms

This may sound like a joke but the number of cows in Montana is three times that of humans. It is a truly agricultural province, with thirty thousand farms and ranches.

The annual revenue from this company is over $4 billion, but living a cowboy-style life and making money like that is not that easy. Valleys often serve as a great place to grow fruits and vegetables, but here they are still very costly.

8. Minimum Facilities

People arriving in Montana from other states’ metropolitan areas can be shocked by the picture they see. Only the state’s bigger cities have no such diverse services that are typical of many major American cities. You’ll be more likely to be in the village rather than in the city and the variety of entertainment is also limited.