What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In Montana?

With a warm and welcoming vibe and breathtaking scenery, Montana attracts plenty of tourists. The Treasure State, as Montana is well-known, features a healthy job market but only 1.069 million residents. So, there often aren’t many people to fill all of the open jobs, but there are a lot of pros and cons of living in Montana.

The pros of living in Montana include a terrific education system, affordability, plenty of jobs, and a friendly environment. The cons of living in Montana include no public transportation, frigid temperatures, and limited housing for low-income families. An excess of tourists presents both a pro and a con, as the extra people put a strain on resources while bringing in money to the state.

Living in Montana can be the American dream for some people while not being ideal for others. For example, the low population can be what some look for, while others dread it. It’s best to take a look at the pros and cons of living in Montana before making a decision.

No matter where you decide to visit or live, you’ll find a variety of things to consider. Some things are great, while others are not-so-good. When it comes to the pros and cons of living in Montana, you’ll find several factors on both fronts.

There are many perks when it comes to living in Montana. For example, the cost of living is low, there are excellent educational opportunities, and the job market is high. Additionally, the small population means there is less traffic when traveling from place to place.

Montana is home to two of the most highly respected universities in the United States. These are Montana University and Montana State University. If you have children ready to go to college, this would be a great place for them.

Montana State University, located in Bozeman, is the largest University in the state. They offer a bachelor’s degree in 60 fields and a master’s in 68 areas. Furthermore, they have an 82% acceptance rate, with $18,000 tuition after aid.

Montana University, located in Missoula, is the second-largest university in the state, with 10,962 students as of 2018. They offer a higher acceptance rate of 88%, along with cheaper tuition. However, they provide fewer fields to study.

The cost of living in Montana is 6.29% lower than in the rest of the country. Montana profits from the lowest level of taxes, as well as affordable necessities. Coal, oil, and gas are convenient resources for Montana’s citizens, making them more affordable.

The average annual salary, as well as sales tax, determines Montana’s cost of living. In most states, the sales tax causes less of your salary to end up in your pocket. However, Montana is one of only five states in the US that doesn’t have a sales tax.

Therefore, it makes an already healthy average income even more appealing. As an example, you can see how Montana compares to a couple of other states in the chart below.

Although Montana is the fourth largest state, they only have a little over a million people spread across the state. Therefore, it’s not difficult for people to find work, but it can be challenging to fill all of the open jobs. As a result, Montana features a low unemployment rate of 3.1% (the lowest state is Nebraska, with 1.9%).

The state offers a variety of job opportunities across several different fields with a wide salary range. Here are a few examples of jobs you could expect to find.

An essential part of deciding where to live is the people. After all, you wouldn’t want to live somewhere the people were rude. Montana is known to have friendly neighbors, as well as friendly strangers. You are likely to walk into a diner and have a pleasant conversation with the people there.

You are just as likely to get a knock on your door when the neighbors need help. Of course, that is once you’ve been there for a while. Montana is an excellent place to live if you want a friendly environment with a community that takes care of each other.

Although Montana has two of the largest college campuses, they do not offer public transportation. This may not be an issue if you already have a vehicle. However, those that do not would need to prepare for that before deciding Montana is the place for them.

However, although Montana is one of the US’s largest states, there is typically no need for public transportation. The few citizens that reside in Montana tend to have their own vehicles. Consequently, the demand for public transportation is relatively low.

Still, with the snow and slippery roads during many months, you need to make sure you have the right kind of vehicle. It’s basically a necessity to own a 4-wheel drive vehicle if you want to navigate all of Montana’s roads.

In 2018, Montana hit an all-time high when it comes to farms. Spread across the state, there are 26,800 working farms. These farms are what help make the cost of living so affordable in Montana. Plus, these industries bring in about $4 billion in revenue annually.

You will find about hree times as many cows as humans in Montana, in addition to other animals. With the livestock comes predators.

Montana is home to wild animals such as cougars, bobcats, and black bears. These animals will eat your livestock and potentially place you in danger as well.

Related Questions

How is some land so cheap in Montana?

If you want to purchase land as an investment, Montana is a good option. If you purchase a piece of land for the right price, there are no mortgage payments or utility bills to pay. Property tax only being 0.83% also helps keep the cost of property low.

What is the average crime rate in Montana?

Your chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Montana are roughly 1 in 267. The numbers increase dramatically for property crimes, moving to 1 in 40. However, the state is about on par with the national average.

As usual, when you are moving to a new state, you have to expect the bad to go along with the good. Luckily, Montana happens to have more positives than negatives. The cost of living and the small population alone can make up for the adverse effects.

However, even with the low cost of living, don’t forget that it can potentially be hard for you to find a home. Plus, the low population can be affected by having so many tourists as well. Still, when you look at the big picture, Montana can be a great place to live.