Let’s talk Montana…Got a bad attitude??? Please move along.

[Schmo]

I have a teenager that just left the house for college. My advice to her is move out of MT if you want to get ahead financially.

This is not true. My family that lives in MT doesn’t make a lot of money, but they’re doing okay. It can be done.

 

[Eldoradotim]

I played this game 5 years ago.

The initial spot was McCall, Id. Then I researched all the western mountain towns to make sure. (MT, WY, CO, NM, AZ, ID)

My advice is just to really think through where/how you want to raise your family and what lifestyle you want.

I did, and came to the conclusion that smaller is better (it's a growing community so it's not ever gonna be smaller).

Fast forward and I'll just say it was the best decision we ever made. Fantastic small town community, great schools, great people, complete outdoor paradise. Zero regrets other than we didn't do it sooner.

 

[TradLife406]

Browning, Poplar, and Hardin are amazing places in Montana. I'd suggest those. Circle or Jordan are not bad either.

 

[S.Clancy]

I have a teenager that just left the house for college. My advice to her is move out of MT if you want to get ahead financially.

That hasn't changed in the nearly 4 decades I've been alive and a MT resident. I think it's less true now than it was 20 years ago, unless you are trying to start in one of the ridiculously expensive resort towns in the state. Unfortunately for people, those places are where they are all trying to move. If someone is stupid enough to move to Bozeman and basically live in poverty just to "live the Bozeman life" I couldn't care less.

 

[Eldoradotim]

P.S. Living off grid or super country is just not all its cracked up to be IF you're surrounded by public land & mountains. At least that was my conclusion.

We went from 5 acres wooded and total end of the road privacy to 1.5 acre lot in a just outside of town subdivision (I have neighbors all around me, but a big "yard" and 360 mountain views) and its all I need. Because, I have convenience and quick access to public land all around me.

Essentially I traded super private bigger lot country living with 2hrs to super crowded public land for not private small lot and 25 minutes to super uncrowded public land all around me.

Good luck!

 

[TradLife406]

You gotta understand what's happening in Montana. Our economy is crap. The blue collar guy can't even afford a house and land anymore. Out of staters move in with their big money and buy up the land and houses that are available with their big money. Places that were $350,000 a few years ago are now a half a million or more. More like 6-7 hundred thousand. Montanans are broke and the only people who can buy a decent house with a few acres are the people coming in from booming economy states with cheap housing.

 

[Salmon River Solutions]

I would have a chat with Colton Bangoli. He is pap van winkle on instagram. You are describing what he does. Wifes a nurse, and he is a fishing guide, and writes for some outdoor magazines.

Ken

 

[ReaptheHeat]

This is not true. My family that lives in MT doesn’t make a lot of money, but they’re doing okay. It can be done.

Did they buy property before 2020?

 

[Schmo]

Did they buy property before 2020?

No. Fall of 2021

 

[bradmacmt]

Take the walmart test....go into walmart and get a fast idea of what the area people are like.

Everyone at every Walmart in the USA is essentially the same, so really not much of a test

 

[bradmacmt]

You posted this same basic question back in July, right?

The childhood friend with whom I went upland bird hunting last month basically did this about 15 years ago with her now ex-husband. She works in the medical field. Her ex-husband and her [post marriage] ex-boyfriend were both guides. Each of them basically thought they had hit the jackpot with a breadwinning woman who would support their hunting and fishing. That didn’t work out for anyone in the long run.

I’d plan on picking a spot where you can find a real job when push comes to shove.

That's the guy here we call a "Montana Go-Getter" - drives a pickup with a lab in the back, and at 5:00 "goes into town to get her (getter)," since she's the only one with a real job...

 

[fngTony]

Everyone at every Walmart in the USA is essentially the same, so really not much of a test

Man, are you in for a treat. come to Denver where every other Walmart is a circus and the ones in between are kind of normal

 

[MTForester]

Browning, Poplar, and Hardin are amazing places in Montana. I'd suggest those. Circle or Jordan are not bad either.

Wolf Point has been described as the “next Bozeman”. Better buy a place while it’s still cheap! Browning is good too though. Truly the “last best place”.

 

[Schmo]

I think almost everyone that is advising against, or giving strong cons for Montana are just residents who don’t want anyone else to move there. Not much else makes sense. You have two main “cons” to Montana:

1. Make sure you can deal with that kind of winter

2. Make sure you can afford it

Not much else needs said. The “outsider” thing of not being accepted would be a real thing in some small towns, but in Great Falls, Helena, Bozeman, Missoula, etc, that’ll be pretty much a non issue.

 

[Torrent50]

Everyone at every Walmart in the USA is essentially the same, so really not much of a test

I don't know about that. What I saw in the Walmart in Havre beats every other one I have been in. Truly an experience!!!

 

[Schmo]

I don't know about that. What I saw in the Walmart in Havre beats every other one I have been in. Truly an experience!!!

Or the cashier at the Dollar Tree in Great Falls. She had a beard starting. Pretty sure it was Squatch’s wife

 

[Westslope406]

Helena

 

[wind gypsy]

That's the guy here we call a "Montana Go-Getter" - drives a pickup with a lab in the back, and at 5:00 "goes into town to get her (getter)," since she's the only one with a real job...

haha!

My main point of curiosity with this thread is what things fall into the "other forms of non-traditional income" bucket. Thought it may be impolite to ask..

The guy who taught me how to elk hunt (form NW MT) is a resourceful SOB that doesn't ever hold a job long term because Sept-December are hunting/trapping seasons. Any company that employs him is lucky to have him but he's seemingly never had a job security concern in his life. Admirable trait.

 

[Customweld]

haha!
.

The guy who taught me how to elk hunt (form NW MT) is a resourceful SOB that doesn't ever hold a job long term because Sept-December are hunting/trapping seasons. Any company that employs him is lucky to have him but he's seemingly never had a job security concern in his life. Admirable trait.

My old hunting partner was the same way . He'd start getting pretty sketchy around September and turn back up to work when the woods opened up in the late spring. I always wondered if those of us that are dedicated to our jobs have it all wrong.

 

[chasewild]

My in laws live just outside Three Forks, basically a wide spot in the road in the middle of Bozeman, Butte, and Helena. Only thing that keeps it on the map is Wheat Montana, a Flying J, and a strip club.

Anyways, he’s a pilot for Delta Airlines, and is able to be to any of the 3 airports in those towns in a reasonable time to get to SLC where he’s based. There’s plenty of “industry” to support a family in the area, yet puts you out of the center of Boze-Angeles. And the fly fishing from Ennis to Three Forks is awesome. Your wife could work in any of the big 3 cities in the area and you could just guide from three forks, as an idea. Plus you’re not Far from an airport to go on vacations or go visit family or welcome family into town.

Just steer clear of my in-laws if you move there, they’re horrible people that I would recommend my worst enemy avoid at all costs even though he runs the nicest long range shooting range in the state arguably, still not worth getting mixed up with them haha

HOpe they aren't on the Slide reading this thread. Easy way to burn a house down.