There are plenty of scenic trails for hiking and mountain biking. So, get ready to start your adventure in Big Sky Country with the help of our guide. Sexual predators are more rampant per captia than most large cities. When 55places named Sioux Falls in South Dakota most affordable place to retire in 2019, it was a bit of a surprise. Featured Review: Current Resident says Beautiful place to live. This rapidly growing town in west central Montana is home to Montana State University - Bozeman and its 10,000 students. Get more stories delivered right to your email. It's one of the best places for retirees in Montana! Places are then ranked in an ascending order from the lowest to highest scores. Fairfield also happens to be the Malting Barley Capital of the World. Surrounded by mountains and the Yellowstone River, it has beautiful views. Population: 4,244; Violent Crimes Per Capita: 373.7; Nonviolent Crimes Per Capita: 513.9; . Surprised a city you'd love to retire in didn't make our list? The Lewis and Clark Caverns and the Museum of the Rockies are all within close driving distance. Surrounded by mountains and the Yellowstone River, it has beautiful views. And if youre not quite ready to buy, the median rent is also budget-friendly at just 691. Featured Review: Current Resident says I have lived in East Helena for 3 years now and the small town atmosphere is one of the best aspects of the town. The cheapest places to live in Montana are in Colstrip and Wolf Point. Located about halfway between Chicago and Detroit, Kalamazoo is a smaller city with far lower home prices. The oldest towns in Montana are also some of the most fun to visit. He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move. Population: 3,754Rank Last Year: 14 (Up 6)Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.4x (5th most affordable)Income To Rent Ratio: 69.4x (52nd cheapest)More On Hardin: Real Estate. If the destruction activists are stopped soon, it will be a great city once again. Read 154 reviews. Glasgow is the best for families just starting out, Dillon is great for people looking to retire, and make sure to give Sidney a second look if you don't have to worry about a budget. Lewistown is an excellent choice for a quick getaway. It borders three other states . Were going to take a long drive southwest from Wolf Point to arrive at our ninth cheapest city in Montana, Harlowton. Culturally, retiring in Montana offers plenty of relaxing outdoor activities and recreation. There are a few parks, but you have to know which one is right for what you're looking for at the time. People are starting to leave rural communities behind for the city, but this is only a gradual shift. The 20 Most Affordable Places to Retire in 2021 - 55Places.com Continue with Recommended Cookies. Polson lies on the southern shore of Flathead Lake in northwestern Montana, about 70 miles north of Missoula. Would like to see more services available for Special Needs families. 357 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars. The facilities in Helena are fantastic, and there are a number of museums and historic buildings to visit. Honestly, if you didnt already know it was a college town, bozeman is just like any other city. Read 9 reviews. This compensation does not impact our ratings or reviews. Retiring in Montana - What You Need to Know The Top 7 Most Affordable Cities in Montana - NewHomeSource Several attractive locally owned shops and diners are to be found in the quaint downtown. The most affordable place in Montana would be Colstrip according to the most recent Census data. It used to be the state's capital and is like time-traveling to the past. Sign up for our FREE weekly email.Delivered to your inbox every Friday. Additionally, it has the number 7.0 best home price-to-income ratio in Montana thanks to an average income of $61,613. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Best Places to Retire in Montana on a Budget - Movoto by OJO The people you meet will either be very friendly or awful. What county in Montana has the lowest cost of living? Our sports teams always do well for such a small town. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 97 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars. Known as part of the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, it's located within driving distance of some of Montana's most breathtaking spots. Time to Get Moving. Conrad is a quiet, suburban kind of town in Pondera County, Northwest Montana. Living Costs (Compared to State Average): 10% Lower. 25 Best Places to Retire in the U.S. in 2022-2023 | U.S. News Whether you're retiring in Montana to get away from it all or still want access to big-city amenities without the high price tag, we've got you covered. Whether you retire at 55 or 105, youre probably ready for some peace and quiet and the kind of surreal natural beauty and serenity youll only find in Montana. Median House Value: $223.804. Gardiner, with a population of fewer than 900 residents, is an especially fun place to stop by on your way to Yellowstone. Learn more about, Have you ever dreamed of living out your golden years by Glacier National Park? Thats more affordable than living in a place with a median income of $50,000 where houses cost $101,000. Get ready to order up a nice fresh elk burger and some huckleberry bear claws, because we're heading to the best places to retire in Montana. 1. The cheapest places to live in Montana for 2023 are Colstrip, Wolf Point, and Malta. We have mountains surrounding us. Not only is the Great State of Montana worth visiting at any age, but it's also one of the best places to retire. 9 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars. Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State. In Kalispell, you get to be on the doorstep of one of the best national parks in the worldfew people get to experience it to the extent locals do. Great Falls 3. Though two-thirds of the states residents are homeowners, renting is definitely a viable option: the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $785. However, its not the kind of place for those who wish to be coddled. I have attended both the high school and the middle school. For example, imagine a place in Montana where median incomes are $100,000 and housing costs $200,000 to buy. Cost of Living in Montana - Sperling's BestPlaces Fishing, hiking, camping, and skiing are all close by in Hamilton. Rental prices are lower than the national average in Montana, however. You are only a few minutes away from. Current Resident: Great Falls is a great place to live. Featured Review: Nearby Resident says I love Miles City's old fashioned cow town atmosphere! Homes in Hardin sell for a median price of $124,900, while your typical rental costs around $743. It's only a short drive to many lakes, walking/biking trails and Glacier National Park. To see how your city compared, take a look at the list below. The average 65 year old in the state will spend an estimated $998,983 to retire comfortably . Like most cities in America, Billings does have drugs and crime. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Montana is $89,744 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. All in all, in my opinion & experience, so far it has been good. Best examples in the state of 1870's-1950's archtecture. According to the data, Deer Lodge is the best place to retire in Montana for 2023. Helena is a beautiful city, with some of the best-preserved architecture of the Italianate, Queen Anne, and Revival styles in all of North America. Read more on how this ranking was calculated. Editors Note: We updated this article for 2023. Read 17 reviews. When it comes to cost of living, Forsyth is over 20% cheaper than the average in Montana. Phillips County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Montana as a whole. HomeSnacks is reader-supported. It completely determines where you can live and while some are fortunate enough to be able to pick and choose, others have to carefully consider their choice. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. So, is Montana a good place to retire? Fairfield is pretty close, and it has an amazing golf course with the Rocky Mountain Front as a backdrop. Any one of these Montana places would be a great place to enjoy life while saving money. Population: 1,396Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 1)Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.6x (7th most affordable)Income To Rent Ratio: 91.3x (27th cheapest)More On Fort Benton: Real Estate. Look no further than Plentywood. 17 Best States for Retirement: 2022 | ThinkAdvisor How Is The Montana Real Estate Market? Population 8,110. If youre looking to buy a home in Montana for the absolute lowest price, Harlowtons the place for you. The town is a vibrant community with events such as the East Helena rodeo, and its Fourth of July fireworks show. So, whats the most affordable place to live in Montana for 2023? Bozeman, Montana. Is Montana A Good Place To Retire? Bozeman 5. The school system is not a great place to be unless you are highly independent. East Helena abounds with recreational opportunities on Holter, Hauser, and Canyon Ferry Lakes, which were all formed by dams on the Missouri River. Its one of the best in Montana for the sublime scenery that surrounds it. Colstrip Their are lakes, rivers, creeks everywhere you look. Whitefish, MT - Niche There's a great community feeling and growing up here has been a privilege!. Crime Rate (Compared with the State Average: 77% Lower. Featured Review: Nearby Resident says I go to school in Polson. Hamilton is one of the 10 best small towns to retire in the United States according to Travel and Leisure magazine. Helena can suit a number of different personalities and styles whether youre the type of person to enjoy lounging outside a cafe dining al fresco, or go on a grand outdoor adventure into Lewis and Clark County, theres something here for everyone. Here are just a few of them, or read our guide to the best places to retire in Montana. She the one behind the social channels here at Discovering Montana, whilst also finding the time to perform an assistant editor role. During non-Covid times, there are lots of social activities during the year. Read 10 reviews. It is very safe and many families live here. You can enjoy theater, ballet, and live music in Bozeman, stroll down streets of locally-owned shops and breweries, wander a farmers market or explore a museum; theres nowhere in Montana that really competes for the sheer amount of entertainment options. The cheapest housing market in Montana is Roundup. It has most everything that we need for shopping and it's beautiful. Due in large part to a relatively low cost of living, retirement is relatively affordable in Montana. The school system is not a great place to be unless you are highly independent. Read more about, Glasgow's winters are pretty harsh, but if you grew up in Montana, the cold weather won't bother you, even in retirement. In terms of location, there's no geographic cheat-sheet when it comes to retiring in Montana, because the places on this list are fairly well-distributed throughout the state. The people are very warm and freindly.