Exactly. And the main larger towns that are focused on and read about don't even represent all the out of the way places that are enjoyed to the full in happy western living . It all depends what areas are considered. The west is vast, diverse, and unique . Many who move to these areas from the cities end up moving out. They cant make a go of it the way they expected, and that's good. That leaves folks like us

If anyone recalls Bird Dogs, he knew exactly what he wanted, despite any minuses. The plusses far outweigh the minuses, and no state is perfect, and he knew that, but he saw what made himself happy and the balance of real life everyday lived that made it all worth it.

And not all areas have high real estate prices....again, it all depends what location is considered.

It all pretty much comes down to the story of the traveler who asked a local about the people in an area, as to positive or negative main mindset.

I guess we must have very different ideas of city vs. town, lol. I consider Batesville MS with it's population of 7k a city. I consider Southhaven MS, with it's population of 52k a HUGE city, lol. Missoula is even larger than that! And Billings is over double Missoula! If 111k isn't a city, I don't know what is, LOL

Hey Angela,

I consider a city- a sprawling place of industrial buildings, high multi level buildings, just think of REAL cities, New York, Chicago, Detroit , Miami , etc., and the populations therein.

Have you walked the streets of places like that ? I have....and want to end up as Croc Dundee shimmied up the light pole to see above the masses on the sidewalk , to be rescued by none other than New York's finest mounted Po Po

Then, consider that in relativity to the world....India , China , Japan, it boggles the mind in sheer human traffic.

The numbers you cited in comparison is small....and they are spread out , in most cases.

I have not checked on the exact numbers , and I don't need to. I see the CITY in other places with their masses as to buildings and people crowding the streets.

A population of 300 can seem overwhelming , in the wrong values endured ....with all the disadvantages experienced , and few of the advantages one wants.

Its all in the quality of presentation, along with population.

Until those towns have the skyscrapers, towering industrial centers , and multi lane interstates , those few places in Montana will remain just that, large towns.

Meantime , Ill settle for a divine population of two.....cozy in the woods , enjoying life to the full

Wyoming hands down. Bighorn, Mts side of the state. No income tax and close enough to MT. to enjoy no sales tax. Buying a house in this area can be done if you do your home work. I know there was a Newer modular home with a full size cabin next to it with two one room cabins on 30 acres with a quanset style building (large enough to put semi's in with a wood barn) for 250,000. this was twenty miles from a small town of 2000 all at the foot of the bighorn mts. If looking at Wyoming stay away from the west side (Jackson Hole) unless you are a high millionaire. A lot of little towns with homes for sale for the right price just depends on what you want. Lots of critters to shoot.

Just so you know, game populations in both North Idaho and NW Montana have practically disappeared compared to a few years ago. And half of California has moved to and taken over both places. Facts are facts. And this years heavy, heavy snow will do in most of what's left.

Good and bad people everywhere with different views on how life should be. Not a lot of work in MT. and salary is cheap hope you have a job lined up look at the taxes on property its steep for western states. I would look at eastern Mt if you want to get away from the city and its problems.

Bozeman is like a little Denver. It's pretty tough to find what I would call an affordable house, out of town in central Montana.

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How come heavy snows and long winters don’t drive the Californians back to their homeland? You think most of them would hate it!

There is a lot of little towns and of course you aren't going to find the beautiful homes the cities have but they are fairly reasonable. IMO You live in these little towns it is like living out in the rural. They are small towns, really nothing there in most, but the essentials.

Like is one >> https://www.zillow.com/homes/stanford-mt_rb/

Best thing I ever did was move here 3 months from now. It I’m sitting on my couch in Sun River as I type. Working on things for the big and final move.

Thank you all. It’s difficult to scout land from 2000 miles away but you guys are helping immensely. Lots of great info here. Keep it coming

The easy answer to your question Grandpa Trapper is airports they fly in on a Friday then leave on Sunday it wasn't to long ago that the Bozeman airport was the busiest in the state for that simple reason.
Kalispell is a very close second, I worked up there for a month and there were for sale signs all over the place where because people visited during the summer loved everything about the area they went home sold out and moved buying a dream home got a job then when there nest egg ran out or they couldn't handle the cloudy or windy weather and yes that's what drove the homesteader's wives crazy way back when they packed up and went back where they came from.
Mood lights are a hot ticket item so some can get their sun light fix.
The tax base goes up for the locals when those wonderful dream homes suddenly sit empty which is just a way of life here in paradise.
Just think this is the sugar coated version ha ha
Allan

Moved to Montana in '81 when I was 23, one of the only things I did as a young twenty-something that I still think was a good idea. Things have changed a bunch since then but it is still worth it to me. Better late than never to make the move. Watch the weather maps of the state if you can, you'll see some areas tend to run colder, Lewistown for instance typically runs colder than we do here between White Sulphur and Harlow. Places in the country unfortunately are now priced for out of state to have a second or third play place, most of what I see selling don't go to folks that want to live in MT, just buy it. But it's a big place, just keep your eyes open.