The Ins and Outs of Living in Big Sky Country – Montana

The great state of Montana is called Big Sky Country for a reason. The wide-open spaces and crisp mountain air are suitable for the soul. Nevertheless, if you are considering a move to Montana, there are essential factors to consider before taking the plunge. Read on to find out a few crucial reasons why you should, or should not, decide to make Big Sky Country your new home.

The Good

• Montana rates high in resident satisfaction, and a Gallup poll found 77% stated Montana was the best place to live. These results tied with Alaska as the state people are most glad to live in, which seems to suggest that all that sky makes for satisfied residents.
• Skilled trades are needed, so electricians, plumbers, mechanics, etc. will find the job market welcoming. With lots of people choosing to try their hand at life in Montana, if you’re looking to work in trades, you’ll find yourself with an abundance of career opportunities here. There are plenty of great jobs just waiting for you.

• If you are considering Montana to escape the confines of city life, to get away from the congestion while enjoying the wide-open spaces, you’ll certainly not be disappointed. There are three times as many cows as people here; thus, you’ll find plenty of room to move without bumping into fellow commuters, such as it is with big city life. Montana didn’t even pass the one million mark in terms of the population until 2012! If you’re an adventurer or just looking to slow down, Montana is the perfect ticket.
• When outdoor activities are essential to you, Montana is a perfect place to call home. There is no shortage of adventure to be had in Big Sky Country. Hiking, camping, skiing, swimming, fishing are all just a small part of the fun things to do on any given day in the state. Montana is a boon for outdoor enthusiasts, no matter if you love winter or summer activities!

The Not-So-Good

• Montana winters are brutal. If you’re not a big fan of the cold, you’ll probably hate it here. While winter isn’t always brutal, snow is common, and there are times when temperatures plunge to negative twenty degrees or lower and can stay that way for several days. Most people come unprepared when those extreme cold snaps occur, and your first experience may have you wishing you’d stayed where you came from outside Montana. At times, a sixty-degree day suddenly descends into a zero degree evening.

• If you’re an allergy sufferer, Montana might be rough on you. The endless miles of grass, hay, trees, flowers, and weeds will not be fun when you’re stuck all spring and summer sniffling and sneezing. You may even discover additional allergic reactions during your exposure to Montana’s vast blooming environment.
• If you enjoy all the convenience of living in a big city, you may not like living in Montana. Montana’s largest city, Billings, has fewer than 110,000 residents. The population of Seattle is close to 800,000, while New York City is just under 9 million. Billings is an incredibly small city, so if you’re looking for the 24/7 creature comforts of a metropolis, this might not be the move for you.
• Finally, unless you are seeking employment in those skilled trades from the pro column, you might find steady well-paying work hard to come by. There are not enough jobs for people outside of the blue-collar professions. Not much call for big-city bureaucracy or high powered executives in this big corner of the country.

Overall, Montana has a lot going for it. If you’re all about the outdoors, this state is a good fit for you. But if you’re a city gal or guy at heart, you may choose to stay where you already are.