6 Things You Should Know Before Moving to Manhattan, Montana

1. Housing is Slightly Lower

Bozeman home prices are at an all-time high and Belgrade’s aren’t far behind. This means Manhattan is becoming the next option for homebuyers and while home prices are increasing, they are still slightly lower than Bozeman. Click here to see the current price of a home in Manhattan. There are many established neighborhoods with older homes and nice mature trees in the downtown area. In the past few years, new developments have been popping up in and outside of town. There are diverse housing options in Manhattan from downtown condos to high-end ranch properties.

2. There Are Many Housing Options

Whether you are looking for an urban condo or a place offering some privacy, Manhattan has it. Right in the middle of downtown is a newer condo development, Town Center Condos. These small condos are in a great location and have nicely maintained outdoor, common space. Just outside of town is Pioneer Crossing, a planned development in Manhattan that has 266 residential homesites on 177 acres. It is close to town while still offering the charm of small-town living. The development has tree-lined streets with sidewalks, parks, and walking trails. Further out of town is Gallatin River Ranch. Gallatin River Ranch is a 5,900-acre residential ranch community bordered on one side by the Gallatin River. The ranch is comprised of individual 20-60 acre parcels. There are 2,000 acres of dedicated common space and there is private access to the Gallatin River.

3. There's Plenty of Recreation

As with most of Montana, many people in Manhattan enjoy their recreating outdoors. Right down the road from Main Street is some of the best fishing access around. The Gallatin River is only 5-minutes away and is a blue-ribbon trout habitat. There are also opportunities for rafting, horseback riding, hunting, and hiking nearby. The Headwaters Trail System is a paved network of trails that runs along the old Milwaukee Railroad corridor from Three Forks to Headwaters State Park and on to Manhattan. Many locals take advantage of this system for biking and walking.

Taylor Park is a large park centrally located. It has open space, a playground, and baseball fields. There is also Railroad Park which runs parallel to Main Street downtown with large trees and a small picnic area.

4. They Are Big on Community

The best part of a small town is the community vibe and Manhattan is all about that. They have several events each year to bring everyone together. Manhattan is best known for its annual Potato Festival. It takes place each August with a parade, 5K run, car show, children’s activities, and a food and crafts fair. It brings in locals and tourists to celebrate and enjoy potatoes in every form imaginable. There is also live music!

Another annual event in Manhattan is the Christmas Stroll. This generally kicks off at the Manhattan Community Library with Santa Claus. Businesses stay open late and offer refreshments plus there are carolers, hayrides a fireworks show, and more. Everything you would want from a small-town holiday celebration. Learn more about Manhattan, Montana here. 
Photo credit: MontanaRightNow.com

5. They Have Great Schools (including one that's been around 105 years!)

Manhattan School district is a K-12 school district. Manhattan Elementary School is the K-4 school with an enrollment of approximately 250 students. Manhattan Junior High is grades 5-8 and Manhattan High School is 9-12. The school district offers numerous extra-curricular activities and sports programs. There is one private school, Manhattan Christian which is a K-12 school that has been around for more than 105 years!
Photo credit Manhattan School District

6. They Are Growing

Right along with other towns in the Gallatin Valley, Manhattan is growing. Downtown has seen new businesses open, while the old favorites like Sir Scotts Oasis are still there! Between downtown and the highway is Manhattan’s newest business park which has seen several businesses move into this location. The largest of these is Blackhawk, a manufacturing facility. Also in the business park are offices, more manufacturing companies a body shop, and a coffee shop. ACE Hardware has opened a new location in this area.