Think You Want to Move to Bozeman? Here Are 3 Things You Should Know.

1) It’s Pricey

According to Zillow, the median price of a home in the U.S. is $357,319. Compare that to Bozeman’s median home price of $747,500* and depending on where you’re coming from, that may be quite the sticker shock. And renting in Bozeman isn’t much easier. As a busy college town with a high demand for rentals, it’s competitive and expensive. The average rent for a 1,015 Sq.Ft. apartment in Bozeman is $2,136.** For the most current market stats for Bozeman and the surrounding communities, click here. 

If you can afford it, the best option in Bozeman is to buy. Bozeman is often ranked as one of the best places to live in the country, and its population is growing quickly, making Bozeman a great place to invest in a home. If you are priced out of Bozeman but still want to live in the area, many people look to Bozeman’s more affordable surrounding areas like Belgrade, Three Forks, Manhattan, and Livingston. Click here for more on Bozeman's surrounding areas.

2) It’s Cold

No matter how popular Bozeman gets, there is one thing that can’t be changed - the winter. Even the most tried and true Montanans can struggle during the winter thanks to weeks of sub-zero temperatures, piles, and piles of snow, and days where the sun rises at 8:00 a.m. and sets at 5:00 p.m. If you’ve never experienced a Montana winter, we suggest you wait until you do before you decide whether or not to move to Bozeman. We see people packing up their bags and heading for warmer temperatures each year because a Montana winter is too much to handle.

If you can make it through the winter months, the Montana summers make it all worth it. The days are long, the mountains are beautiful and there are endless activities to enjoy. We always say, if you like the outdoors, you’ll like it here. Here are some tips for surviving your first winter in Montana. 

3) It’s Growing Quickly

We think it’s fair to say that anyone who has come to love Bozeman is nervous about its growth. Bozeman is one of the fastest-growing cities of its size in the U.S. and it’s growing so quickly that it feels like nothing is going to stop that train. While the city scrambles to try to accommodate Bozeman’s rapidly increasing population, residents are feeling the growing pains. The traffic is getting thicker, schools are more crowded, and the trails are busier. Click here for a breakdown of Bozeman’s growing pains.

While the growth is difficult for many residents, it brings many positives as well. Montana State University has seen record enrollment numbers over the last 10 years, the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport has set record passenger numbers over the last 9 years, and a number of global tech companies like Oracle and Schedulicity along with major manufacturers like Simms and Mystery Ranch are based in Bozeman providing jobs for Bozeman residents and Montana State graduates. Gallatin County sees the highest number of tourism spending in the state which keeps our local economy thriving.

If all this isn’t enough to keep you from moving to Bozeman, you can download our Guide to Moving to Bozeman here.

*statistics courtesy of the Big Sky Country MLS **according to www.rentcafe.com

Watch the video below to find out why our team says Bozeman, Montana is not for everyone.