Avoid These Spots: The 5 Most Challenging Places to Live in Montana

The state of Montana is well-known for its stunning scenery, plethora of animals, and tough independence. Adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike are drawn to the “Big Sky Country”.

But beyond the idyllic exterior comes a reality that isn’t always bright. Some Montana villages have difficulties that have a big effect on your standard of living.

It’s important to think through all the options before moving, whether you’re a family looking for a lively community or a young professional looking for employment prospects.

Beautiful landscape is undoubtedly a benefit, but other factors, such as poor employment opportunities, severe winters, or a lack of amenities, may cast a shadow.

Thus, let’s investigate Montana’s “rough around the edges” and identify the 5 locations that, depending on your priorities, might be best avoided before you pack your bags and travel for the mountains.

Townsend

There are 2,176 people living in the little town of Townsend. The median income of the local population is $65,522, whereas the average home price in the area is $405,794.

With a 12.8% unemployment rate, Townsend is a noteworthy difficulty despite its charming small ness. With 0.0364 incidents per 1,000 residents, the municipality has a comparatively low crime rate.

Lewistown

With 5,988 people living there, Lewistown offers a modest cost of living along with the beauty of a small town. This community’s average home price is $251,367, which indicates that, in comparison to larger urban areas, the real estate market is very affordable.

Avoid These Spots The 5 Most Challenging Places to Live in Montana — Image By: Montana Living

Lewistown households have a median income of $40,705, which is a moderate level of income. That being said, some locals might be concerned about the town’s 5.7% unemployment rate.

Lewistown’s low crime rate—0.0047 crimes committed per 1,000 residents—indicates that its residents live in a reasonably safe environment.

Stevensville

The average property price in Stevensville, a small town of 2,038 people, is $560,086, which indicates a comparatively high real estate market. A quick overview of the town’s economic situation may be found in the $39,836, median income of its citizens.

With 4.9% of the population unemployed, this is the percentage of people looking for work right now. The town also has a low crime rate, with a crime per capita ratio of 0.0152, indicating that living there is generally safe.

Shelby

The 3,058 residents of Shelby, a tiny town, provide a close-knit sense of community. This location is reasonably priced when compared to larger urban centers, with an average property price of $169,827. The steady economic climate is reflected in the $51,667 median income of the locals.

There are plenty of jobs available in the town, which has an extraordinarily low unemployment rate of just 1.2%. With only 0.0364 reported incidents per capita, Shelby also boasts a very low crime rate, which adds to the residents’ sense of security and safety.

Polson

There are 5,218 people living in the town of Polson, and the average home there is valued at about $544,825. The $48,866 median income in the town is indicative of the local economy.

Polson has an exceptionally high 6.4% unemployment rate, which suggests that there are significant difficulties in the local labor market. The crime rate per capita is 0.0588, which is pretty low in terms of safety and indicates that people don’t encounter many crimes on a regular basis.

To Conclude

Townsend’s high unemployment rate may be a problem, despite its charming small-town atmosphere. Lewistown is reasonably priced; nonetheless, employment prospects may be limited.

Despite its low crime rate, Stevensville may not be for everyone due to its high cost of living. A possibly constrained work market contrasts with Shelby’s close-knit community and low unemployment rate. Polson’s low crime rate is appealing, yet there are serious concerns about the high unemployment rate.

Unquestionably, Montana is beautiful, but keep in mind that beauty isn’t everything. Weigh your priorities—access to amenities, price, and employment prospects—against the particular difficulties that each place presents.