10 Reasons NOT to Move to Bozeman Montana 

My friend owns a Uhaul company there and said the Californias can't get out fast enough after a bad winter. Can't wait for a bad winter

"Call someplace paradise, then kiss it goodbye." Don Henley (Eagles), singing about the surge of people moving to Colorado in the 1970s, and how that destroyed the places (like Aspen) they came to 'enjoy'. If you move to a place like Bozeman, don't take the damn city with you. Seriously.

I have spent a lot of time in Montana since the late 70’s. Remember, Boulder Co. used to be a great place to live, now its the Berkeley Ca of Colorado. Unfortunately i see Bozeman headed down the same rabbit hole. The author John Gierach in his book “Standing in a River Waving a Stick” has a great explanation of how it happens (starting on page 173). At 73 and having spent a good many years out West, i think he pretty much hits the nail on the head.

You obviously are not from here, you pronounced the Gallation River incorrectly. Prices of homes are skyrocket around here. We do have a lot of traffic in Bozeman here, this area is often referred to as Bozeangeles which fits.We don’t need a bunch of out liberal out of state folks moving here as they do that then Montana becomes California, this used to be one of the best places to live. Now with so many California people moving here it’s destroying what was once a great state. The weather report is only about 60% correct, this is a very expensive place to live, and no Walmart doesn’t pay $18.00 an hour to work there and they only hire part time. This area is known for low wages and a high cost of living with no affordable housing.

If you are absolutely dead set on moving to Bozeangeles, or other towns (cities), you had better have a damn good lucrative source of income. Prices of everything are going up month by month. A house price will knock your socks off -- unbelievably high. You will see tons of out of state vehicle plates, many of these owners will be your neighbors. Folks from the south east, Florida, southern California will not enjoy the ice, snow, slick black ice roads and streets for many months before a late spring. Then we have short, hot summers to play at crowded recreation venues, mountain trails, fishing and boating accesses. In short, Montana has become a playground for rich out of state new comers, to the dismay of old time natives. Please stay where you live now! Montana is no longer the "last, best place" to live. I am an old MT native and am sorry to see what is taking place before my very eyes.

There's a reason Bozeman is now called Boz Angeles. The traffic is horrible. Builders squeeze as many homes as possible into subdivided land. More homes = more money. These homes are typically two-story in order to have higher square footage. Higher square footage = higher profits. This means your neighbors peer into your backyard- both from their second-story windows and from their own backyards, which are tiny lots next to yours. For $950,000, you can buy one of these homes and live in an area that looks so much like California that you'd never know you were in Montana. Perhaps you prefer the charm of historic Bozeman and want to be able to walk to downtown. This housing starts at well over $1 million, even the condos. That said, the downtown area is authentically charming. People are friendly. Gallatin Valley is gorgeous. Just have an idea of what you're getting into before you move because, as nice as these numerous "Ten Things About Bozeman"" videos are, the creators are realtors and they want to make money. They aren't your friends.

Me and my husband are Alaskans and this sounds just like home. We are looking forward to joining the community

I’ve lived in Montana 51 years. Twenty years ago my wife and I absolutely loved driving to Bozeman several times a year. We had season tickets for the Bobcats for several years. The town we knew and loved no longer exists. Very sad. We have not visited in I couple years.

I live in Montana and looks like you guys left one thing out....we are at capacity....can’t let anymore people in....I’ve heard South Dakota is nice.

Do you like cold and windy weather? Anywhere north of Denver is for you. At least Wyoming plows and maintains the highways.

We had a snow day in Las Vegas when we got 1 inch of snow one winter. I actually love snow as long as I have studded snow tires and awd or 4x4.

Terribly expensive to live in Bozeman too many rich folks moving here and raisng prices of homes

This place sounds like heaven on earth! We’re from a small small town in Georgia, but now they’re developing it, so we’re super disgruntled & want some place that’s more likely to stay less populated & less building all the time. Perfect place for outdoorsy people & my dogs apparently! 🥰

Jackson! Portland, Houston, and now Bozeman?! Wow! Everywhere I seem to be thinking of moving you are already there! You are a hard worker!

It’s COLD AF for 9 months out of the year. If it hurts to go outside, I mean so dangerously cold it’s painful, you better be careful selling all your stuff to move there. Summers are spectacular. Winters…. well, you better be okay with your tiny house that costed you $400,000.

why people upset that people want to live in montana? ive wanted to live in a mountain town since i was 11 years old. im 24 and still stuck in illinois right now. my dreams been to move to montana. need to do a couple things first before i can move but honestly i cannot wait

Just found this channel - very cool! Will be checking out more of your videos. Don't forget about the subzero temperatures! The coldest temperature in the lower 48 was recorded here in Montana. 🥶

I lived in Billings tears ago & traveled the state. I can attest to your comments about snow & black ice.

FYI for anyone wanting to move to Montana: We have no sales tax, but that's made up for by decently high property and income taxes. Car insurance is outrageous because of all of the deer. If you are coming, bring a boatload of cash to pay for it all. OH - and our electricity company has something neat called "premium rate times" which are 7-10am and 5-8pm -- where the rate is jacked up by 4x. Don't think you will live on windmills and solar panels - it's too windy and we're too far north to get any solar benefit. Oh - and make sure to buy a snow blower - by law, you will have to snow blow your sidewalk or get fined. Remember, 6 months of winter in Montana. Aside of all of that, welcome to Montana. lol

I went to college at Montana State University in Bozeman. It’s too bad the place is being ruined by all the newcomers. If I were you, I would find some other undiscovered place and move there.

I spent the night in Lima, MT in my semi truck on 3/10/22 and it was 19 below zero and the wind was howling. That temp didn’t even include the chill factor.

I live in upstate New York on the shores of Lake Ontario and we get comparable winters to Bozeman, but I lived in Bozeman from 2004-2007 and I really liked it except that there is not much snow removal on the roads except on the snow route which I happened to live on. Snow didn’t bother me but the California people and midwesterners who thought who the heck they were drove me crazy. It’s very expensive to live there and not enough jobs to support the cost of housing and food. But it’s a beautiful city, and county and state. And I just loved the mountains. And I rented and had a chocolate lab but I had a good landlord

Thank you, very informative!!!

The same reasons can apply to Eastern Washington plus everything is sold at Seattle prices. Heck everything comes from Seattle. Our snow is not as often and as deep but it can be some years.

Bozeman is cold as North Dakota and 4x more expensive! Move to Bismarck! You'll be much better off!

I grew up in Kentucky in Appalachia region bordering Tennessee & Virginia & West Virginia. We like to think we are pretty tough & most part we already & can most out about any situation. Excellent marksmen, good hunters & gardeners. All sorts of money saving skills. But Montana is whole different ballpark, it’s cold & really cold. Regions get vastly remote & you better at least know someone before you go. I had a cousin that took a mining job as a superintendents to a large coal company . He worked there for several years & his wife said she hated it, couldn’t take your coat off sometimes until mid June. Then look around & winter is upon you. They ended up moving to Florida 😆, & doing well. You move out there you better be young & tough & most importantly very healthy at any age or your going to end up right in some big city where you can get help & cost of living goes up. Cold are anything but paradise, you move to Georgia Blue ridge mountains looking for piece but there is a mountain there has year round snow on top of it 😆 well good thing about it in this day & age young can thoughts research this sort of less cost & living a simpler life. I don’t need soar panels to do it & don’t live off the grid, you just don’t need as much as you think! People were putting healthy food back long before refrigeration . My grandmother was expert & died in 2008;at a 104 in her sleep. She also had had money & a super clean house . Amazing people & happy people. 🇺🇸

I've been offered a position at Bozeman Deaconess hospital and I'll be up there in a couple days looking at real estate. Man is it expensive up there! No worries I'm not from California I'm an Okie! I'm hoping it's not as windy as down here in Idaho where I have spent the last year the wind blows constantly and it gets really old especially in the winter.

I love Bozeman! Great video guys.

When he said people pick Bozeman before they pick a job, that is EXACTLY what I’m in the process of doing. I’m a native Minnesotan with California plates on his car so don’t hate me too much if/when I roll in to town.

Seems like most Montanans would prefer people to just visit and not move there. A metamorphosis is taking place I'm sure is irritating some folks. Coming from a state(NC)that has been seeing an influx of out-of-staters move in, I completely understand where they're at on that, and I don't even live in Charlotte or Raleigh. The congestion is getting on my last nerves and the cost of living is jacked up, and this was happening BEFORE the pandemic. Change brings both ups and downs, and unfortunately Montana is no longer prone to any previous lack of interest in people migrating there. I think it's safe to say those days are gone. Absolutely beautiful place, but don't worry. I can't afford to even sneeze there😉

I lived in Montana for 11 years and experienced snow in every month of the year at one time or another. If you’re thinking of moving to Montana, consider one of the other towns besides Bozeman. Many of the small towns are quite livable and life is more enjoyable than Bozeman and its gentrification over the last two decades. Ugh-it’s the GAL-it tin. Not Gal-LAT-in River. And, yeah, fly fishing is the thing, but there’s still plenty of gear fishers, too.

I have been coming Montana since the 70s and it ain't the same. People I know use to come here to fish and hunt they go to Alaska now. However there is still more left here than the southern states as far as More freedom in the parks.

How do you handle the cold if you come from Florida? I am from CA and worry about the cold

Im in Glasgow Montana same here we don't get snow days here .

Winters aren't like they used to be years ago. I have a summer mountain home in northwest Montana at high elevation. Totally off grid. My neighbors are the wild life. They are truly natural and non harmful. I don't feed them or try to pet. But we live in the same environment together without problems. It's called respect. I'm probably the only one who doesn't carry a gun. If you are fearful and need a gun, it's not the place for you. Neither am I a hunter. I'm there to be with nature. Not to conquer. Because that NEVER works. I've seen many people come and go over the last 31 years. With all their plans to live off the land and conquer nature. Within a matter of time those people have left. My motto is live and let live. There is traffic in some places of Montana. Real traffic. Not like LA, but there is traffic. I remember when things used to be affordable in Montana. Not anymore. It's changed drastically. There is no industry in Montana. And so don't think you're going to get a good job working for someone. The biggest employer in Montana is Wal-Mart. Now if you can handle that or working for a store at a low wage, you can try it for a while. Look before you leap. Most people going to Montana don't do that. Only to move out after a while. Count the cost and look at all the consequences before making a choice. Because the choices you make today will be your tomorrow, and will have an impact on your life. Choose wisely or you will pay greater consequences.

I was there in 1980/‘81 & it was gorgeous but too cold!

Getting ready to retire after 25 years as a Park Ranger and looking for a new mountain range to live. Bozeman, Jackson, Driggs/Victor are my top picks.

The #1 thing about moving to Bozeman is the price of homes. Houses start at 700,000 to 800,000 and go up from there.

I’m a descendent of John Bozeman, I’d love to visit the town, but being from South Alabama I don’t think I live there and deal with all the snow lol

Not thinking about it. I think it is a beautiful place, but too expensive for me.

thank you for sharing places about montana

You indicated I90 as Having an Eastern end in NY. I90 runs from Seattle to Boston.

We live in northern Maine in a Montanna log home. We will bring it west in the summer with our Montanna cabin

I really appreciate this information. Can you give a update version? Thank you

Not sure about paying huge money at Wal-Mart... Yes, starting wages might run $15+ BUT the wages around here often don't match cost of living. It can be a struggle. Doable, but potentially difficult. I don't want to discourage anyone looking to move here, but like these guys are saying, make sure to do your research! Especially where cost of living is concerned.

Was born and raised in MN. Living in FL now but am wanting to move out to Montana. That’s really too bad about how expensive it is to live out there. Im still hoping to move and make it my permanent home.

Well I bought land in Montana from Canada but looking to visit a few other parts of Montana including Bozeman every place in Montana is different but if you get out of the mountains you get less snow and cloudy days in eastern Montana but more wind and cold so you get some tradeoffs and it’s cheaper.

Nice video guys!

Speaking on traffic the other joke is there is two seasons in Montana winter and construction

Very informative video. My wife and I were just there last month and your video was pretty much spot on with our experiences. Bozeman and Livingston are truly beautiful places with fantastic people. Our trip pretty much confirmed that that is the area we would like to relocate to but that'll mostly depend on whether or not I can find work out there.

ok, so, I've lived in Montana my whole life and a guy came up to us and asked us if "Female deer have horns too"

I agree with the Californians getting out before or after a bad winter!!

Been in Missoula 3 months

i live in Finland and ive been watching these "10 reasons to move montana" about 4hrs :D. dam i want to move montana!

What is the internet situation in Bozeman? I'm in Dallas, TX and can get gigabit speeds very easily - is that the case there? The work-from-home movement is growing, but people who are relocating to more rural areas still need reliable, fast connections. Thanks for this great content.

Hi. Im from Denmark. Great video. I love the outdoors. Tell me more about the dogparks in Bozemann. I have to siberian huskies, and they cant go off leash. I love them by all my heart. Next thing: cycling. I love cycling in the countryside, are cycling a "thing" in Bozeman? Would love to visit Bozeman in the near future.

I didn't hear reasons Not to move to Bozeman, Montana. I expected some negative points to Bozeman but didn't hear any.

Are the people friendly? Helpful

Bozeman is a great place to visit, but I wouldn't be interested in living there. (By the way, is the Rocking R Bar still there)?

How about rentals out in the country

How about the water shortage in the area

I here they are changing the name of Bozeman to Boze Angeles. Thanks to the invasion of Californicators.

How about rentals? My husband got a job offer there and we would need something within two months

Jeez that guy is everywhere, he use to do videos in portland seen him in houston a few times.. now montana

Lifelong Californian here, but from the northern area. Looking at Montana to retire in a couple years. I’ve never voted Blue in my life and looking at areas with less Californians. Would I be welcome there?

I remember how spectacular the foothills were to the northeast. Is there uplifting that made those or are they from erosion? If erosion -- those mountains must've been huge at one time or another. Be difficult to decide to live up there or stay in town and be able to just look at them untouched and no septic service.

Bozeman brewing makes good beer. I took worland,world, aluminum cans to them. A lot nicer things to say about them than the truck stop.

West yellow stone gets -50 int the winter

Imagine letting your brother borrow your rifle to go hunting. Then getting sentenced to prison. That's living in California. And it's coming to every state. And I am willing to move into the worst weather to avoid the 3000 plus laws imposed on gun owners.

Was last year a freak winter?? It's cold but haven't seen an inch here in the Bitterroot

The Huckleberry is awesome 🙂

I'm from Texas and I have to say Montana might be one of the most beautiful places. I've never seen it in person but I would love to see at 1 day. Looks like America holy land. I think I'd like to become a paramedic and work on a helicopter in Montana and live out in the country by myself with a bunch of German shepherds. Because I'm a texan the winner would probably kill me but I would get used to it, lol God willing

Gteat vid .covers so much !

Does Bozeman MT have Mexican Food ?

Also if you are from Texas and think you are tough, I'd stay in Texas where that might still seam true.

I liked Bozeman, it sure beats Opheim or for that matter Thoeny. Cost of a house has got to be high.

I played professional baseball in 1992 in Pioneer League...we were based in Idaho Falls...August 21st 1992 we had a game snowed out in the 5th inning in Butte Montana...Montana is a beautiful state

How is the living if you are a nurse in the hospital?are we going to survive with the nurse salary there?

I am from California and love Montana in June July and August. But, I would never move there. Too cold, windy, and really cold!

this video is not as advertised - puts up the sunniest spin of Bozeman. for the hard truth, see Katrina Gunther's comment below

Haha house rent are going for 1300 trailer house now adays here and yes better love cold weather and if ur new full coverage car insurance haha

Is there a demand for Handyman Business is there?

How is the job market for trade work? Construction, truck drivers, warehouse/forklift, heavy equipment etc...

I have a 360 acre farm up there in Presque Isle.

interesting

If I was looking to buy between 100-200 acres of undeveloped land close to or neighboring national forest how much could I expect to pay roughly?

Dog friendly and incredible vets - count us in !!

The only sure bear spray is a 44 mag (my sure fire backup 😎). Also, yha, you’re going to see deer (at night) at the most inopportune time. Like when you are driving home. Did I mention that since everyone drives fast, you probably will also develop the habit. You can kiss your ride off. Always drive a big pickup for protection from these misshapes 😉. Just keep in mind that if you bring your stupid ideas with you, we pay injunes to do the great northern blizzard dance. The more we are perturbed, the more we pay them. The more we pay them, the colder the blizzard gets. Great northern blizzards are instrumental in weeding out out-of-staters.😱 the key point is blind in, don’t screw the place up.

I just subscribed but I want to move to Whitefish.

I can't wait to wear my HAIX boots in Montana.

Nice

Are used to live in Bozeman I know exactly what you guys are talking about the other joke about weather is don’t like the weather wait five minutes

How are tornadoes up there? Any Earthships?

Seems like if you are from Norther New England you’ll fit right in, in Montana

Hello! Do you have any research about individuals able to live comfortably on a teacher salary? As compared to MN or WI. Thank you 🤗

I don't want to live anywhere Where winter is 8 months long. You guys have too much crime drugs and homeless. What's the deal with your high property tax rates?

Boz Angeles

Forgot to mention the wolves the coyotes the Wolverines all those animals will tattack you And all bears do not run away from you some of them will attack you the minute they see you

It snows in winter an it's cold.lol

Loved your comments and facts. I would love to come out, fish and hunt with you :?)