Montana’s Best Affordable Towns To Live With Kids

When you're looking to live in Montana with kids, you're not short on options. Many Montanans look to change cities when they have children, even if their hometown is pretty and safe. Affordability becomes important, and kids need certain things that some towns just don't offer.

Smaller towns are a popular choice among Montanans with kids. The 'small town feel' is still an important factor in making the decision on where to live. Less crime and generally less 'danger' is a big part of the conversation. As is cost of living.

The cost of living in Montana has increased, with real estate prices becoming out of reach for many. Prices skyrocketed in 2020 for Montana towns both big and small. However, there are still some smaller towns in Montana that are affordable in comparison to places like Bozeman or Missoula.

When the question was put to Montana locals, they shared smaller towns from across the state. Some are MUCH more 'affordable' than others but there are great suggestions here. See the locals' suggestions below.

According to Zillow.com in November, 2024: "The average Montana home value is $462,631, up 3.0% over the past year and goes to pending in around 38 days." (Those numbers vary from month to month.) In 2028, it was $250,000.

• Lewistown, Montana. It's right in the middle of this big state is is very pretty. Small town feel and a good place to raise kids.
• Hamilton, Montana
• Three Forks is great, my favorite area is the flathead valley but everything has gotten spendy on the western side.

"There are towns all over the state that could fit your criteria. Finding a home for 300k is going to be very difficult except for over on the very east side of the state, but with that comes worse weather generally."

• Troy, Montana
• Hamilton or Thompson Falls
• My family and I moved from WA state to Colstrip, MT. It's definitely a small town, and it's very safe and kid friendly. I love it here because I grew up in a small town and people look out for each other here.
• Dillon, Montana

"There are lots of small safe towns in Montana… a big part is going to be budget and if you are bringing jobs with you or need to find them. Employment is a huge factor when finding an affordable town in Montana."

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• Sheridan, Montana
• Personally we live just north of Missoula with 2 toddlers, and there are local parades and lots to do with them but we also drive to other towns for some activities…
• I like Havre. We moved here in July and love it here.

"We moved to Sidney (far east Montana) last year and love it here! Very small population of about 6K. Very sweet community, very safe, affordable and only an hour drive to Makoshika State Park in Glendive, where you can see the beautiful Badlands! Definitely worth a look if you start searching on the east side."