The Bobcat Nation

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Bozeman and Missoula routinely make these sorts of lists and Helena squeezed in to this one as well (population of 20,000-350,000)

Bozeman was No. 22, Missoula was No. 60, and Helena was 95.

Looks like all three Montana cities on the list were held down by their demographic category because of the lack of diversity in our populations.

The Universities in Bozeman and Missoula will always give them a huge leg up in my opinion.

I guess I'd rank the rest of our "big" cities thusly: Billings, Kalispell, Great Falls, Butte. And I could live in any of them.

Big Cities?

I could not live in Missoula, the traffic flow sucks with no forethought, plus its full of egrizzers.

I thought I could live in Bozeman but it has changed so much and has some of the same traffic flow issues as Missoula. I think "A River Runs Through It" opened up the door to SW Montana to out of state $$$ that drove up real estate prices

I grew up in Great Falls and spend some of my young adult life there. Thought I could live there but after leaving and visiting family I see that the economy there is stagnant and dependent on ag and the military. I had good outdoor recreational opportunities there.

I've been in Billings for 20 years and I'll admit I had a hard time living here at first especially not having outdoor activities just outside of town. But it's grown on me and I like being able to buzz over from the heights to the movie theatres on Shiloh in 20 minutes

Ok Tom why didn't Hinsdale make the list?
Plus it appears that the Winifred fan club has been disbanded.

ann arbor mi is not livable... it is full of arrogant pretentious d-bags and homeless hippies. plus it smells.

most livable city in montana is Chester. lock the thread.

WeedKillinCat wrote:I could not live in Missoula, the traffic flow sucks with no forethought, plus its full of egrizzers.

I thought I could live in Bozeman but it has changed so much and has some of the same traffic flow issues as Missoula. I think "A River Runs Through It" opened up the door to SW Montana to out of state $$$ that drove up real estate prices

I grew up in Great Falls and spend some of my young adult life there. Thought I could live there but after leaving and visiting family I see that the economy there is stagnant and dependent on ag and the military. I had good outdoor recreational opportunities there.

I've been in Billings for 20 years and I'll admit I had a hard time living here at first especially not having outdoor activities just outside of town. But it's grown on me and I like being able to buzz over from the heights to the movie theatres on Shiloh in 20 minutes

Gee, I wish Helena had a big fancy movie theater! Guess it's time to pack up and move to Billings!

Htowngriz wrote:

WeedKillinCat wrote:I could not live in Missoula, the traffic flow sucks with no forethought, plus its full of egrizzers.

I thought I could live in Bozeman but it has changed so much and has some of the same traffic flow issues as Missoula. I think "A River Runs Through It" opened up the door to SW Montana to out of state $$$ that drove up real estate prices

I grew up in Great Falls and spend some of my young adult life there. Thought I could live there but after leaving and visiting family I see that the economy there is stagnant and dependent on ag and the military. I had good outdoor recreational opportunities there.

I've been in Billings for 20 years and I'll admit I had a hard time living here at first especially not having outdoor activities just outside of town. But it's grown on me and I like being able to buzz over from the heights to the movie theatres on Shiloh in 20 minutes

Gee, I wish Helena had a big fancy movie theater! Guess it's time to pack up and move to Billings!

If you knew how far it is from the heights to the new stores at that intersection you'd be amazed. It's about 12 miles, the roundabouts on Shiloh Ave make it quick. In Bozeman it's taken my kids about 15 minutes to get from the dorms to the Olive Garden on North 19th. That's not very far...

WeedKillinCat wrote:

Htowngriz wrote:

WeedKillinCat wrote:I could not live in Missoula, the traffic flow sucks with no forethought, plus its full of egrizzers.

I thought I could live in Bozeman but it has changed so much and has some of the same traffic flow issues as Missoula. I think "A River Runs Through It" opened up the door to SW Montana to out of state $$$ that drove up real estate prices

I grew up in Great Falls and spend some of my young adult life there. Thought I could live there but after leaving and visiting family I see that the economy there is stagnant and dependent on ag and the military. I had good outdoor recreational opportunities there.

I've been in Billings for 20 years and I'll admit I had a hard time living here at first especially not having outdoor activities just outside of town. But it's grown on me and I like being able to buzz over from the heights to the movie theatres on Shiloh in 20 minutes

Gee, I wish Helena had a big fancy movie theater! Guess it's time to pack up and move to Billings!

If you knew how far it is from the heights to the new stores at that intersection you'd be amazed. It's about 12 miles, the roundabouts on Shiloh Ave make it quick. In Bozeman it's taken my kids about 15 minutes to get from the dorms to the Olive Garden on North 19th. That's not very far...

There's no way it should take 15 minutes to get from the dorms to Olive Garden. Are they driving on 19th at rush hour or something?

allcat wrote:Ok Tom why didn't Hinsdale make the list?
Plus it appears that the Winifred fan club has been disbanded.

This is only rating towns of 20K or larger. Obviously, Winifred would top the list if they opened it up to all comers. We even hit the diversity metrics at a decent level!

Htowngriz wrote:
Gee, I wish Helena had a big fancy movie theater! Guess it's time to pack up and move to Billings!

It took me until this post to realize you weren't from Harlowtown. I've never heard of Helena called "H Town" before, and I lived there for a summer when I worked at UAS in the mall.

WeedKillinCat wrote:I thought I could live in Bozeman but it has changed so much and has some of the same traffic flow issues as Missoula. I think "A River Runs Through It" opened up the door to SW Montana to out of state $$$ that drove up real estate prices

Can't disagree about the real estate prices-hence I live in Belgrade. But I've lived in the Gallatin Valley all my life and in my humble opinion Bozeman has never been better. With the new development, new roads, and expansion of existing roads like South 19th I think traffic moves better. There are more alternate routes to get from A to B. Remember when N 7th was the westernmost entrance to town of I-90 and Durston was nothing more than narrow two lane street but carried most of the east-west traffic in town? Those were the good 'ol days.

But there's no right or wrong answer-liveability is in the eye of the beholder I suppose.

I agree about it being in the eye of the person living there. There are lots of great places to live in Montana each one has a great angle to it but no place is perfect like Missoula

If you like meth, wind and 80s big hair you would absolutely love Great Falls
If you like crime, bad weather and a booming economy you would like any of the crappy eastern MT towns.
If you like great climate, restaurants, culture, hot women, beautiful outdoor access and winning football then more than likely Missoula is where you prefer to live and die.

To each his own, but even Browning is a better place to live than Great Falls.

I think Great Falls would be my first choice only because it is best suited for the outdoor recreational activities I most enjoy. Also as alpha pointed out another big plus is the 80's big hair, women in tube tops, and blue eye shadow. What can I say, I have a thing for trampy women.

Butte would be next because of the people; I have family history there dating way back. There is still some semblance of the working class mentality in that place because of the old families. The best people still live in Butte.

I hate to say it but Missoula beats Bozeman hands down for college town atmosphere and fun. Bozeman is a tough place for a young guy to get laid, Missoula not so much.

Weltercat wrote: Bozeman is a tough place for a young guy to get laid

AlphaGriz1 wrote:I agree about it being in the eye of the person living there. There are lots of great places to live in Montana each one has a great angle to it but no place is perfect like Missoula

If you like meth, wind and 80s big hair you would absolutely love Great Falls
If you like crime, bad weather and a booming economy you would like any of the crappy eastern MT towns.
If you like great climate, restaurants, culture, hot women, beautiful outdoor access and winning football then more than likely Missoula is where you prefer to live and die.

To each his own, but even Browning is a better place to live than Great Falls.

Bozeman's food scene is much, much better than Missoula's. It's really not even close.

ilovethecats wrote:

Weltercat wrote: Bozeman is a tough place for a young guy to get laid

Yeah...it's really not that hard at all.

Yeah...it's really not that hard at all.[/quote]

That's what she said!!!

BLACKnBLUEnGOLD wrote:

WeedKillinCat wrote:

Htowngriz wrote:

WeedKillinCat wrote:I could not live in Missoula, the traffic flow sucks with no forethought, plus its full of egrizzers.

I thought I could live in Bozeman but it has changed so much and has some of the same traffic flow issues as Missoula. I think "A River Runs Through It" opened up the door to SW Montana to out of state $$$ that drove up real estate prices

I grew up in Great Falls and spend some of my young adult life there. Thought I could live there but after leaving and visiting family I see that the economy there is stagnant and dependent on ag and the military. I had good outdoor recreational opportunities there.

I've been in Billings for 20 years and I'll admit I had a hard time living here at first especially not having outdoor activities just outside of town. But it's grown on me and I like being able to buzz over from the heights to the movie theatres on Shiloh in 20 minutes

Gee, I wish Helena had a big fancy movie theater! Guess it's time to pack up and move to Billings!

If you knew how far it is from the heights to the new stores at that intersection you'd be amazed. It's about 12 miles, the roundabouts on Shiloh Ave make it quick. In Bozeman it's taken my kids about 15 minutes to get from the dorms to the Olive Garden on North 19th. That's not very far...

There's no way it should take 15 minutes to get from the dorms to Olive Garden. Are they driving on 19th at rush hour or something?

It was after the lunch rush...

bobcat99 wrote:

AlphaGriz1 wrote:I agree about it being in the eye of the person living there. There are lots of great places to live in Montana each one has a great angle to it but no place is perfect like Missoula

If you like meth, wind and 80s big hair you would absolutely love Great Falls
If you like crime, bad weather and a booming economy you would like any of the crappy eastern MT towns.
If you like great climate, restaurants, culture, hot women, beautiful outdoor access and winning football then more than likely Missoula is where you prefer to live and die.

To each his own, but even Browning is a better place to live than Great Falls.

Bozeman's food scene is much, much better than Missoula's. It's really not even close.

You guys have NOTHING but the Pickle Barrel that is worth eating in Bozeman.

Everything is franchised.........you dont have an Oasis or Land of Magic in Bozeman the downtown has one decent burger joint and the rest just sucks. Havent ate at the R bar since its been remodeled but I bet its more of the same crap like the Ale Works or McKenzie River Pizza.

AlphaGriz1 wrote:

bobcat99 wrote:

AlphaGriz1 wrote:I agree about it being in the eye of the person living there. There are lots of great places to live in Montana each one has a great angle to it but no place is perfect like Missoula

If you like meth, wind and 80s big hair you would absolutely love Great Falls
If you like crime, bad weather and a booming economy you would like any of the crappy eastern MT towns.
If you like great climate, restaurants, culture, hot women, beautiful outdoor access and winning football then more than likely Missoula is where you prefer to live and die.

To each his own, but even Browning is a better place to live than Great Falls.

Bozeman's food scene is much, much better than Missoula's. It's really not even close.

You guys have NOTHING but the Pickle Barrel that is worth eating in Bozeman.

Everything is franchised.........you dont have an Oasis or Land of Magic in Bozeman the downtown has one decent burger joint and the rest just sucks. Havent ate at the R bar since its been remodeled but I bet its more of the same crap like the Ale Works or McKenzie River Pizza.

Well first off, the Oasis isn't that great. Land of Magic is much better...plus you're forgetting Willow Creek Cafe and the Sacajewa if you want to go that far out.

As for in town...Roost (new chicken place) is quite good, Copper is good, Sweet Chili has pretty dang good Thai food. A couple good Sushi places (for Montana), much better than what you have in Missoula. Stockyard Cafe, Western, Nova, and Main Street OverEasy are all great breakfast places, nothing in Missoula compares. Burger Bobs is overrated, but you can get a good burger elsewhere. I'm sure there's quite a few restaurants that I'm missing that some of the others can fill in, but even without those, you're still wrong. Missoula ain't got ******. They have that one pizza place (Biga), but Bridger Brewing is just as good as Biga. The Red Bird is inconsistent. I've had just as many bad meals as I have had good meals there...and for what you pay to eat there, that is unacceptable.