Abandoning Bozeman: Longtime Residents Fleeing the Area

Many longtime residents are frustrated with the rapid growth and rate of change in Bozeman. Folks that have called Bozeman home for years are deciding to take advantage of the inflated housing market. Many are selling their homes at top dollar and uprooting their families to find what they came here for in the first place, a simpler way of life.

We hear stories all of the time about people moving to Bozeman from all over the country. What we don't hear much about is the fact that a lot of people are fleeing Bozeman. I'll admit, I've been tempted to list my house for sale, but I know I wouldn't be able to find another place to live in the Gallatin Valley if I did.

Last week, we published an article titled "Life in Bozeman Can Be a Drag - Where Do You Want to Go Next?"

We asked "Are you staying in Bozeman? Or are you heading elsewhere? Why?"

We received a lot of great responses on our station app and Facebook page. Here's where some longtime residents are deciding to move after selling their home in Bozeman.

John said;

Already left went to Billings glad I did. Grew up in Bozeman graduated in 1980 and I no longer have any interest in watching the town be destroyed by money

Vickie said;

I was born and raised in Bozeman, as were my parents and maternal grandparents. My siblings are here and even though my hometown is unrecognizable, I'm almost 70 and own my condo. I am staying.

Don said;

I was raised in the Gallatin Valley. Graduated from Belgrade High School, MSU and received my Army Commission as a 2LT through ROTC. The Gallatin was always home, and always will be; however, it's not what I knew as a kid. I could ride a bike to Bozeman Hot Springs down Jackrabbit, go out to Springhill, up Sixteen Mile and fish all over during the day. When I got older and returned to Montana, the streams were crowded, the transplants abused the Montana Stream Access Law (I much prefer walking up to the landowner's house and getting permission to fish) as I would watch my children catch a fish and when they were done admiring it, there would be someone standing right where they hooked it. I've moved to Wyoming as the people are the same agrarian background farmers and ranchers I knew as a kid. Plus, the fishing is much better.

Mel said;

As a kid growing up in small-town Montana I always aspired to live in Bzn. Life took me to Brooklyn for most of my adult years. I moved back in 2019 before the dark year and right before the big city, Bozeman blew up. I would love to stay in Bozeman but have had several heartbreaks over real estate. NYC is cheaper than Bozeman but the money is better. My family is here but it is hard to make ends meet in “Bozo de Janeiro”

Luke said;

Heading to Great Falls. Cheaper housing, and a currently untapped entrepreneurial environment that requires much less capital than just about anywhere else.

Taylor said;