The Truth About Longtime Montanans Moving Out of State

Montana is currently experiencing a mass exodus of longtime residents. Major media outlets always make it sound like Montana is the perfect state, So, why are so many people leaving?

READ MORE: These Famous Movies Were Filmed in Montana

The fact is, the popularity of TV shows like Yellowstone have done more harm than good. People watching the show see a glorified version of the state which isn't an accurate representation. However, some of the real problems facing the state have been highlighted in recent seasons.

Why Are Longtime Montanans Leaving The State?

First, the housing market is a mess. If you want to buy a home, you better have money. Montana was named the least affordable state for homebuyers in 2024 by the National Association of Realtors.

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To put it simply, Montana has been growing far too fast in recent years, and cities and towns across the state have had a difficult time keeping up with the rapid population increase. The housing inequality in Montana has been making national news, and has been referred to as shocking.

Exclusive resorts such as the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana have become havens for the rich and famous, and the employees at the resort can't afford to live there.

According to a New York Post article, the population boom and high home prices have forced longtime residents to leave the state. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any end in sight. All of Montana will eventually get sold off to the highest bidder. Enjoy it while you can.

Here Is Where Most Non-Native Montana Residents Were Born

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost half of Montana residents were not born here. Here are the states that have had at least 10,000 people born elsewhere but now live in Montana.

Gallery Credit: Nick Northern

6 States That Had a Greater Population Increase Than Montana Since 2020

World Population Review using Census Bureau data and projections from USCB data have an idea of how much the population has increased in several states. Montana is in the top 10 but is not number 1. Here's a look at how much Montana's population increased and the 6 states that had greater population increases.

Gallery Credit: Ashley

Montana's Most Expensive Towns To Live In

It's not a secret that home prices are out of reach for many Montanans, but what about rental properties? We take a look to see which towns are the most expensive to live and rent in here in Big Sky Country.

Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf

Filed Under: Montana, Montana Housing Market, Montana Polulation, Montana Residents Leaving

Categories: Lifestyle, Montana News, National News, Newsletter