Missoula, Montana is a vibrant and scenic city located in the northwestern part of the state. Known as the “Garden City”, Missoula offers residents a high quality of life with ample outdoor recreation, a thriving arts and culture scene, and a friendly community atmosphere. If you’re considering moving to Missoula, here are some of the top reasons why it makes for a great place to live.
Outdoor Recreation
Missoula’s location adjacent to multiple wilderness areas provides practically endless outdoor recreation opportunities. The city is situated near three major wilderness areas – the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, the Lolo National Forest, and the Bitterroot Mountains. These areas offer hiking, camping, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, and more. The Clark Fork River runs through downtown Missoula, providing kayaking, rafting, and fishing right in town. Additionally, multiple ski resorts like Snowbowl and Lookout Pass are less than an hour drive away.
| Outdoor Activity | Nearby Location |
|---|---|
| Hiking | Rattlesnake Wilderness, Mount Sentinel, Mount Jumbo |
| Fishing | Clark Fork River, Blackfoot River, Rock Creek |
| Mountain Biking | Blue Mountain, Rattlesnake Recreation Area |
| Rafting/Kayaking | Clark Fork River, Blackfoot River, Alberton Gorge |
| Skiing/Snowboarding | Snowbowl Ski Resort, Lookout Pass Ski Area |
With so many wilderness areas and waterways right next door, Missoula is a true outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.
Arts and Culture
Missoula also boasts a thriving arts and culture scene. The city’s downtown district features cafes, restaurants, art galleries, theaters, and more. The First Friday Gallery Walk provides a fun monthly event where all the galleries stay open late and the streets fill up with locals and visitors checking out the booming creative culture. Some of the top cultural destinations include:
- Missoula Art Museum – showcases contemporary artwork by regional artists
- The Wilma Theatre – historic theater dating back to 1921 featuring concerts, events, and films
- The Roxy Theater – independent movie theater screening indie films, documentaries, and foreign flicks
- The Zootown Arts Community Center (The ZACC) – performing arts center with music, comedy, and entertainment
- University of Montana – hosts theater performances, concerts, lectures, art exhibits and more
The University of Montana is located right in Missoula, contributing energy and diversity to the cultural scene. Between the university and the orientation toward supporting local artists and small businesses, Missoula’s arts and culture punch far above their weight for a city of only about 75,000 residents.
Friendly Community
Many Missoula residents cite the friendly, laidback vibe as one of their favorite aspects of living here. Missoula has a community feel with tons of locally-owned businesses, neighborhood hangouts, and a welcoming attitude toward people from all walks of life. Some other features that contribute to the sense of community include:
- Farmer’s markets – Missoula has several thriving farmer’s markets from spring through fall where locals connect over food, music, and crafts.
- University influence – The students and faculty of University of Montana add diversity and energy to the social scene.
- Festivals – Events like the River City Roots Festival, Hempfest, Out to Lunch concert series, and more bring people together.
- Outdoor lifestyle – The active, outdoor lifestyle fosters a relaxed, welcoming vibe.
Newcomers to Missoula often say it’s easy to feel at home right away thanks to the community’s open, laidback personality. It’s a great place to put down roots and quickly feel part of the community.
Thriving Local Businesses
In addition to the arts scene, Missoula also boasts a thriving small business community across sectors like food and drink, retail, services, tech startups, and more. Some of the local business highlights include:
| Business Type | Notable Local Businesses |
|---|---|
| Breweries and Distilleries | KettleHouse Brewing Co., Big Sky Brewing, Montgomery Distillery |
| Coffee Shops | Black Coffee Roasting Co., Drum Coffee, Liquid Planet |
| Restaurants | The Bridge Pizza, Scotty’s Table, Pearl Cafe |
| Retail | Betty’s Divine, The Trail Head, Go Fetch |
| Tech Companies | Submittable, onXmaps, Salish |
Residents take pride in supporting the many homegrown businesses that give Missoula its unique local flavor. The “Keep Missoula Weird” ethos is strong here. The community values maintaining its independent identity through buying local.
Access to Outdoor Recreation
In addition to its variety of wilderness areas, another one of Missoula’s standout qualities is its accessibility and convenience for getting out to enjoy outdoor recreation. A short 15-minute drive can get you from downtown Missoula into beautiful hikeable wilderness with stunning mountain vistas. Some of the most popular wilderness access points include:
- Rattlesnake National Recreation Area – Just 3 miles north of downtown leads to Rattlesnake Wilderness with over 60,000 acres of hiking and mountain biking trails.
- Blue Mountain Recreation Area – A 15 minute drive from downtown offers excellent mountain biking and trails for all skill levels.
- Mount Sentinel – Located adjacent to the University of Montana campus, offering hiking switchbacks up to sweeping views from the iconic concrete “M” trail.
- North Hills – Extensive public trail network above downtown for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking.
Having these incredible wild places so easily accessible is a major perk to living in Missoula. You can live right in town but still be out exploring beautiful mountain landscapes within minutes.
Mild Winters
Despite being located in the northern Rockies, Missoula actually has relatively mild winters compared to much of Montana. Its location in a river valley provides some protection from harsh weather. The average high in December and January is around 35°F. While cold snaps still occur, extended periods with temperatures below zero are uncommon. Snowfall averages 41 inches per year, with most occuring between November and March. Winters are often marked by periods of clear sunny days between bouts of snowfall.
The milder winter weather allows Missoulians to stay active outdoors year-round. Popular winter activities include:
- Skiing and snowboarding at Snowbowl, Lookout Pass, and Discovery Basin
- Snowshoeing and cross country skiing at Pattee Canyon and Lolo Pass
- Ice skating at Glacier Ice Rink right downtown
- Snowmobiling in nearby Lolo National Forest
For those who don’t love the cold, Missoula winters are definitely more manageable than other parts of Montana. You’ll still get all four seasons, but the winters tend to be shorter and milder overall.
Access to Jobs and Education
As a mid-sized city, Missoula offers access to jobs and education without the high costs and congestion of larger metros. The University of Montana provides major employment, anchoring Missoula’s economy. Healthcare is another top employer, with two hospitals and associated clinics and offices providing jobs. Tech startups like onXmaps and Submittable have thriving offices in Missoula, leveraging the city’s outdoor and creative culture. And retail, food service, construction and more round out Missoula’s diverse industries.
The University of Montana is at the core of higher education opportunities in Missoula. In addition to bachelor’s and graduate degrees, UM offers robust workforce development, certificates, and continuing education. Residents can further their skills or career through UM’s offerings.
Missoula’s high livability and access to education and jobs make it appealing both for college students putting down roots after graduation and young professionals advancing their career path. The median age is only 31.8 years old. Recent graduates, young families, and mid-career professionals alike are attracted to all Missoula has to offer.
Affordability
While home prices and rent have increased in Missoula over the past several years like many Western towns, overall cost of living remains below the national average. Missoula rates 5% lower than the average U.S. city for overall cost of living. Housing is comparable to the national median home price and rent averages around 7% lower. Day to day costs like groceries and utilities tend to be very affordable in Missoula.
Key affordability factors include:
- Median home price of $349,000, on par with U.S. median of $347,000
- Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment of $947 vs $1,016 nationally
- Groceries 3% below national average
- Utilities 10% below national average
- Montana has no state sales tax which keeps taxes lower
While incomes tend to be a bit lower than national averages, the overall cost of living edge makes Missoula attractive for access to home ownership and building financial stability. The city strikes a great balance of amenities, career opportunities, and lifestyle for the price.
Recreational Amenities
In addition to easy access to wilderness recreation, Missoula has excellent recreational facilities and activities within town as well. Some highlights include:
- Caras Park – Downtown park along the Clark Fork River with concerts, festivals, and a skate park.
- Ogren Park at Allegiance Field – Home to the minor league baseball team Missoula PaddleHeads with family-friendly ballgames.
- Fort Missoula Regional Park – Large regional park with sports fields, BMX track, disc golf, and more.
- Missoula Community Track – Top track facility hosting high school and college competitions.
- Currents Aquatics Center – Olympic-size swimming pools with water slides, lap swim, classes, and more.
- Gyms – Vibrant fitness scene with both national chains and local gyms.
- Hockey rinks – Glacial Ice Rink and Glacier Ice Rink host youth and adult hockey leagues.
Between parks, pools, gyms, sports leagues, and more there are endless ways to stay active and entertained without leaving city limits. Easy access to both urban amenities and wide open wilderness offers a great balance.
Food Scene
Foodies will feel right at home in Missoula with its emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients and booming restaurant scene. Sit-down restaurants offer cuisines ranging from contemporary American to Asian fusion to classic Montana steakhouses. Some perennial favorites include:
- Scotty’s Table – farm fresh American dishes
- Tamarack Brewing – brewpub with casual American fare
- Pearl Cafe – local, organic breakfast and lunch
- Notorious PIG – BBQ with brisket, ribs, and all the fixings
- Sushi Hana – funky sushi joint with outdoor deck
In addition to restaurants, Missoula has great options for locally roasted coffee, breweries and distilleries, farmers markets, food trucks, and groceries that emphasize regional producers. Food co-op The Good Food Store and bakery Le Petit Outre both source from Montana farms. Area supermarkets like Orange Street Food Farm and Vine & Dine also focus on local offerings.
University students have fueled Missoula’s dynamic food culture. The emphasis on quality, sustainable ingredients benefits both residents and visitors.
Conclusion
With its stunning natural landscapes, thriving arts and culture, vibrant local businesses, mild winters, and overall high quality of life, Missoula offers an outstanding blend of amenities and affordability. New residents regularly cite the friendly open community as one of the city’s top assets that makes it easy to feel at home quickly. Missoula’s unique blend of an outdoor town with plenty of urban culture and cuisine options make it a desirable place to put down roots.