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Amid sprawling mountains and plains, "Big Sky Country" sparks the imagination with its continued and vivid associations with the the Old West. Sparsely populated (with the third lowest population density in the U.S.) the state's economy is based primarily on farming, cattle raising, lumber and mining.

Tourism is also big in Montana, with millions of visitors annually attracted to winter ski areas and popular national parks such as the Battle of Little Bighorn, Glacier National Park, and Yellowstone.

• Demographics : (Montana Census Data)
  Major cities: Helena (capital), Billings, Butte, Bozeman, Great Falls, Missoula
  Population : 944,632
  White : 91.1%
  Black, African American : 0.4%
  Hispanic : 2.4%
  High school graduates : 87.2%
  Bachelor's degree or higher : 24.4%
  Average household income: $35,574
  
  
• Crime : see Montana Crime Rates - 1960 -2005
  
  
• Cost of Living: Sperling's Best Places - Montana - Compared to the rest of the country, Montana's cost of living is 6.29% lower than the U.S. average. .
  
  
• Property Taxes : Montana Tax Climate - Comparitively modest, with $1,034 in property taxes collected per capita in 2004, ranking 20th nationally.
  
  
• Housing & Real Estate Overview : also see Zillow - Montana Real Estate
  Home ownership rate : 69.1%
  Average home price : $190,351
  Average travel time to work : 17.7 minutes
  
  
• Schools : see Montana Board of Public Education
  
  
• Weather : Montana's diverse topography generally dictates temperatures, with mountain elevations experiencing far cooler weather than the eastern plains even in summer. Northeast Montana is particularly subject to the most extreme winter weather conditions and heavy snows with temperatures well below zero.

More about relocating to Montana around the Web:

Working in Montana - Links to federal and state employment listings, overview of Montana towns & cities, election & voter registration, plus scroll down to the newcomer's guide with more on housing & real estate, state income tax information, local credit unions.

Moving to Montana - Thoughtful insider tips on available jobs, best places for housing costs, general economic outlook and general pros and cons on making the move to Montana.

Montana City Data Forums - Busy discussion board with Q&A, tips & advice on jobs & real estate, education, weather facts and relocating to Billings, Bozeman, Missoula and other towns & cities around the state.

Montana Real Estate, Apartments & Job Classifieds:

• Helena : Independent Record
• Billings : Gazette
• Butte : Montana Standard

also see -> Montana Beaches | Montana Eviction Laws

Montana Taxes | Montana Tourist Attractions

Montana Wine Tours | Christmas in Montana

also see in House & Home -> Apartment Renting | Buying Foreclosures

Home Buying | Home Energy Savings | Home Insurance | Remodeling