Montana

8 Best Small Towns to Retire in Montana in 2024

Published

2 years ago

April 14, 2024

8 Best Small Towns to Retire in Montana in 2024

Montana offers pensioners charming retirement options, from bustling cities to laidback mountain towns. The Treasure State is famous for its wide open spaces, rugged natural beauty, and laidback Western lifestyle. Retirees can enjoy a four-season destination with many fun recreational opportunities, from skiing and hiking to fishing and wildlife viewing. It has all the hallmarks of an ideal retirement destination.

The best small towns to retire in Montana deliver outstanding quality of life at a reasonable cost of living. Whether you want to settle in a heritage town in the south or a riverside community in the north, these under-the-radar locations grant scenic vistas, outdoor adventures, and tight-knit communities that embody the independent frontier spirit of Big Sky Country. Here are possible options you might want to consider in 2024.

Dillon

Classic main street storefront in Dillon, Montana, USA. Editorial credit: Charles Knowles / Shutterstock.com

For a small town of less than 5,000 residents, Dillon delights with its diverse mix of experiences, promising retirees something to keep them entertained throughout their golden years. New residents can stop by the Dillon Visitor Center for important information about the town, including all its significant points of interest. For outdoor enthusiasts, these will include Bannack State Park, a historic ghost town with a gold rush heritage. Visitors here explore up to 60 historic structures, with access to hiking trails and deserted campgrounds. Beaverhead Golf Club offers a more relaxed way of enjoying the outdoors in a pristine course with lush natural surroundings.

Elsewhere, Tendoy Fine Art is an excellent representation of the local art scene. Connoisseurs can tour the quaint art gallery to explore a collection of pieces from Southwest Montana and take advantage of art workshops and classes to improve their technique. Finally, Dillon’s median home listing value is around $469,000.

Glasgow

Dillon, Montana, USA, featuring storefronts and the courthouse. Editorial credit: Charles Knowles / Shutterstock.com

Pensioners looking to stretch their retirement savings will not think twice about setting up in Glasgow. This tiny village in Valley County serves as a regional economic hub, and despite its rural atmosphere, it offers a bustling social scene tailored for senior living. Some of its top attractions include the Valley County Pioneer Museum, which educates visitors on the town’s history and surrounding region. For quality time with family and grandkids, the Children’s Museum of NE Montana presents a more family-friendly experience, featuring interactive exhibits on science, cultural diversity, the arts, and other exciting subjects.

When it comes to outdoor opportunities, the nearby Fort Peck Lake Reservoir and Recreational Area ensures endless adventures for all preferences, from fishing and boating to picnicking and nature viewing in a tranquil setting. With an average housing cost of $182,700, retiring in Glasgow provides an easy path to owning a home.

Miles City

Mile City’s Old Western vibe and chill small-town atmosphere provide a charming combination for retirees keen on settling down in rural Montana. A vibrant local art scene encourages locals to explore excellent visual art pieces inside the WaterWorks Art Museum, which exhibits a wide range of pieces by regional and national artists.

Fun times with family, when the grandkids visit, can be spent watching an excellent movie at the Montana Theater, which boasts a rustic interior. When you crave outdoor recreation, Pirogue Island State Park provides plenty of opportunities, such as hiking, picnicking, camping, and fishing in the Yellowstone River. Housing prices are conveniently low in Miles City, with a median of only $235,000.

Red Lodge

This charming community in Carbon County blends a strong spirit of hospitality with a love for the open spaces, assuring retirees of an exciting way to spend their golden years. Red Lodge has no shortage of attractions, boasting a little bit of something for everyone. Among its top venues to visit is the Yellow Wildlife Sanctuary, home to several species from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Art enthusiasts can browse interesting pieces exhibited inside the Carbon County Arts Guild & Depot Gallery, with more artistic creations to explore at Beartooth Gallery.

A visit to the Carbon County Historical Society & Museum allows you to learn more about the colorful history of the town and surrounding regions. But for a unique experience in the great outdoors, getting behind the wheel for a scenic drive along the Beartooth Scenic Byway is an excellent way of appreciating the picturesque natural surroundings of the town. With so much to do in Red Lodge, it is not surprising that the median housing price is above the state average at about $632,900.

Troy

Small cascades on the Kootenai river by the Kootenai Falls near Libby, Montana. — Small cascades on the Kootenai River by the Kootenai Falls near Libby, Montana.

A shared love for the great outdoors results in a strong sense of community among the friendly residents of Troy. Retirees with an affinity for beautiful outdoor scenery will automatically fall for the town, which is surrounded by scenic mountains with the Kootenai River passing through it. This leaves a rich mix of recreational opportunities to indulge in, ranging from fly fishing with Kootenai River Outfitters to camping at the Kootenai River Campground. Furthermore, you can find more activities to relax at Timber Beast Disc Golf Course, which is delightful with a forested environment and serene atmosphere.

Art is a big part of the Troy community, and enthusiasts constantly converge at Real Art Works gallery to examine art pieces by different local artists. Meanwhile, fans of the Silver Screen can enjoy family-friendly flicks screened by Lincoln Theater, one of the many indoor entertainment pursuits available in town. When it comes to real estate, the average value of a home in Troy is about $607,000.

West Yellowstone

West Yellowstone is the ultimate getaway to the popular Yellowstone National Park, being the closest town to the Lower Loop of the national gem. Despite housing a small community of about 1,300, it receives plenty of tourist traffic, resulting in an upbeat downtown atmosphere. Ardent outdoorsmen are in for a mix of pleasant surprises, with multiple local outfitters, including Yellowstone Vacation Tours, organizing remarkable trips into Yellowstone National Park.

When not immersing in the great outdoors, retirees can catch exciting stage performances at the Playmill Theater, featuring acts like dancing, musicals, plays, and more. Also, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is a must-visit if you fancy close encounters with some of Yellowstone’s most celebrated wildlife residents. Given its proximity to the national park and the frequency of tourists, West Yellowstone has a lightly pricey median home price of about $780,000.

Baker

This tiny boom town traces its beginnings to the early 20th century, initiated by the passing of the Milwaukee Railroad through Montana. Baker’s rich heritage can be uncovered at the O’Fallon Historical Museum, which documents the town’s culture, history, and people through a vast collection of artifacts. Retirees will find lovely golfing opportunities at Lakeview Country Club, where they will have a chance to meet and socialize with peers in a family-friendly environment. Meanwhile, Baker Lake is a regional hub for outdoor enthusiasts who gravitate towards water-based recreation.

The quiet town center features a mix of bars and taverns that act as a quaint meeting location to unwind after a long day. Baker Club is one of the top local spots, known for serving a delicious selection of meals to go with refreshing cocktails. Baker is also among the cheapest places to retire in Montana, offering a median housing value of only $165,500.

Glendive

Glendive strikes a fantastic balance between indoor and outdoor attractions, ensuring retirees are always entertained no matter where they choose to be. This small town came up during the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway and hosts several exciting museums worth exploring. The Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum is an excellent example, intriguing guests with full-size exhibits of dinosaurs and other fossils. An enjoyable ecological experience awaits at the Makoshika State Park, which offers evidence of prehistoric life with fossil exhibits of the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops.

Meanwhile, several green nature spots, such as Lloyd Square Park, provide an alternative way of spending time outdoors. Besides its serene environment, the park houses facilities like tennis courts, a swimming pool, picnic shelters, and public art installations. Pensioners will also appreciate that the average cost of houses is $231,300.

Discover Your Dream Retirement in Montana’s Hidden Gems

With their affordable housing value, many outdoor activities, rich cultural attractions, and thriving yet laid-back communities, these small towns check all the boxes for those wanting to fulfill the dream of retiring in Big Sky Country. While larger cities have conveniences, these locations represent the authentic charm of Montana while providing a reasonable cost of living. For retirees seeking unparalleled natural beauty, freedom, and relaxation, settling down in one of these underrated towns makes for a desirable way to retire in Montana.

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Montana

Your guide to local sports events, plus what’s on TV

Published

1 hour ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Your guide to local sports events, plus what’s on TV

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Montana

Montana Department of Agriculture focusing on innovation in 2026

Published

13 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Montana Department of Agriculture focusing on innovation in 2026

HELENA — You probably have goals and plans for 2026—the Montana Department of Agriculture does too.

“We’re really focusing on innovative agricultural practices,” Montana Department of Agriculture director Jillien Streit said.

It’s no secret that agriculture—farming and ranching—is not easy. There are long days, planning, monitoring crops and livestock, and other challenges beyond farmers’ and ranchers’ control.

(WATCH: Montana Department of Agriculture focusing on innovation in 2026)

Montana Department of Agriculture focusing on innovation in 2026

“We have very low commodity prices across the board,” Streit said. “We still have very high input prices across the board, and we have really high prices when it comes to our equipment, and so, it’s a really tough year.”

But innovation, including new practices, partnerships and technology use, can help navigate some of those challenges.

“We can’t make more time and we can’t make more land, so we need to start putting together innovative practices that help us maximize what our time and land can do,” Streit said.

Practices range from using technology like autonomous tractors and virtual fencing—allowing rangers to contain and move cattle right from their phones—to regenerative farming and ranching.

“It is bringing cattle back into farming operations to be able to work with cover cropping practices to invigorate the soil for new soil health benefits,” Streit said.

The Montana Department of Agriculture is working to help producers learn, share, and collaborate on new ideas to work in their operations.

The department will share stories of practices that work from farms and ranches across the state. Also, within the next year or so, Streit said the department is hoping to roll out technology to help producers collaborate.

“(It’s) providing a communication platform where people can get together and really help each other out by utilizing each other’s assets,” she said.

While not easy, agriculture is still one of Montana’s largest industries, and Streit said innovating and sharing ideas across the state can keep it going long into the future.

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Montana

Frontier Conference women: MSU-Northern, Montana Western pull upsets to advance to semifinal round

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Frontier Conference women: MSU-Northern, Montana Western pull upsets to advance to semifinal round

BUTTE — MSU-Northern and Montana Western pulled a pair of upsets Saturday at the Butte Civic Center to wrap up the quarterfinal round of the Frontier Conference women’s basketball postseason tournament.

The fifth-seeded Skylights started the day with a red-hot shooting performance to down No. 4 Rocky Mountain College 82-74. Western, the sixth seed, used a third-quarter surge to defeat No. 3 Carroll College 65-56.

MSU-Northern (17-11) and Western (14-13) now advance to Sunday’s semifinal round, where the Skylights will play No. 1 seed Dakota State at noon and the Bulldogs will face No. 2 Montana Tech at 2:30 p.m.

MSU-Northern 82, Rocky Mountain College 74

MSU-Northern sizzled in the first quarter, making seven 3-pointers to take a double-digit lead, and put together a crucial third-quarter run to get past Rocky and advance to the semifinal round.

Becky Melcher splashed four 3s in the first 10 minutes, and Taya Trottier, Canzas HisBadHorse and Shania Moananu added one apiece as the Skylights built a 29-13 lead. Melcher scored 14 first-quarter points and finished with a game-high 30 on 10-of-19 shooting (7 of 15 from 3-point range). She added 11 rebounds, a blocked shot and three steals to her stat line.

Rocky battled back to tie the game at 36-36 in the second quarter on a Brenna Linse basket, but MSUN responded with consecutive triples from Trottier and Melcher and took a 44-38 lead into halftime. The Bears eventually stole the lead back in the third quarter following a 9-0 run capped be an Isabelle Heggem bucket.

But the Skylights again answered — this time with a 13-2 run to take a 60-51 lead. MSUN led 66-59 going to the fourth and wouldn’t trail the rest of the way. The Skylights trailed for less than two total minutes of the game.

As a team, MSUN made 14 of 26 3s in the game. Ciera Agasiva was 3 for 3 from behind the arc, and Trottier was 2 for 3. Trottier had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Agasiva had 13 points.

Paige Wasson led Rocky (20-9) with 29 points but was 0 for 10 on 3-point attempts. Heggem had a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Montana Western 65, Carroll 56

After neither team led by more than five points in the first half, Western broke open a 25-25 tie game by outscoring Carroll 20-9 in the third quarter.

Bailee Sayler scored 10 points in the quarter, including making two 3-pointers, to help the Bulldogs take control. They led 45-34 going to the fourth, and Carroll wouldn’t get closer than six points the rest of the way.

The Fighting Saints were just 18-of-65 shooting (27.7%) for the game.

Sayler scored an efficient 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting. She was 2 for 3 from 3-point range and 6 for 7 at the free throw line. The Missoula native also had nine rebounds.

Isabella Lund added 16 points for the Bulldogs, and Keke Davis had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Carroll (19-10) was led by Kenzie Allen with 12 points. Willa Albrecht and Meagan Karstetter scored 11 points apiece for the Saints.

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