Missoula, Montana has become a popular relocation spot over the past several years. Currently, it has just under 68,000 permanent residents, but over the last decade it has grown more than 18%. There are a variety of reasons for this and a lot of people have moved there for different reasons. Here is a quick look at some of the most popular reasons to move to Missoula.

1. Economic Factors

As jobs continue to be hard to come by, many people are relocating based upon how strong the local community is. Missoula has done a good job weathering the latest economic storm. When the country’s economy was posting a 10.2% unemployment rate, Missoula was at a 5.1% unemployment rate. As an added bonus, Missoula typically has a cost of living that is 2.3% lower than the national average. Additionally, as with seemingly all areas of the country, the housing market dropped by nearly 3% last year, which has created an edge to people moving into town.

2. Local Attractions

There are a variety of local attractions year round ranging from sporting events to the arts community. In regards to sports, Missoula is home to the Missoula Phoenix, which is AAA semi-pro football team, the Missoula Osprey, which is a minor league team (affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks), and even a well known roller derby team.

The arts community is thriving in Missoula as well. There are a variety of highlights including the International Wildlife Film Festival, which is the largest animal themed film festival in the world. They all have the Missoula Children’s Theater, which is an international touring program. There is also a very lively music scene, which is spurred by University of Montana, which is located in Missoula.

3. Nature

Another major local attraction is the diverse wildlife and nature in the area. Missoula is right next to the Rattlesnake Wilderness and Recreation area. It is even home to the largest Forest Service smoke-jumper base of its kind. There are a variety of outdoor activities that can keep you busy all year long. In the spring and summer, there are a ton of great trails that will give you a workout or just let you walk around and enjoy the native wildlife. In the winter, there are a lot of skiing and other related winter activities to keep you from staying locked in your home.

4. The City Itself

Missoula was voted as one of the top 100 best communities for young people and is also home to western Montana’s largest indoor shopping mall. Additionally, the downtown area has been renovated and is now one of the fastest growing shopping districts in town.

As you can see, there are a number of reasons to move to Missoula. It doesn’t matter if you are motivated by economic reasons, recreation reasons, or just by the city itself, Missoula has something to offer you. One of the driving forces that keeps this smaller community active and thriving is the University of Montana. It allows the town to be big enough to have everything that you want in a city, while still keeping in line with it’s rustic, natural charms.

Author Bio: Search for Missoula jobs at MountainJobs.com.

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: missoula montana, montana jobs, move to missoula