7 Cost-Effective Retirement Towns In Montana

If you are thinking of retiring in Montana, here are 7 cost-effective retirement towns in Montana to consider. These towns are known for their smaller population sizes (each one is below 50,000), which guarantees a peaceful journey in your retirement years. Regardless, each of the towns mentioned below also has a median house price that is below the state's median (which is around $528,000 and above), making it a more affordable choice for purchasing that lovely home. The state of Montana also offers significant retiree benefits, including capped income tax rates and exemptions on Social Security payments and pensions. Regardless, here are the seven towns, along with a few things you can do while visiting and getting to know your future hometown.

Butte (Butte-Silver Bow)

Starting with Butte, Montana, this small town has a population of just over 35,000, with a median property value of around $223,000 according to Data USA. Like many good-sized cities, it also has good community hospitals, historic character, and an arts scene.

Butte is how travelers imagine Montana. It has a small-town feel, with big-city energy, while also offering the ability to quickly access mountain terrain, river escapes, and wildlife adventures. For example, you can visit the World Museum of Mining and explore underground mining tunnels 100 feet below the earth's surface, and then head to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail for hiking, biking, jogging, or even horseback riding. Butte is situated directly on the Continental Divide, making it ideal for hikers to refuel and continue their exploration. However, if you are not a hiker, there are plenty of other things to do. One of Butte's great restaurants is the Rib & Chop House. Regardless of what you are into, Butte has a lot to offer.

Helena

Helena, Montana's population is slightly smaller than Butte's, with a median home price of around $467,000, which is $60,000 less than the state's average home price.

The rustic charm of Helena is well preserved. You can easily visualize people of the Gold Rush era camping out, sifting for gold. Visit the Guardian of the Gulch and get transported back in time as you see the last remaining fire tower in the United States. The townspeople built the tower after a fire swept through the downtown area, causing widespread destruction. It is now an official city landmark. Other striking landmarks in Helena include the Cathedral of St. Helena, which was modeled after a beautiful Austrian cathedral. And if all of this is too rustic for you, Downtown Helena has plenty of shops, restaurants, sites, and galleries to keep you busy.

Havre

Havre, a lovely rural community in North Central Montana along Highway 2, will delight nature lovers and recreation enthusiasts. With its breathtaking scenery and rich cultural scene, you'll find concerts, live theater, fascinating museums, unique shops, galleries, and exciting sporting events. Not to mention the median property value is around $232,000 according to Zillow.

So, why Harve? Part of retirement is understanding more about the quality of life during those years. Harve's population is around 10,000. The nearest city is approximately 120 miles away, which means the town needs to offer excellent medical and business facilities. So, if you're concerned about the quality of medicine or facilities, you can count on Harve to provide top-notch service in these areas. It also has a university. Montana State University Northern fosters a lively atmosphere in a small town community, featuring sporting events and concerts (not to be confused with Montana State University). If you want a unique touring experience, the Harve Beneath The Streets Tour is a historical tour showcasing opium dens, speakeasies, and historic storefronts preserved as they were over a century ago. It makes for a memorable yet educational experience. Downtown Harve, although quaint, has its fair share of eateries, shops, and boutiques. Life in Harve is slower-paced with the modern amenities you have become used to.

Miles City

Miles City is a country lover's paradise. Its history has dubbed it a leader in the cattle market, and it still is today. The town’s main attractions include the Range Riders Museum and the annual Bucking Horse Sale, to name a few. However, this town is small enough (roughly 8,400 population) but big enough to have its own airport.

Miles City has a byway in eastern Montana called the Big Sky Byway, a travel route that links Yellowstone. It is a route frequently used by Canadians who wish to see Yellowstone National Park. However, it's a beautiful countryside road with views of dry land farming, rolling prairie grassland, scenic scoria buttes, and badlands terrain. So if you wish to explore the nearby land, but want to do it at a slower pace, the Big Sky Byway is your best bet. If you want to stay in town and enjoy what the city has to offer, you can opt for a nice cup of joe at Raven's Cafe d'Art. Raven's Cafe d'Art offers more than just coffee; it also provides cooking classes that teach you recipes from all over the world.

Anaconda

Anaconda, Montana, the birthplace of Lucielle Ball, is a small town with a population of around 10,000. The Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park holds the smelter stack, the world's tallest free-standing brick structure. It is taller than the Washington Monument. While the town is small, the city feels like a suburban community geared towards retirement, offering numerous outdoor activities. These include the well-known Old Works Golf Course and Georgetown Lake, where visitors can spot deer, elk, hawks, or go ice fishing in the winter. The Anaconda Community Hospital cares for its residents around the clock, 365 days a year. So, if health is a top priority, rest assured that Anaconda has what you need.

Dillon

Dillon, Montana, is a country town with a population of around 4,000. It is south of Butte, in the center of the Beaverhead Valley. Eleven mountain ranges surround the city of Dillon with the blue-ribbon trout stream to the west. Beaverhead River is where Ruby, Big Hole, and Beaverhead rivers drain, creating the blue-ribbon trout stream that is home to many fly-fishing experts. While this town boasts its fair share of scenic beauty, its median home price is noticeably lower than the state's median home price.

Although Dillon is known for its scenic river setting, it's a town that's small enough to have a coffeehouse inside a bike repair shop. If you're an avid cyclist, make Beaverhead Bikes and Coffee your home away from home, whether you bike or simply love coffee. Or visit one of the historic ghost towns, such as Bannack State Park, and enjoy the rich history that comes with it.

Glasgow

If you are looking for a quiet lifestyle near Montana's plains, this is a fantastic option. Glasgow has approximately 3,200 residents and has a median housing price significantly below the state's median price, allowing you to save a substantial amount for your retirement.

While in Glasgow, you can visit the town's Great Plains Dinosaur Museum, which has artifacts and dinosaur fossils from the area. However, the museum is only open by appointment, so please call ahead first. You can also visit the Historical Museum or take a tour of the enormous Fort Peck Dam and Reservoir.

Ready to Move to Montana?

While preparing for retirement requires a lot of planning, such as figuring out which city has retirees in mind, where the housing costs are cheaper, and which place has a quality of life that can meet your needs, these 7 cost effective retirement town in Montana can provided some useful food for thought, because at the end of the day, it's the research we put in that helps us make a decision.