Missoula, Montana
SperlingViews

Stay Away - 8/30/2007

If you move here, do not expect to be able to support yourself, much less raise a family. The wages are LOW and the jobs are extreemly competitive. Having a college degree doesn't mean anything to employers in Missoula. Who doesn't have a college degree in this town? I think you have to have at least a bachelors degree in order to serve coffee. The people who can make it here have to spend a long time networking and paying their dues in order to even get a job that pays a living wage. Do yourself a favor and stay away. Missoula doesn't need anymore population growth. It can't handle it. You'll suffer if you move here. Stay away! [more...]

the Garden City - 5/13/2007

Strong community, quick access to great white water, climbing & skiing. Good balance of culture, scenary, and Western living. City characterized by unique living areas that help to create diverse living choices rather that just sprawl. Affordable housing continues to be a challenge.[more...]

denial is not just a egyptian river - 3/27/2007

Miisoula is a disgusting city for everyone who is not a student. there is so much job competeion that employers tend to practice harrassment and the homeless are harrassed by the people supposed to help them. I have been here for 3 yrs and its the most unfriendly place in the northwest i have seen.[more...]

Great College Town - 1/17/2007

Missoula is a very fun town. The people here are some of the friendliest I have met in any of the larger "cities" of Montana. They have a great deal of pride in their university, you see Grizz stuff everywhere, even on Wendy's employees. The downtown area is nice and clean. I don't know what the crime rate is but I feel pretty safe wandering around downtown. Great nightlife. You are also about an hour and a half (give or take) from Flathead Lake, one of the largest lakes in the western US. The only drawback to Missoula is the cost of living. Housing is expensive and there are not many high-paying jobs. Many people describe the town as liberal, but if you are like me you can ignore politics. The traffic can be bad at times but the people seem to know how to drive for the most part.[more...]

It used to be GREAT, now... - 1/14/2007

This used to be a great place to live, but my how it's grown. Growth wasn't properly managed so the roads and infrastructures are grossly inadequate. Just getting around town anymore is a joke and what the heck has happened to the cost of homes? We've been looking around and it appears to be cheaper to buy a home in California, what's wrong with that picture? The jobs here are mainly minimum wage and even professional occupations pay way below the national averages... why??? I guess that's the price you have to pay to live in Montana. It sounds great, but it's not that way anymore. The fishing has gone downhill to the point that I don't even fish anymore. The winters are long and brutal, often colder than Alaska during the winter months, and it can snow any time of year. We have a family video of the 4th of July and it's SNOWING, not a little either, the temperature that day was 32 degrees. So dress warm and always be prepared! If you're thinking of moving here and living outside of town for a country feeling, make sure you have a four wheel drive and a snow plow. Don't count on the state or city to keep your roads plowed, not knocking the city or state here, just seen too many people move here who expect someone else to do the work. Cowboy up or get out.[more...]

Missoula is nice..... - 10/13/2006

I lived in Missoula for 3 years and attended the university there. It is a beautiful place to live. People there really take pride in being native to the state. It is difficult to find employment, which is why I moved after graduation. The winter is also extremely long. It has snowed in June!! If you are considering Missoula be ready for long cold winters. It would be a wonderful place to have a summer getaway. The school also really really loves the football team, it drove me nuts![more...]

people come here with stars in their eyes, but.... - 9/5/2006

... low wages, high cost of housing, traffic gets worse every year, lots of pollution. environmentally it is not healthy and there is no way it is "pristine" as another person wrote here. 25 years ago it was even more polluted. missoula was originally a mill town. like los angeles, the town is in a valley that has temperature inversions, and the air gets quite unhealthy. it's downstream from the country's largest SuperFund site and there are heavy metals in the water. the culture is a mix: hippies and yahoos, arch conservatives and socialists. local politics can get interesting. growth and how it will be managed is a huge issue here, and the community can never seem to stick to its growth plan. like most places, real estate developers are the ones who really run things. we've been here a long time, and i'm on this site looking for some place else to live. it's great if you are a college student living off a trust fund, but if you live in the real world and have to make a living and want your kids to go to decent schools, give it a pass.[more...]

Missoula, Montana - 4/23/2006

For those wanting to live in a pristine place that still has a lot old fashion values, I highly recommend Missoula, Montana. Missoula is located in Western Montana - in the Northern Rockies. It's a Disneyland for adults that like the outdoors: hunting, fishing, skiing - virtually all outdoor activities. It's also the home of the University of Montana, and offers all the features of a college town.[more...]

a great place to raise a family - 3/12/2006

Missoula is a friendly colledge town they have many fun festivals to atend. It does get a bit cold in the winter, but spring and summer are great. I think the colledge is what makes the community a great place to live. Lots of international students to get to know, and each year they put on a international festival with food booths from around the world. The mountains are great to look at and there is lots of hiking and fishing if you enjoy those things. Just visit once and you will love it and want to stay forever.[more...]

Starbucks - 10/16/2005

There are six Starbucks in Missoula now....3 independent stores and 3 associated with Barnes & Noble as well as Albertsons....just an FYI[more...]