Best places to live in Montana

What do you look for in an ideal town? Proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches? How about top-ranked schools for your children? Would you like a professional or college sports team nearby, or do you prefer museums and art walks?

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Montana using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

#10. Kalispell
- Population: 23,241
- Median home value: $233,500 (60% own)
- Median rent: $805 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $50,294
- Top public schools: Somers Middle School (A-), Whitefish High School (A-), Russell School (A-)
- Top private schools: St. Matthew's School, Trinity Lutheran School, Woodland Montessori School

#9. Billings
- Population: 109,595
- Median home value: $221,100 (63% own)
- Median rent: $899 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $59,656
- Top public schools: Canyon Creek Junior High School (A-), Central Heights School (A-), Elysian Junior High School (A-)
- Top private schools: Billings Central Catholic High School (A), Billings Christian Schools (B-), St. Francis Primary School

#8. East Missoula
- Population: 2,111
- Median home value: $218,600 (74% own)
- Median rent: $902 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $53,234
- Top public schools: Rattlesnake Elementary School (A-), Hellgate High School (A-), Paxson School (B+)

#7. Dillon
- Population: 4,261
- Median home value: $163,600 (54% own)
- Median rent: $631 (46% rent)
- Median household income: $32,833
- Top public schools: Dillon Middle School (A-), Parkview School (A-), Beaverhead County High School (C+)

#6. Missoula
- Population: 73,710
- Median home value: $279,700 (47% own)
- Median rent: $859 (53% rent)
- Median household income: $47,426
- Top public schools: Hawthorne Elementary School (A-), Target Range Junior High School (A-), Rattlesnake Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Loyola Sacred Heart High School (A-), Valley Christian School (B+), St. Joseph School

#5. King Arthur Park
- Population: 1,686
- Median home value: $251,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,429 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $81,979
- Top public schools: Bozeman High School (A), Sacajawea Middle School (A), Meadowlark Elementary School (A-)

#4. Four Corners
- Population: 5,084
- Median home value: $396,000 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,102 (13% rent)
- Median household income: $81,089
- Top public schools: Bozeman High School (A), Monforton Elementary School (A), Monforton Junior High School (A)
- Top private schools: Middle Creek Montessori

#3. Whitefish
- Population: 7,714
- Median home value: $364,500 (58% own)
- Median rent: $1,014 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $52,037
- Top public schools: Whitefish High School (A-), Whitefish Middle School (A-), L.A. Muldown School (B+)
- Top private schools: Whitefish Christian Academy

#2. Helena
- Population: 32,024
- Median home value: $244,300 (55% own)
- Median rent: $820 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $61,324
- Top public schools: Hawthorne Elementary School (A-), Jefferson Elementary School (A-), C.R. Anderson Middle School (B+)
- Top private schools: First Lutheran School

#1. Bozeman
- Population: 46,746
- Median home value: $365,600 (43% own)
- Median rent: $1,078 (57% rent)
- Median household income: $55,569
- Top public schools: Bozeman High School (A), Morning Star School (A), Emily Dickinson School (A)
- Top private schools: Heritage Christian School (B), Bozeman Summit School, Headwaters Academy