Bozeman has been rated the best place to live in the West for skiing, and it frequently tops the lists as the best small city in the country for those seeking an outdoor lifestyle. Simply put, if you want to live in the great outdoors and flyfish, ski, hike, mountain climb, snowshoe, mountain bike, trail run, camp, or anything else you can think of, you would be hard-pressed to find a city more perfectly suited to your tastes. It’s so outdoorsy they filmed chunks of the movie A River Runs Through It here. 

They don’t call it Boz Angeles because they’re surfing here. They call it that because in 2018, it was rated the fastest growing city of its size in the country, and a lot of that and more recent growth seems to be fancier than the rest of the state and filled with Californians and celebs. You can spot them at the cafes on Main Street all day long (anyone working here?). What’s truly problematic with the new blood is how it creates a mismatch between costs and local wages. Costs are above the national average, and incomes are below. That’s not unique to Bozeman, but the problem is growing faster here (like everything else). 

The Big Sky

LookyLOO Review of Bozeman

Downtown Bozeman is where a lot of the newcomers are moving. It has beautiful historic homes but also tons of new “high rises”. You have to pack those Californians in somewhere, am I right? There’s lots to be said for being within walking distance of the booming commercial district and multiple city parks of downtown, but if you’re here something different, there are options. 

Northeast Bozeman is a thriving, funkier area of town with coffee shops, breweries, and tons of cool new housing options. West Bozeman and South Side are two wonderful options for families looking for room to spread their wings, let the kids run wildish, and be much closer to the mountains and trails outside the city. 

If you want to see all there is to do in Bozeman, check out the [calendar of events](https://bozemanmagazine.com/events/calendar).

We highly recommend visiting Bozemena and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Lifestyle 

We know that lots of people are bailing on their cities to go to places like Bozeman which offer a covid/post-covid respite from their old lives. They plan to work remotely and that all sounds perfect. If however, you ever choose to leave your old gig you could hardly be in a better smaller city than Bozeman for finding a new job. This place is jumping with tech and aerospace and creative enterprises. 

Also, as long as you’re living here, you might as well enjoy the 300 days of sunshine. After largely being shut in for 15+ months it is really nice to go out and get some rays. 


Jobs & Vitamin D

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**leeshykins**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

I’ve lived between here and Denver area on and off for the last 30 years. Yes Bozeman is changing. Getting busier and losing that small town character. I kind of hate that it’s morphed into a full time tourist town. But it is NOT crowded. Denver is crowded. Seattle area and any hiking/skiing trails within 100 miles are crowded. It’s all about perspective. Longing for that small town feel? Definitely move to a different MT town. There are many charming towns in MT with access to the great outdoors. If Bozeman isn’t a fit for you anymore, that’s cool. Start looking for your next best place.

We moved back (again) after a few years in Denver area because access to the outdoors is so much more accessible and less crowded. People in CO are awesome. So friendly! Great restaurants and lots to do. At the end of the day, one hour commutes and constant throngs of people, 2-4 hours in traffic to ski or hike was a deal breaker for us.

For more reviews of what living in Bozeman is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/bozeman/reviews).

Reviews of Bozeman from Locals

Downtown Bozeman is where both young and older live if they crave being able to walk to restaurants, shopping in the local boutiques and enjoying community events in their own backyard. Plenty of new high-rises have gone up (too many for some locals taste) that are housing young professionals and some empty nesters looking for a more active lifestyle. The area also has historic homes if you have the “cheddar” to pay for them. And some of the most beautiful parks and earliest and reputable elementary schools are here for families who also crave the experience. 
- Downtown
- Northeast Bozeman


Young Professionals

Downtown

The south side of Bozeman has always pulled in plenty of families. This location means you’re between downtown and the mountains so that is a popular location for those craving the outdoors and the commercial experiences. The area has both older family-centered  neighborhoods with big historic homes, as well as brand new subdivisions that younger families embrace for the reasonably priced homes and new amenities. 
- South Bozeman
- West Bozeman


Families

South Bozeman

Bozeman

**leeshykins**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

I’ve lived between here and Denver area on and off for the last 30 years. Yes Bozeman is changing. Getting busier and losing that small town character. I kind of hate that it’s morphed into a full time tourist town. But it is NOT crowded. Denver is crowded. Seattle area and any hiking/skiing trails within 100 miles are crowded. It’s all about perspective. Longing for that small town feel? Definitely move to a different MT town. There are many charming towns in MT with access to the great outdoors. If Bozeman isn’t a fit for you anymore, that’s cool. Start looking for your next best place.

We moved back (again) after a few years in Denver area because access to the outdoors is so much more accessible and less crowded. People in CO are awesome. So friendly! Great restaurants and lots to do. At the end of the day, one hour commutes and constant throngs of people, 2-4 hours in traffic to ski or hike was a deal breaker for us.

**benjaminbjacobsen**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

The great outdoors. We have world class skiing and hiking and biking minutes from our doorstep (or at least under an hour easily). I spend as much time as possible outside year round. I’ve built my life around it. If it wasn’t Bozeman it’d be a different ski town. I’m all ears for other towns that offer less crowded/less expensive living that are as nice on the ski side but I haven’t found one.

As a town Bozeman has its growing pains for sure but it’s better than a dying town or a big city for sure. And I came here in “the late 1900s”… I’m most worried about the town running out of water with the growth we’re seeing…

**TransportationFresh**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

What's worth it for me is the access to nature. It's just really centrally located to a whole lot of close hiking, camping, and plain old river sitting. Lots of places have that, but they're not always towns big enough to actually have a movie theater and more than one grocery store. You usually get one or the other, urban/suburban or natural. Like, ennis is close to nature but you can't find a job there.

The people, the economy.... I try to ignore it. What I want is easy groceries and easy wilderness.

**Pros & Cons of Living in Bozeman Montana | Moving to Bozeman MT**

Are you thinking about moving to Bozeman Montana? Let’s explore Bozeman Montana today!
In today's video I am going to be telling you about all the pros & cons of living in Bozeman Montana, so you can decide for yourself if Bozeman Montana is the right place for you! Bozeman MT Homes are one of a kind so don't miss today's video!
There are plenty of reasons to move to Bozeman Montana. The scenery is stunning, the people are friendly and there are plenty of things to do. However, there are also a few things to consider before making the move. Here are some pros and cons of living in Bozeman Montana.
Pro: The scenery is absolutely stunning. Bozeman Montana is nestled in the Rocky Mountains, so you’ll have access to some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
Con: The winters can be very cold and long. Bozeman Montana gets an average of six feet of snow each winter, so be prepared for some frigid temperatures.

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Bozeman, Montana

A River Runs Through It.

Looklyloo Score: 93