Missoula, Montana

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Anyone ever lived there or know much about it?

I may be headed there down the road, and I imagine the cost of living is pretty cheap. But I've also heard jobs don't pay for crap there.

Of course, I live in L.A. right now, so it couldn't be any worse than that.

 

[SullHorn]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[Horneius_Maximus]

The Link

Check out the first Chapter from this book. It is on missoula and he does a case study on 4 families from various walks of life, people born there, people who moved from california, people who own businesses and people who farm.

Gives you a very good idea of the kind of life you can expect.

 

[Longhorn_in_LA]

Never been there myself, so the websites are the best I can offer:

Compare your current city to Missoula

&


Learn more about the city here

 

[CleverNickname]

Places I would live (if I had a good job)
1. Austin, TX
2. Missoula, MT
3. Boise, ID
4. Boulder, CO
5. Alpine, TX

 

[DrPepperHorn]

My folks live about 50 miles south of Missoula. They love it. They are right on the Bitteroot River. My uncle has been there for about 15 years now. Everyone has migrated from Austin and never looked back. Surprisingly, that area gets less snow than you would imagine. Only about 15 inches a year on average because it's in a valley. Traveling there from Texas is the suck, but once you get there it's some of the most beautiful country you'll ever see. As far as cost of living, they do have a state income tax, so keep that in mind.

 

[snow leopard27]

The world in full of ********, the number increasing more rapidly the further one gets from Missoula, Monatana.

 

[si se puede]

David Lynch is from Missoula.

 

[TXBabe97]

Get ready to read.

I used to live in Missoula, MT. Lived there for two years, though it was a few years ago. I have been back to visit recently.

You will love it there if you can command a really good salary, like winter, and are active in the community.

Cost of living = wages are indeed low and real estate is high. But you are coming from California so I have no idea how to relate. You have a lot of people there working 2-3 jobs just to stay there. I used to ask if they had a problem with that -- many said it is worth it. I didn't think it was worth it.

Do not live in some parts of north/west Missoula south of I-90 or East Missoula, or some parts along the river by Big Sky High School. Trailer and meth trash abound.

BTW, Montanans hate Californians. They also hate North Dakota and Idaho, but that's a regional thing. Mention you're from Texas and they're intrigued.

Missoula is beautiful, no question. The summers are short but phenomenal. If you have winter depression, do not live here. Missoula stays warmer than other areas in Montana but suffers from a valley inversion. We would go weeks without seeing sunlight. You saw "daylight" but no actual sunlight unless you went up to the slopes. It is a very dry cold, so bring lots of moisturizer.

Also, if you are allergic to pines and other mountain forest growth this is not the place for you. I had no problem in this area.

If you like skiing or snowboarding, Snow Bowl is just outside city limits. It has more advanced runs and a real bar. Order the Caesar there (drink, not salad).

You are also less than a two-hour drive to both Big Sky and Big Mountain. If you have kids, hit Big Sky; otherwise, hit Big Mountain and all the resorts/bars, etc. that Whitefish and Kalispell have to offer.

GREAT golfing in summer. We had the Missoula CC and UM courses in town when I lived there, but they've since opened another course in East Missoula which I played this summer. It's really windy there at times but the scenery is great. My favorite course was an hour north of Msla at Polson CC on the south end of Flathead Lake -- that was your water hazard on some holes. In late summer, the Mission Mountains are purple in late afternoon. You are also about a two-hour drive to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho which has some breathtaking courses.

Much of the activities and social events, as you'd expect, revolve around sports. This is fun, and you get to know a lot of people in the community that way. The U of M Grizzlies reign supreme, and people are also really into the high school football. All sports too -- male and female. Also, the D-backs' rookie ball affiliate is in Msla, and that is fun/cheap as well and a great way to meet people even though they play an abbreviated season.

My favorite places to eat/drink:
*Red's -- my dear friends used to own this bar. The crowd is all over the place (not too young/old, etc.). Lots of regulars. The after-work crowd plus the after-softball crowd. Game watching too.
*Stockman's -- aka "The Stocks" -- this is a college bar but a must-see anyway. Always packed/staffed with college kids and the local coaches making sure their kids didn't go to the Stocks. I got both a lot of gossip and a lot of trouble at this place. Heh.
*Hoagieville -- Missoula's version of Sonic, but better. The one at Higgins and South Ave. just across from the soccer field is the best one. This was like my Montana Whataburger fix. When I go back, I have to go to Hoagieville. It's that good. (My order: the SuperChick sandwich with the cheese fries, which come with ranch...OMG)
*The Press Box -- I used to go here on my days off to dial up Astros games. I don't know if it's the same owner anymore, but I assume so. This sports bar is across the footbridge to UM's stadium. They always have breakfast buffets and drinks before the football games. Great burgers, great people.br>*The Iron Horse -- I saw Brad Pitt and Ryan Leaf here once, though independently. Leaf was an *** as usual -- ran up a $300+ tab and walked it, then copped the "don't you know who I am?" attitude with the owner, who had none of this. This is probably the most upscale bar in Msla., but it's not hoity-toity.
*The Depot -- another upscale type place with really good food. We used to start here then move south further into the Downtown debauchery like The Stock's and Red's.

*Worden's Deli -- loved the big fat sandwiches and soups here.
*I hit two of the best buffalo burger joints ever along Hwy 93 (aka the Death Trap). One was south, in the Bitterroot Valley (aka "up de ruuuut" even though you are going south). It was a diner in Darby. The other was north just past St. Ignatius (aka "Mission" -- many towns and their high schools have aliases). Another buffalo burger shack adjacent to the National Bison Range. Hmmm.

Hope that helps!

Why did I leave?
*I really, really, really, really, really hated my job
*I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really hated winter (and discovered winter depression)
*I really, really hated my (now) ex-boyfriend who wanted me to stay there for him

That's it. I can speak very fondly of many other things Missoula outside of that.

 

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Thanks for all the responses. It was all very helpful.