The 11 Best Small Towns to Retire in Montana

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 35 towns of 500–10,000 people in Montana. #1 is Bigfork, MT.

1. 11Deer Lodge, Montana

   Better for retirees than 62% of Montana towns

   Deer Lodge is a city of 2,938 people in Powell County, Montana. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of Montana towns and quieter than 81% of Montana towns.

   2,938 people · Powell County · median home $247,600 · income $60,302 · Jan low 11°F · 75 in snow

   Full Deer Lodge, Montana profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 10Montana City, Montana

   Better for retirees than 65% of Montana towns

   Montana City is a community of 2,918 people in Jefferson County, Montana. It also ranks better for families than 99% of Montana towns and more upscale than 99% of Montana towns.

   2,918 people · Jefferson County · median home $571,200 · income $129,755 · Jan low 14°F · 37 in snow

   Full Montana City, Montana profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 9Big Sky, Montana

   Better for retirees than 68% of Montana towns

   Big Sky is a community of 3,591 people in Gallatin County, Montana. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Montana towns and better for young professionals than 97% of Montana towns.

   3,591 people · Gallatin County · median home $1,137,900 · income $138,805 · Jan low 9°F · 48 in snow

   Full Big Sky, Montana profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 8Glendive, Montana

   Better for retirees than 71% of Montana towns

   Glendive is a city of 4,873 people in Dawson County, Montana. It also ranks more of a college town than 97% of Montana towns and hipper than 88% of Montana towns.

   4,873 people · Dawson County · median home $182,600 · income $72,670 · Jan low 9°F · 23 in snow

   Full Glendive, Montana profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 7Polson, Montana

   Better for retirees than 71% of Montana towns

   Polson is a city of 5,148 people in Lake County, Montana. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 82% of Montana towns and better for cycling than 73% of Montana towns.

   5,148 people · Lake County · median home $356,300 · income $53,418 · Jan low 22°F · 34 in snow

   Full Polson, Montana profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 6Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, Montana

   Better for retirees than 76% of Montana towns

   Anaconda-Deer Lodge County is a town of 9,421 people in Deer Lodge County, Montana. It also ranks hipper than 85% of Montana towns and more walkable than 81% of Montana towns.

   9,421 people · Deer Lodge County · median home $231,700 · income $57,527 · Jan low 16°F · 75 in snow

   Full Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, Montana profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 5Dillon, Montana

   Better for retirees than 81% of Montana towns

   

   Dillon is a city of 3,880 people in Beaverhead County, Montana. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Montana towns and more of a college town than 100% of Montana towns.

   3,880 people · Beaverhead County · median home $256,700 · income $61,134 · Jan low 15°F · 11 in snow

   Full Dillon, Montana profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 4Whitefish, Montana

   Better for retirees than 81% of Montana towns

   

   Whitefish is a city of 7,751 people in Flathead County, Montana. It also ranks better for cycling than 93% of Montana towns and better for young professionals than 89% of Montana towns.

   7,751 people · Flathead County · median home $684,300 · income $73,811 · Jan low 16°F · 63 in snow

   Full Whitefish, Montana profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 3Lakeside, Montana

   Better for retirees than 83% of Montana towns

   Lakeside is a community of 2,705 people in Flathead County, Montana. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Montana towns and better transit than 93% of Montana towns.

   2,705 people · Flathead County · median home $720,100 · income $77,435 · Jan low 18°F · 49 in snow

   Full Lakeside, Montana profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 2Orchard Homes, Montana

    Better for retirees than 87% of Montana towns

    Orchard Homes is a community of 5,377 people in Missoula County, Montana. It also ranks better for cycling than 100% of Montana towns and better for young professionals than 93% of Montana towns.

    5,377 people · Missoula County · median home $553,700 · income $64,904 · Jan low 18°F · 43 in snow

    Full Orchard Homes, Montana profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 1Bigfork, Montana

    Better for retirees than 88% of Montana towns

    Bigfork is a community of 5,118 people in Flathead County, Montana. It also ranks more upscale than 91% of Montana towns and better for a vacation home than 85% of Montana towns.

    5,118 people · Flathead County · median home $674,600 · income $85,307 · Jan low 18°F · 51 in snow

    Full Bigfork, Montana profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Montana rankings

• 13 Small Towns in Montana With the Mildest Winters
• The 24 Most Walkable Small Towns in Montana
• The 11 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Montana

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