This Montana City is a Top Pick for Movers in 2024 – But Why?

Let's face it. Many Montanans can agree we are a little sheltered. If you grew up under the big sky, you probably haven't roamed to other places as much as people from other areas of the country. Why? The answer is probably "Why would you leave?"

I grew up in Billings and moved to Missoula for college. I admit that I didn't know much about other places in the state. Sure I travelled around the state a little. But, most don't know what life is like outside of their own little world they made in their hometown. Which is why I chose to leave the nest and travel 5 hours west to go to school.

Now, I travel back to visit family multiple times a year. For over 20 years I have commented on how much the town of Billings has grown each time I return. With the city expanding past areas that used to be farmland and dirt roads.

For many people moving to Montana, their destination is not Bozeman, Kalispell or Missoula. The hot spot in Montana for new residents is Billings.

According to Move Buddha, Billings is trending as a hot spot to move in 2024:

Using search data from the moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator we can find out where people are planning to move in 2024. We gathered searches made from July 2023 to March 2024 with a “planned move date” at any point in 2024.

We won’t know for sure where today’s movers are going until 2024’s census data becomes available in the spring of 2025, but their interest can tell us a lot about their dreams and plans for the coming year before they even move.

According to the study from movebuddha.com, Billings ranks as 4th most popular place to move in the country.

As someone who grew up in "the Magic City," I cannot wrap my mind around how it is still the fastest-growing city in the state. My only thought is the jobs and the outdoors must be the reason.

According to the study, for every 241 residents that move to this Montana town, 100 move out. Making the city the 4th fastest growing city in the country.

Billings has benefitted from the oil and gas boom in North Dakota. Many Billings residents commute to the oil fields for work. Also, Billings offers plenty of other high-end industrial jobs like multiple oil refineries and other factories.

moveBuddha suggests the reason may be that towns that are artistic and centered around the outdoors have been trending among people looking to relocate. But, home prices are lower than places like Missoula and Bozeman.