One Montana Mountain Town Makes List For Most Affordable

When I say “affordable” and “mountain town” in the same sentence, it sounds a little like an oxymoron.

I mean, mountain towns aren't exactly known for being cheap.

But are there still places where you can live in a mountain town without completely emptying your bank account?

According to one source, there are—and one of those towns just happens to be right here in Montana.

The folks over at Cheapism put together a list of affordable mountain towns worth considering for retirement. And if you're looking for an affordable mountain town in the western United States, your options are pretty limited.

But you DO have options.

What Montana Town Made the List?

If you dream of living out West, surrounded by mountains, but you're also trying to stick to a budget, Cheapism points to a few possibilities.

You could head to Silver City, New Mexico.

You could try Rapid City, South Dakota.

Or you could stay right here in Montana and consider...

Butte. Montana.

That's right.

According to Cheapism, Butte is one of the affordable mountain towns worth considering.

READ MORE: What Is Montana's Most Searched-For Food?

Now, before you start judging Butte, let's be fair.

The Mining City has a LOT going for it.

Sure, parts of Uptown could use some TLC. And, yeah, there's that giant hole in the ground.

But step back from all of that and there's plenty to appreciate.

The scenery is beautiful, and Butte has something that a lot of newer, more expensive Montana communities seem to be losing—a very distinct personality.

You've got the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Montana Folk Festival, and plenty of other events throughout the year.

Then there's the food.

You've got pasties, the famous pork chop sandwich, and plenty of other local favorites.

And I still haven't forgotten about the chicken and dumplings I've had at the little Italian market.

Seriously. That's worth a trip by itself.

Is Butte perfect?

Absolutely not.

Does it need some work?

Sure.

But there's also a lot of history, character and potential there.

And if you're looking for a Montana mountain town that won't necessarily require you to have a Bozeman-sized bank account, Butte might be worth a look.

What's Your Favorite Montana Mountain Town?

Butte may have made Cheapism's list, but Montana has no shortage of incredible mountain towns.

What's your favorite?

Is it Butte? Whitefish? Livingston? Anaconda? Somewhere else?

Send us a message through the app and let us know!