5 Montana Towns Affected The Most By Rich Out-Of-Staters

There is no doubt that Montana has changed a lot over the last few years.

As wealthy out-of-staters continue to move to Big Sky Country, we've seen big changes here in the Treasure State. From how things are done politically, to the landscape and scenery.

Oh sure, we could talk about all the rich folks who've moved here, bought up the land, and then charge their other rich friends tens of thousands of dollars to come here and hunt on their land. Oh, and speaking of land, we could mention that many of the public lands are now inaccessible because some of those wealthy folks are blocking entry.

However, that's not what this is about.

No, we're going to talk about Montana being "gentrified". Now, if you're anything like me, you have no idea what that means and will have to look it up. To save you time, below is the definition of the word:

(of a formerly poor urban area) changed in character by wealthier people moving in, improving housing, and attracting new businesses, typically displacing current inhabitants in the process.

In normal people's terms, rich folks moving here, changing things, and making it so that normal, everyday local folks can't afford to be a part of the community anymore. Sound familiar?

READ MORE: Does Montana need more tourists? Locals weigh in.

According to City.Fact, several Montana towns have experienced this, some more than others. So, which Montana cities have been gentrified the most? We take a look at the Top 5 below:

• #5 Billings, Montana. Billings is the biggest city in Montana and has seen a bit of a boom when it comes to population and expansion; however, in many ways, Billings is still a blue-collar town and still remains affordable for locals.
• #4 Missoula, Montana. Missoula has been growing at a steady pace for the last couple of decades. Home of the University of Montana, Missoula is a happening place with an active social scene and quick access to lots of outdoor adventure.
• #3 Kalispell, Montana. Kalispell is one of the fastest-growing towns in Montana. With close access to both Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park, Kalispell has seen a major increase in housing prices as more out-of-staters look to move to the area.
• #2 Whitefish, Montana. Whitefish is a popular place. Not only is the town one of the most charming in the state, but it was also named the friendliest town in America. Because of this and all of the outdoor activities, it's no wonder that Whitefish has become a popular place for those with money.

So, which Montana town is ranked 1st? It surely won't come as a surprise, especially when you consider this Montana city was the fastest-growing town in the country for a couple of years.

• #1 Bozeman, Montana. Once a small cowtown and home of MSU, Bozeman has seen explosive growth over the last few years. While there is still plenty of charm with its old-school stores that have been in business for well over a hundred years, there are also tons of high-end chain stores calling Bozeman home now as well. Did we mention the home prices? With some of the most expensive home prices in the country, Bozeman isn't the town it once was.

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