Outdoors lovers' paradise with friendly neighbors in Western Montana
Located at the meeting point of five mountain ranges and three rivers, Missoula is the second-largest city in Montana and the largest in the state's western half. The confluence of the mountains has led to the city being known as the "Hub of Five Valleys" and adds to its reputation as an outdoor playground. "I think that access to outdoor recreation is probably the number one reason people cite for moving to Missoula," says Megan Robson, a Montana native and Realtor with Pure West Christie's. "The fact that we are so close to skiing, kayaking and hiking is big. It's right out your back door, which is great." The city of 77,757 is surrounded by national forests, recreation areas and hiking trails. Mount Sentinel and Mount Jumbo tower over the community, offering convenient access to the wilderness. City parks are full of creeks and dense trees, while the Clark Fork River flows through downtown, providing fishing and kayaking access from the heart of the city.
In addition to its recreation options, Missoula is home to the University of Montana, the city's largest employer. Other major employers include Providence St. Patrick Hospital, the U.S. Forest Service and Missoula County Public Schools. The downtown area has many local shops and restaurants, including some featured on the Food Network. As the largest city in the region, Missoula has plenty of chain and big-box stores. Interstate 90 runs through the city, and Missoula Montana Airport offers nonstop flights to 14 major cities. Missoula has grown significantly in recent years, leading to increased urban sprawl and new subdivisions. But as more people come in from out of town, the city holds onto its friendly, small-town feeling. "I really like the people. Generally, the folks in Missoula are really welcoming and nice and helpful," says Robson.
The Clark Fork River offers peaceful moments in the Heart of Missoula.
The University of Montana "M" can be seen throughout greater Missoula.
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Natural areas and parks flush with activities in Missoula
Outdoor activity is the biggest draw to Missoula, and there is plenty of it in all corners of the city. The M Trail is one of the most popular hikes, a 1.5-mile out-and-back trek up the side of Mount Sentinel. The top of the trail features a large concrete M on the hillside, first placed by the University of Montana Forestry Club in 1908. The Lolo National Forest surrounds the city and has several recreation areas, like Pattee Canyon and Blue Mountain, each with miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking or cross-country skiing. Rattlesnake National Recreation Area is the largest of these sites, at 28,000 acres and 73 miles of trails. The Clark Fork River flows through the city and is fed by the nearby Blackfoot and Bitterroot Rivers, each offering opportunities for fly fishing, rafting and kayaking. The city maintains over 550 acres of parks, ranging from wooded natural areas to expansive sports facilities. Other parks include playgrounds and indoor and outdoor water parks. Caras Park downtown hosts events throughout the year and is also home to A Carousel for Missoula, a handcrafted carousel open year-round. There are also 22 miles of trails for exercising or commuting throughout the city via biking, walking or jogging.
Caras Park is framed by a beautiful river.
The Clark Fork River adds serene beauty to the Heart of Missoula.
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Missoula offers year-round shopping, dining and entertainment
Downtown—also known as the Heart of Missoula—has many local businesses. Restaurants include fine dining, burger joints and cafes that have been around since the 1880s. Local shops downtown offer clothing, gifts and outdoor equipment. The section of Higgins Street immediately south of the Clark Fork River is known as the Hip Strip, home to local restaurants, dessert shops, boutiques and bookstores. Chain stores can be found at several spots in Missoula, such as Southgate Mall, a large indoor mall with several shops and a movie theater. North Reserve Street is lined with department stores and supermarkets, offering convenient shopping.
Several events take place in Missoula throughout the year. The Western Montana Fair is in August at the Missoula County Fairgrounds and includes food, livestock shows, carnival rides and rodeos. Downtown hosts events like the Garden City Brewfest in May and River City Roots Festival in August. Caras Park also hosts weekly events throughout the summer, like Out to Lunch and Downtown ToNight, featuring food trucks and live music. More live music takes place at local venues like Top Hat and The Wilma. Just east of town, KettleHouse Amphitheater hosts big-name artists in an outdoor setting along the Blackfoot River.
Shop local at Riverfront's many retail spots along Hip Strip.
Missoula's Out to Lunch event features live music and food trucks in Caras Park.
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Climbing home prices in Western Montana
Homes in Missoula include styles like vintage bungalows and Craftsman houses in the University District, midcentury ranch-style homes in Lewis and Clark and spacious mountain estates and log cabins in the South Hills. New development is primarily taking place in the city's northwestern corner, where multiple subdivisions have been built. The median housing price is around $575,000, up 3% over the past year. That growth continues an upward trend in Missoula but is slower than in the previous few years. Prices have come up from a median point of $350,000 in 2020. Homes have also started to sit on the market longer, selling in an average of 49 days, slightly more than the national average of 45 days. Because of the slower price increase and longer time to sell, Missoula is currently a neutral market, allowing more room for negotiations between buyers and sellers. Compared to other Montana cities, housing prices are more expensive than in Billings but cheaper than Bozeman. Missoula is also more affordable than the nearby community of Frenchtown.
Stately craftsman homes enjoy large lots near the University of Montana.
Large mid-century modern ranch style homes are abundant in the Lewis and Clark neighborhood.
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Quality education for Missoula County kids
Missoula County Public Schools receives a B-plus rating from Niche and serves approximately 9,300 students. The district has nine elementary schools, three middle schools and four high schools. It offers Advanced Placement courses and International Baccalaureate programs. Students can also take career and technical education classes in industries like agriculture, health and business. The University of Montana has an enrollment of just over 10,000 at its 56-acre flagship campus. The school is known for wildlife biology, creative writing and political science programs. Approximately 70% of the school's pre-med students are accepted into medical school and 91% of pre-law students are admitted to the law school of their choice. The University is also known for its football team, which has won two national championships and 19 conference championships. Washington-Grizzly Stadium holds 25,200 fans and is ranked as one of the best stadiums in college football by Stadium Journey.
Washington-Grizzly Stadium offers epic grid-iron matches with mountain views.
Athletics at Hellgate High School in Missoula promote teamwork and school spirit.
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Commuting around the city and Montana
Interstate 90 passes through the city, providing a route east through Montana or west to the Idaho panhandle. U.S. Route 93 leads south through the Bitterroot Valley into Central Idaho or north to cities like Kalispell and Whitefish. Missoula Montana Airport offers nonstop service to 14 major cities, including Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas and Dallas. Few walkable neighborhoods exist in Missoula, but the commuter trails make it easy to bike around the city. Mountain Line is the local bus system, offering public transit access to most neighborhoods in town.
Dry weather and wildfires in the western Rockies
Weather can be unpredictable in Missoula, but the city generally has a semiarid climate. The Bitterroot Mountain Range prevents moisture from entering Missoula, resulting in just 12 to 15 inches of precipitation per year. Temperatures in the summer hover around 70 to 80 degrees but have gotten up to over 100. Winter temperatures stay around 20 to 30 degrees, with a record low of minus 33 in January 1957. The Continental Divide shields the city from cool Arctic air coming down from Canada, but when the cold air does break through, it tends to stay a while and can result in blizzards.
Wildfires are Missoula's greatest climate risk, and warmer temperatures lead to a longer fire season. The city has a Wildfire Ready program that reimburses homeowners up to 75% of the total labor cost for projects that reduce fire risks. The city also has several online resources on fire prevention, and the Missoula Fire Department has a fleet of wildland vehicles to fight wildfires. Missoula is also updating its floodplain maps to reflect the most accurate data on flood risks and base flood elevations.
High crime for a Montana city
Missoula saw 470 violent crimes in 2023, down from the previous two years. That equals a rate of 604 violent crimes per 100,000 people, higher than the statewide rate of 444 but lower than the rates in the cities with the highest crimes in Montana. The Missoula Police Department is re-implementing the Citizen Law Enforcement Academy, a nine-week program that educates citizens on the workings of the department and includes a ride-along. The department also worked with the Missoula Police Officers Association to create an accountability matrix to mitigate misconduct.
Born and raised in Montana, Lindsay Buhler truly understands the draw of people to the area and loves assisting her clients make their dream of owning a home in Montana a reality. A real estate advisor/licensed Realtor, Lindsay started her real estate career as an administrative assistance in the field, giving her a solid foundation to grow from. Lindsay has also acquired her Certification of Achievement in Home Staging and Decorating, which enables her to offer her listings even more expertise to get their homes sold faster.
Lindsay’s goal is to exceed her client’s expectations throughout the home buying and selling process. She delivers on this goal by her exceptional time management, outstanding negotiation skills and thorough understanding of the buying/selling process. As a Real Estate Advisor at Engel & Völkers, Lindsay is with her clients during each step of the real estate journey offering her client “luxury, white glove customer service” no matter the price point.
When Lindsay is not with clients or at the office, she can be found with her husband (and Bitterroot Valley native) Ken, twins Hogan and Hannah loving life in the Bitterroot Valley or exploring all of what Western Montana has to offer.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
