Member Link Up Moving to Great Falls MT, Sept 1

45.308

45.308

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 15, 2007
1,429
181
Glacier Valley Alaska
#1
Anyone from the area? Have had it with Alaska and the cost of living on fixed income and retirement. I am looking for the cost of living; food, utilities, gas, vehicle taxes and insurance rates, etc and taxes; state and local income (military retired) and sales taxes along with property taxes? Looking at 2 bedroom, 1+ bath ranch style hopefully outside of town on 3-5 or up to 10 acres.

And of course, firearms and shooting. I know you guys do not love guns and the 2nd like Alaskans but I hope you are close.

Anything at all will be helpful in us making the decision, we are moving we need to find the perfect area though.

Thanks
 
#2
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

have you been to montana before? its a very diverse state with many different types of habitat; mountains in the west, prairie and river breaks, badlands, grasslands, in the east and a lot less people. winters are cold and the summers are hot but its a great place to live! real estate is a lot less east of the mountains. i grew up in western montana and moved east northeast 15 years ago. never looked back!

what kind of country are you looking at?

 
#3
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

What kind of country, not all that important, been there but its been years, never lived there just visited. I must be by a military post. Its the cost of living in a mountain west state, open range but cheap to live. Alaska is not what it use to be in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Cannot fish or hunt anywhere unless you are a non-resident. Tired of -40 winters, winter from Oct-April, rain from mid July till it snows mid Sept, summer means the month of June, scraping ice every time we stop to shop, driving for 5 months on roads slick as skating rinks, shoveling mountains of snow, but mostly tired of $2.50 gal gas, $300 a month gas bill, $250 a month electric bill, etc. I found a whole page of 1800sqft houses with 2 baths outside of Great Falls for $125K. That house here would be $300K with $4000 a year property tax, believe me I know. I cannot afford to live here any longer plus kids all live outside now (not in AK) and it cost $1500 per flight to see them, so, we want to move so we can live on retirement and be with-in a days drive and 2 tanks of gas to see them and grand kids.

So, looking for cost of living to include taxes Great Falls area.

Thanks
 
#4
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

Billings here. Agree with the above. Best medical community in the state is in Billings, so if you need close medical care, give us some serious consideration. Lots of open land, just out of town. Plenty of places to shoot. Helps to know someone, but folks are friendly. There are probably quite a few more liberals in this state than in AK, but even the Democrats here like guns.

Gotta agree with pgs on his assessment of eastern MT. It grows on you.
 
#5
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

Was just in montana and was told by local law enforcement that crime and GANGS yes gangs are so bad in great falls that there is a 5k dollar signing bonus for joining local law enforcement in great falls. Dont know for a fact if its true or not but this came from someone that had been a state trooper for 17 years. How did i meet this trooper....while he was writing me a ticket. Spent alot of time in and around montana last couple of years and hoping to relocate very soon. In my opinion...anything west of big timber but excluding great falls. I'm personally in love with the western half of the state and so is my wife and kids. Good luck on your quest.
 
#6
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

Helena area here, just 80 miles or so south of GF.

It's noticeably milder here in the winter than up GF way. a lot more wind, snow, and typically colder temps in GF despite lower elevation in GF. GF gets the cold arctic fronts full effect, and full value westerly winds off the Rocky Mountain front. Helena valley is protected some by the mountains, and being on the eastern slope of the divide, it's the dryer side of the mountains.

Monthly electric bill here is about $100 for about 900 Kw/H.

Cost of living here is not bad. Property taxes about $1500/yr here, on 1700 sq-ft rancher on 8.5 acres. Propane about $2.00/gal this winter. Gasoline currently about $1.80/gal. Costco in Helena, GF, Billings, and I think Bozeman and Missoula.

The VA hospital is here in Helena too (Ft Harrison).

No sales tax. Military retired pay does pay state tax.

I grew up in MT, and retired back here in 2004. Zero regrets.
 
#7
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

Shepherd MT here,

I'm on the north east edge of Yellowstone county just inside the township of Shepherd, which is approx. 20 miles from Billings, on 20acres that borders a huge ranch. I can get you out to 1500yrds with your rifle here, and I have a 14 target run through combat pistol range as well. So after you settle in, if its near by, I would be happy to have you shoot up here. Maybe snipe some yotes.

I like the Bitteroot valley allot; but around here we're in this crazy banana belt where we have such awsome weather all winter for the most part. The Bull Mountain Range up near Roundup MT is very nice sceneically; Hills, allot of pines & ceders. Low cost in housing, decent little town, and about 40min to Billings down Hwy-83 directly. Just at the base of the Bull's where we are, opens up to scattered pines, and more open range.

My house is 1500sqft.
Elect runs around 75.00 a month.
Wood heat only @ about 400.00 a yr. 3 chords.
Tax's at 950.00
Gasoline we're all fucked on.

PS: Those gangs in Great Falls spoken about? Not to worry, we allowed them in and lulled them into a false sense of security. No limit Tags will be available mid/09 for State wide day/night hunts! And did ya here? Now suppressors are legal in the field!

Should shake out to be a good time..


 
#8
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

datw, that trooper gave you the wrong info. I've lived w/in Gt Falls and the surrounding area for 40+years, and I speak from experience, having dealt w/ that element locally for 20 yrs. Gangs and drugs are not rampant, but most likely are of lower prominence that in Billings. Don't take my word for it, check the numbers w/ each of the local LE agencies.
 
#9
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

45.308, I could tell you all kinds of stuff. If you get here look me up and I will give you a personally guided tour. Central Mt is pretty tough to beat. We are right between 3 seperate mountain ranges,(I can see 'em from here) with plenty of open prairie.
 
#10
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

I'm not taking the troopers info to the bank but it did suprise the hell out of me that that could be even remotely accurate. I kind of figured the locals would help take care of that problem when and if it surfaced. I love Montana and everything that comes along with it. Was told that the state legis. only meets a couple of times a year...i asked why and the response was, the more they meet the more dumbass laws they seem to come up with. Is this correct?
 
#11
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

Thanks all, many questions answered. The taxes was most of my concern and I wanted to get an idea of what it cost to run a house, could be a third of what it is here!! While not 100% sold on GF, it is my starting point with Malstrom and a guy I know grew up there, 60 miles south and suggested I would love it, as would Helena and Billings. He also says Alaska is way over rated for the outdoors, Montana is better and cheaper to hunt and fish with less people. Close to a military post due to groceries at the commissary. Wife medical bills are paid for for life and she does not see a military Dr. This is another issue we must work out, which city has a specialist to deal with her. So Billings is deff on the list since its the medical community. I hope her Dr will help out finding someone there. She was declared medical stable last week is why we got the amp on to move, we thought it would be another year or so.

I read that its 6 months to be declared Mt resident, how does this effect handguns shipped to myself?

We are moving outside but our details to get there must be worked out. We planned to be out of here 2010 and now we planned to push it for June 09 but I realize that probably is not going to happen but we are still working on it. Plus, they say the economy will sink quickly and badly over the next year then stable and go bad more slowly. Fox bizz says wait a year to buy a house or car. So, getting to Montana to purchase a house and truck may be cheaper next summer.

I would bet Alaska has more liberals than Montana. The borough has only 2 conservatives and the State gov is now split 50/50, has been 70/30 and at one time 80/20. They are pushing to burn Gov Palin to get Hollis French who is a complete loon and they are predicted to pick up 1, possible 2 seats in the State.

Gangs and crime, after Katrina and the free ride they got/get to live here, last I heard its tripled but the boy Mayor did nothing but increased moving violations for hard working Alaskans so he could say he cut down the budget. Now there is a $17 million short fall that our lib in the US Senate caused and hid from tax payers.

Thanks all and I will most deff have more questions.
 
#12
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

Central MT is wonderful. Spent a part of my youth in the Harlowton area. Love that kind of country.

We've got a 40 acre tract out about 70 miles east of Lewistown, near the Mussellshell River. Beautiful breaky country. Full of game.
 
#13
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

+1 on Harlowton area. Bit of a drive to medical facilities, but they do have a small hospital/ER/clinic there.

Billings does have some gangs, but I've never had any problems with them. The news 2 nights ago stated that for the first time now they have a full compliment of LEO's in the PD, so that should help out a lot.

The weather here again is much milder than the rest of the state. There are two shooting ranges in Billings. One goes out to 300yd, but both require memberships and the wait can be 4+ years. Laurel has a shooting range to 200yd and there is a range in Hardin as well. Plenty of other places to shoot out in the open on private land (with permission), or even public land. There is some BLM land just North of Billings where you can shoot as well.
 
#14
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

Looking somewhere between Helena and GF?

and

Lewistown and GF?

I cipher it is less than 100 miles to GF so a monthly shopping trip to Malstrm is with in easy drive. Geez, we drive 200 one way to go fishing and hunting, and shooting on the tundra.

I will contact some relaters and look and see what is avail; 1800sqst ranch, 1.5 bath with garage on about 3-5 acres.

Thanks and anything is appreciated.
 
#17
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

Whats going on in GF? I found pages of listed homes that have been on the market for months; 1767sqft, 3 beds, 2 baths, 2 car, .5 lot for $64k listed 89 days ago? This is more the norm than the exception. There are pages from several realtors of homes like this for around $100k all in GF. All down town GF, are they flood plain homes? Inner city? Some are old but found many built in the 70s.

I found 1880sqft, 1.5, single garage, on 3 acres for 125k out side GF.

Helena, nothing but $200k and up.
 
#18
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

Helena is the only VA hospital around and is a pain in the ass to get to from where I live. Not too sure if there is a commissary/ PX there though.
I just moved to Montana about two years ago and so far my favorite place is Whitefish, I could retire there tomorrow and be set.
 
#19
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

Up to the top if anyone cares to know! If it all works out, leaving around Sept 3 2009. Will admit, not exactly sure where we will end up!

If anyone has free camper space.....and a range near them! I will need help breaking in the GAP once I get down there
wink.gif


 
#20
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

pros are

1 Great Falls is the best central location for all the hunting and fishing in MT.
2 It is cheap living and it's still Montana, not like missoula or the flathead that are becoming more and more like Ca.
3 Good Air service in and out.
4 lots of sunshine in the winter months


cons for me

1 It's got a fair amount of low rent people and places
2 The wind blows a lot
3 Did I mention the wind blows a lot?
4 Lot's of missile silos around so you're a first strike target ( only half kidding)

Where ever you choose in Mt. check the weather for that exact area. We have
a saying where I live, "if you don't like the weather, give it a minute" Places
like Lewistown are really nice but the wind will blow your parked car down the road. The Flathead has fairly mild winters but it's overcast and grey for 1/2
the year, really gets to some people.

All said I think I would be happier in Great Falls than over here on the west side.
My family wouldn't. As a side note I worked the pipeline from 74 to 78 and other
than a few odd days the weather here is mild by comparison. I have a friend that
grew up on a GF farm that went to Fairbanks a few years back, he had only worked in the southeast before. Called me up wanting to know what he needed
to do to his truck and what not for the winter. He started commenting on the cold
and I said, "these people in Mt that tell you they were out elk hunting at 50 below
are full of it aren't they? No shit! was all I heard back. We rarely see it hang at -30
for more than a day.
Welcome, and as far as your guns, it's all good, no more restrictions here than
there. Only your hunting license is involved in the residency requirement. Out of
state tags aren't too expensive and if nothing else just go for birds.
 
#22
Re: Moving to Great Falls MT Help?

As Bigwheeler stated... Great Falls is very centrally located and all sorts of hunting in every direction. It has good medical facilities and has Malmstrom AFB right there. It's windy a fair amount of time but it isn't as pricey as the areas farther west. Lots of Libs live around the Missoula & Bozeman areas. I'm living up near Sweet Grass and it's really windy up here. But that can be an advantage at times as it makes it difficult for the mosquitos to lock on. I spent 27 years in Border Patrol, plus some Army time and retired up here. From my perspective... relatively speaking none of the cities in Montana has much of a gang problem, and the gang bangers usually thin out their on ranks without assistance anyway. I'd never move to another place. If I could get my wife to move it would be to Lewistown or maybe White Sulphur areas, both of which is within easy drive to Great Falls or Billings if you wanted to shop/get medical services.
 
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