From: bizjournals – July 21, 2008 by G. Scott Thomas
Bozeman Ranked #2 Dreamtown in United States
Helena, Montana Ranked #5
America may be a metropolitan nation, but most of us don’t seem very happy about it.
A total of 252 million people — 83.5 percent of all Americans — live in metropolitan areas. That includes 164 million in the 51 biggest metros, the ones with populations above 1 million.
Yet a substantial number of these residents of big cities and inner-ring suburbs don’t have their hearts in it. They would prefer to live on the suburban fringe or in small-town America, as repeatedly shown by surveys during the past decade.
The top three small towns:
1. Torrington, Conn.
2. Bozeman, Mont.
3. Lexington Park, Md.
Bozeman Quality of Life -
Strengths: This Rocky Mountain community is fast-growing and prosperous. Only four micropolitan areas have expanded more rapidly than Bozeman since the start of this decade. The local poverty rate is the lowest in any U.S. micro, and the unemployment rate is the second-lowest.
Location: South-central Montana, west of Billings
Closest major metropolitan area: Denver, 517 air miles
Bozeman Quick Stats -
Area population: 81,763
Population growth since 2000: 20.5%
Average commuting time: 20.6 minutes
Median household income: $47,532
Homeownership rate: 66.2%
Median house value: $261,900
Adults with bachelor’s degrees: 45.2%
Taunya Fagan Bozeman Real Estate
giving you the advantage…®
