Missoula Travel Guide : More Information.gif)
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| Downtown Missoula,
Montana |
Missoula
is a busy place during the tourist season. Missoula also
plays host too many events that are held in Montana – everything
from the state basketball championship to a rodeo to concerts.
As such, lodging availability can be spotty at times during
the year – but especially in the summer. People arriving
in Missoula during the summer – especially on the weekends – are
likely to be plain out of luck when attempting to find an
affordable room, or any room, for that matter. As such, it
pays to plan ahead and make a hotel reservation – even
if only a day early – in order to make sure you don’t
end up sleeping down by the University in your car instead
of in a comfortable hotel bed someplace.
See
Our Listings of Missoula Hotels & Motels
Missoula
Employment & Real Estate
Probably
not surprising, the cost of living has been steadily increasing
in Missoula over the years. This is mainly due
to the rise in real estate prices. Just like in Kalispell and Whitefish, vast amounts of out-state wealth has been
pouring into the local real estate market, sending prices
ever higher. As such, by Montana standards, the cost of real
estate in Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley is expensive
(although it won’t be comparing to San Francisco anytime
soon).
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| Riverfront
Park and Downtown Missoula |
The
employment prospects in Missoula are about as good as you’re
going to find in Montana. While this isn’t really saying
much, at least Missoula does have some good jobs in town.
The University, the local hospitals and even a few smaller
tech firms here all provide for some decent, if somewhat
spotty, employment prospects. The federal government also
employs quite a few people in and around Missoula, especially
the United States Forest Service.
That
said, though, the bulk of the jobs in Missoula outside
the University and State/Federal Government area consist
primarily of lower paying service jobs – many of which
pay in the range of $6 to $7 an hour. The big exception to
this, though, is in the construction industry. The explosive
growth in the Bitterroot Valley has led many people who never
though about it before to enter the construction trade – where
wages are generally significantly higher (starting at $9
an hour or so and moving up, depending on what you do).
Missoula
Summary
Overall,
Missoula is probably destined to just keep growing. The
University of Montana will always be bringing in a new
supply of people to live. Combine that with the areas “hub” for
recreational activities in Southwest Montana and the fact
that all roads seem to lead to it, will keep giving Missoula
a lift economically for years to come.
That
said, for people looking for a “more relaxed” and
small-town atmosphere, whether it be to visit or to move
to, may wish to explore towns and areas well away from Missoula.
The traffic in Missoula is anything but fun, and the rather
unrestrained and unplanned growth in and around Missoula
has led to urban sprawl. While I do like Missoula, I must
admit its not my favorite town in Montana - although the
wealth of shopping in town does admittedly come in handy
from time to time!
 
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