Popular Montana Town Not What It Used To Be

I recently returned to Missoula for the first time in years.

When I first moved to Montana, Missoula was the town I called home. So, when I went back for a Celebration of Life for a former co-worker, I was excited to see the town and check out some of the places I used to frequent all of those years ago.

Let's just say it wasn't the Missoula that I remember.

Now granted, Missoula isn't the only town that has changed over the last few years. As people continue to move here, Missoula is one of the towns that folks are flocking to. The town has certainly seen significant growth over the last decade or so, and I'm not sure it's for the best.

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Before we continue, let's check out some of the best towns in Montana to call home.

The traffic was out of control, and a lot of the town seemed unkept. As I drove down Reserve, I was a little taken aback by all of the overgrowth along the road.

Full disclosure, I live in Bozeman and prefer Bozeman over Missoula, so before you jump on my case, keep in mind that I'm not the only one who thinks the town has changed for the worse. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't being biased, so I asked a few other people, and they all agreed.

Missoula is a mess.

Is Missoula a good place to live?

Some parts just seemed dirty, and to be honest, unsafe. Oh, and just in case you are wondering, one of the people I asked was born and raised in Missoula, a graduate of UM, and a die-hard Griz fan.

Now, I will say there are some positives. The downtown is happening and seems to be buzzing at all times of the day. Plus, Missoula is home to the best Gyro restaurant in America. Oh, and the homes are cheaper than in Bozeman. There's plenty of outdoor adventure to enjoy in and outside of town, so it's not like it doesn't have its positive points.

However, if you're not a fan of traffic, people, and free love hippies who drive Subies covered in bumper stickers, Missoula might not be the town for you, and that's ok.

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