Biz Journals: Best quality of life in the U.S. is in Bozeman, Montana

[Human Torch]

http://www.bizjournals.com/edit_special/41.html#l



Where to find the best quality of life
bizjournals - August 7, 2006
by G. Scott Thomas

If small-town life holds special appeal for you, look out West. Seven of the 10 highest-ranked cities that offer the best quality of life are in Western states, according to a new study by Bizjournals.

Topping the list is Bozeman, Mont., where it can get awfully cold –- even dropping below freezing on the occasional summer night -- but there are plenty of compensations.

Like the stunning view of the Rocky Mountains. And the strong local economy. And the intellectual and cultural activity at Montana State University.

The Bizjournals study compares the performances of America's 577 micropolitan areas in 12 statistical categories. The 10 communities with the highest scores have been designated as "dreamtowns," indicating that they offer an outstanding quality of life.

Top 10:

Bozeman, Montana
Jackson, Wyoming-Idaho
Durango, Colorado
Easton, Maryland
Laramie, Wyoming
Edwards, Colorado
Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
Pierre, South Dakota
Silverthorne, Colorado
Los Alamos, New Mexico

[leveymg]

1. Message: little or no ethnic minorities = high "quality of life"

In addition to being overwhelmingly White, most of these are also preferred destinations for people with enough money to own second or third or fourth vacation homes.

[Bluebear]

6. No pesky homosexuals, latte shops, sushi bars...

"Quality of life" is in the eye of the beholder :)

[Critters2]

10. I doubt this is true of Bozeman

or any university city.

The urban snobbery on DU never ceases to amaze. And you wonder why some of us are leaving cities.

[calico1]

11. What is it like there?

What is the makeup as far as population? And what do people do there for entertainment? Inquiring minds want to know.:-)

[WestSeattle2]

13. OK, so the entertainment is somewhat limited......

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2006/08/07/features/music/01uncleearl.txt

[Bluebear]

15. From today's Bozeman paper

===
So far, Van Leer said, her reception in Bozeman has been warm. People are overall understanding and accepting.

But despite her own feelings of security, her long-time partner can't be openly gay in this community for fear of losing her job.

There are no employment laws protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, questioning or intersexed people in Montana, Van Leer said. People who fall into those definitions of sexuality are not included in Montana's hate-crimes statutes.

When a constitutional amendment was proposed in Montana last spring to define marriage as only between a man and a woman, she was surprised no local activist groups organized against it.

"There is an amendment that has been put forth to the constitution of this state," Van Leer said. "There is no group fighting that, that I know of."

Actually, there is one group fighting CI-96 at the state level, Montanans for Families and Fairness Against CI-96. But it has focused efforts in Billings and eastern Montana, according to Montana Pride.

Either way, CI-96 will appear on the November ballot and, according to state polls, is expected to pass by a large margin.

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2004/10/17/news/bozeman.txt

It's not urban snobbery, it's a fact of life. Gay folk are not as accepted in small burgs.

[Critters2]

18. I thought you were upset about the lack of sushi bars nt

[SoCalDem]

8. No minoities??? You mean they have to mow their own yards??

The HORROR!:sarcasm:

[maxsolomon]

2. its a real estate pyramid scheme

bozeman is the gateway to big sky ski area, and the yellowstone club, the private ski resort of the obscenely wealthy.

the going real estate pattern is take a greenfield site, subdivide it, sell it off to builders & realtors, and walk away - the lot prices are seattle outrageous. the resulting landscape is becoming debased as surely as any generic american crapscape, albeit with a stunning background.

[KatyaR]

3. Also lower populations, therefore less crowding, traffic, and

pollution.

Personally, I'm a Vermonter wannabe. Now if I could just win that lottery . . . .

[Critters2]

4. I'm retiring back to rural Iowa for the same reasons

In fact, I hope to return before that. But definitely retiring there.

[WestSeattle2]

7. I'm getting the heck out of Seattle too....

far too many folks in major metro areas are just plain mean and rude. Who wants to spend twilight years tolerating that crap.

Throw hundreds of thousands of folks into a relatively confined area, and folks who may have been quite nice at one point in their lives, act like caged rats. Ugh.

I prefer being around nice people.......


:toast:

[Critters2]

9. Metro Chicago, too

Everyone seems angry all the time. Give me peace and quiet!

:hi:

[Bluebear]

17. The anti-urban bias never ceases to amaze.

:hi:

[leveymg]

12. I have nothing against clean air and light traffic, but one

of the friendliest places I've ever visited is Fishtown, an old working class neighborhood in Philadelphia. Parts of it are bombed out, and some of the longterm locals are suspicious as hell, but it's an urban environment that's as wide open as the Wild West. You can buy an 1880s rowhouse for $125,000 -- live in it while you fix it up, and when you're finished you'll want to stay.

The neighborhood is where Chelsea was in 1980 or Haight-Ashbury was in 1965 - a little edgy but very vibrant, and SOMETHING is going on -- lots of artists, small businesses, and young couples moving in. Just spent the weekend there. Nice people with a lot of community spirit and a great view of Central City.

[KatyaR]

14. That sounds like a place I'd like to live.

But I also tend to want to live out in the middle of nowhere with no neighbors for miles. I'm a true Gemini--it's hard to find any balance in my life, especially when it comes to living spaces. :-)

[thecrow]

16. I have a friend who lives in Fishtown!

He's an artist who would rather live in the mountains...

[WestSeattle2]

5. Bozeman has always been my favorite Montana

town. I mean if you have to live in Montana, better there than Billings or Havre!

:)

[FlaGranny]

19. I love Montana

My only problem with it is cold and snow. I am a hermit at heart, I hate crowds. Montana is THE place to live if you hate crowds. I find it easygoing and relaxed and no place on earth is more beautiful. Rush hour on the streets and roads of Montana is similar to 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning in my neck of the woods.

One thing I found particularly fascinating about Montana is its supermarkets. Really! Since towns are 50-100 miles or more apart those supermarkets carry EVERYTHING. I saw items in them that I haven't seen in my local markets for 20 or more years (I thought they were no longer made). I was in grocery heaven. My husband, being a beer drinker, was extremely impressed with the beer section.

If I were rich, my first choice for a summer home would be Montana.

[The2ndWheel]

20. Cold and uncrowded

Sounds like it could be gravy.