10 Best Montana Towns for Retirees

Montana is increasingly popular with retirees seeking clean air, stunning scenery, low crime, and a relaxed pace of life — all without state income tax on retirement income. We ranked Montana's towns by the factors that matter most to retirees: healthcare access, safety, housing availability, affordability, climate mildness, environmental quality, and recreation.

BridgerThe Heart of Clark's Fork Valley

Pop. 719

Bridger offers excellent affordability (2.7x ratio) with January lows averaging 23°F. Beartooth Hospital is 17.9 mi away, with Laurel Health Center (Level 26.9 mi) for advanced care. Safety: 10/10. 9 homes for sale. Recreation score: 9.3/10 with 355 nearby attractions.

Healthcare: 8.5/10

Safety: 10/10

Affordability: 2.7x

Hospital: 17.9 mi

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StevensvilleMontana's First Settlement

Pop. 1,337

Stevensville offers moderate affordability (11.2x ratio) with January lows averaging 25°F. Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital is 18.5 mi away, with Providence St. Patrick Hospital (Level 25.3 mi) for advanced care. Safety: 9/10. 73 homes for sale. Recreation score: 10/10 with 454 nearby attractions. Lolo Hot Springs is just 27 miles away.

Healthcare: 8/10

Safety: 9/10

Affordability: 11.2x

Hospital: 18.5 mi

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ConradThe Friendly City

Pop. 2,318

Conrad offers moderate affordability (5.1x ratio) with January lows averaging 19°F. Has a local hospital (Pondera Medical Center), with Benefis Health System (Level 54.4 mi) for advanced care. Safety: 8/10. 19 homes for sale. Recreation score: 9/10 with 74 nearby attractions.

Healthcare: 8.5/10

Safety: 8/10

Affordability: 5.1x

Hospital: In town

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Hot SpringsMontana's Natural Spa

Pop. 557

Hot Springs offers moderate affordability (11.3x ratio) with January lows averaging 22°F. Clark Fork Valley Hospital is 14.4 mi away, with Logan Health Medical Center (Level 44.3 mi) for advanced care. Safety: 8.6/10. 17 homes for sale. Recreation score: 9.7/10 with 288 nearby attractions. Alameda Hot Springs is just 4 miles away.

Healthcare: 8/10

Safety: 8.6/10

Affordability: 11.3x

Hospital: 14.4 mi

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PlainsThe Garden of the Clark Fork

Pop. 1,106

Plains offers moderate affordability (15.8x ratio) with January lows averaging 21°F. Has a local hospital (Clark Fork Valley Hospital), with Providence St. Patrick Hospital (Level 57.6 mi) for advanced care. Safety: 9.1/10. 34 homes for sale. Recreation score: 9.6/10 with 187 nearby attractions. Symes Hot Springs is just 12 miles away.

Healthcare: 8/10

Safety: 9.1/10

Affordability: 15.8x

Hospital: In town

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BearcreekMontana's Mining Hamlet

Pop. 107

Bearcreek offers excellent affordability (1.7x ratio) with January lows averaging 20°F. Has a local hospital (Beartooth Hospital), with Laurel Health Center (Level 40 mi) for advanced care. Recreation score: 9.7/10 with 351 nearby attractions.

Healthcare: 8/10

Affordability: 1.7x

Hospital: In town

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HardinWhere the Rivers Meet

Pop. 3,742

Hardin offers good affordability (3.4x ratio) with January lows averaging 20°F. Has a local hospital (Big Horn County Memorial Hospital), with Billings Clinic (Level 43 mi) for advanced care. Safety: 6.2/10. 36 homes for sale. Recreation score: 8.6/10 with 59 nearby attractions.

Healthcare: 8/10

Safety: 6.2/10

Affordability: 3.4x

Hospital: In town

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RoundupThe Bull Mountain City

Pop. 2,003

Roundup offers good affordability (3.9x ratio) with January lows averaging 21°F. Has a local hospital (Roundup Memorial Healthcare), with Billings Clinic (Level 45.8 mi) for advanced care. 33 homes for sale. Recreation score: 8.3/10 with 51 nearby attractions.

Healthcare: 8/10

Affordability: 3.9x

Hospital: In town

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DarbyWhere the Bitterroot Begins

Pop. 783

Darby offers moderate affordability (13.2x ratio) with January lows averaging 18°F. Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital is 15.5 mi away, with Providence St. Patrick Hospital (Level 59.2 mi) for advanced care. Safety: 10.2/10. 24 homes for sale. Recreation score: 9.8/10 with 313 nearby attractions. Blue Joint Hot Springs is just 25 miles away.

Healthcare: 6.5/10

Safety: 10.2/10

Affordability: 13.2x

Hospital: 15.5 mi

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#10

EnnisThe Trout Capital of Montana

Pop. 917

Ennis offers moderate affordability (10.1x ratio) with January lows averaging 14°F. Has a local hospital (Madison Valley Hospital), with Bozeman Health Deaconess (Level 40.8 mi) for advanced care. Safety: 8.1/10. 41 homes for sale. Recreation score: 9.8/10 with 233 nearby attractions. Norris Hot Springs is just 15 miles away.

Healthcare: 8/10

Safety: 8.1/10

Affordability: 10.1x

Hospital: In town

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How We Ranked These Towns

Ranked by a composite retiree score factoring in healthcare access (distance to hospitals + trauma center level, ×4), safety (FBI UCR crime rate, ×3), environmental health (EPA Superfund data, ×3), affordability ratio (×3), housing availability (×2), climate mildness (×2), recreation score (×2), and proximity to hot springs/museums (×1 each). Healthcare data from Montana DPHHS Trauma Facility Designations.

Data last collected: Zillow Research (Jan 2026), U.S. Census ACS (Jan 2026), FBI UCR (Jan 2026), Montana OPI/NCES (Jan 2026), Montana DPHHS (Jan 2026), EPA NPL (Jan 2026). Rankings are updated when data is refreshed. Check individual town profiles for details.

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