We have two kids and Household incomes average around $109,590 in Helena. The food scene here is surprisingly good. What would you do? Any help is appreciated. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
4 upvotes
12 Replies
Austin M.
Moved here last year, no regrets.
39 upvotes
Savannah Diaz
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Pittsburgh it's surprisingly good.
31 upvotes
Maverick Hughes
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 2-bedroom. it's exactly what I was looking for. Compared to LA it's solid.
29 upvotes
Ezra Rogers
Bought a house here in 2016 and it exceeded my expectations. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
28 upvotes
bella_local
Bought a house here in 2020 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
28 upvotes
Sophie Morales
We moved here with our family and the quality of life is solid. Schools in Sunset area are surprisingly good. Kids love it here.
26 upvotes
living_adam80
interesting, hadn't considered that
19 upvotes
Serenity Gray
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely excellent and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Houston, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
15 upvotes
Robert Johnson
as a local I can confirm
9 upvotes
Paisley
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a teacher who relocated here from LA about 11 years ago. The main reasons were school and a fresh start.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Active local events and festivals
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Chain restaurants dominate
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are pricey, gas is hit or miss.
Socially, it exceeded my expectations. Definitely worth checking out..
7 upvotes
Claire Carter
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
6 upvotes
Jace Hall
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is school system. I love the pace of life here. Worth doing your research before committing.
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