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Rankings are computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets, supplemented by a handful of published indexes (such as the Tax Foundation, Child Care Aware of America and Zillow Research). Figures are used as each source publishes them, including the FBI's own state crime estimates; nothing is synthetic or modeled by us, and every source is cited below.

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS annual averages·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year·
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  • CDC NCHS U.S. State Life Tables·
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  • Child Care Aware of America, Price & Supply·
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  • Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts, State Pension Funding·
  • S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia·
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES·
  • IRS Statistics of Income, State-to-State Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS State-to-State Migration Flows·
  • Zillow Research, Home Values, Rents & Market Metrics·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, city police agency reports·
  • CDC PLACES, city health estimates·
  • NOAA U.S. Climate Normals·
  • EPA National Walkability Index
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Home/MT/Best for Remote Workers
Montana · best for remote workers · #4 of 50 states

Best Cities for Remote Workers in Montana

Montana ranks #4 of 50 for remote workers, with a remote workers score of 76.6. Bozeman is its best city for remote workers at 63.0.

See all 50 states for remote workers →

#1 city in MT for remote workers
Bozeman63.0
Remote Workers score out of 100
Montana, all states
#4 of 50
Population
56,114
Open Bozeman →
Cost of living
94.6
BEA RPP · 100 = avg
Broadband
91.5%
Households subscribed · Census ACS
Work from home
11.7%
Census ACS
Tax burden
7.87%
% of income
Outdoor score
72/100
Parks + trails + land

Why Montana Works for Remote Workers

Montana ranks #4 out of 50 for remote workers — one of the best environments in the country for location-independent professionals. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. On that front, Montana's cost-of-living index of 94.6 is well below the national average — a remote worker earning a coastal salary here gains significant purchasing power.

The moderate work-from-home rate of 11.7% suggests growing but not yet dominant remote work adoption. Broadband subscriptions reach 91.5% of households, below the 50-state average — check service at a specific address, especially in rural areas. One of Montana's strongest selling points for remote workers is outdoor access — with a score of 72/100, there's no shortage of parks, trails, and public land for mid-day breaks and weekend adventures.

The tax environment is favorable at 7.87% of income, letting remote workers keep more of their earnings. Housing affordability (score: 69/100) is a clear advantage — the typical home is worth $471,746, which may require a strong remote salary to afford comfortably.

All 20 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers

#  CityGradeRemote Workers scoreOverallAffordabilityEconomyPopulation
1BozemanA63.064.2466756,114
2Butte-Silver BowB62.555.8814935,052
3BelgradeB+60.260.3515411,872
4SidneyC+58.954.681246,171
5MissoulaB58.658.6655676,514
6HelenaB58.457.9715533,639
7Anaconda-Deer Lodge CountyC+58.352.684459,597
8BillingsC+57.752.87357119,434
9KalispellB56.356.6715128,504
10Miles CityC+56.354.883298,407
11LockwoodD56.348.778357,181
12Helena Valley West CentralC+55.754.869488,056
13LaurelC+55.752.680297,215
14Helena Valley SoutheastC53.650.473349,108
15Great FallsC53.350.1785260,329
16WhitefishB51.758.057348,749
17HavreD51.043.884139,258
18LewistownD50.948.082126,087
19EvergreenC50.250.374369,611
20LivingstonC+48.752.773278,780

City remote workers scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.

Compare: States with Similar Remote Workers Rankings

  • WyomingRemote Workers score 83.6#1
  • South DakotaRemote Workers score 83.3#2
  • IdahoRemote Workers score 80.2#3
  • North DakotaRemote Workers score 73.2#5

Also See: Montana for Other Lifestyles

  • FamiliesFamilies score 79.4#10
  • RetireesRetirees score 76.8#10
  • Young ProfessionalsYoung Professionals score 70.2#5
  • Small BusinessSmall Business score 71.0#10
  • Outdoor EnthusiastsOutdoor Enthusiasts score 81.7#2

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Montana a good state for remote workers?

Montana ranks #4 out of 50 for remote workers with a persona-weighted score of 76.6/100. Its strongest relevant category is Outdoor Access (72/100) and its weakest is Economy (52/100).

What is the best city for remote workers in Montana?

Bozeman ranks #1 in Montana for remote workers with a score of 63.0/100, followed by Butte-Silver Bow and Belgrade.

What factors are most important for remote workers in Montana?

Rankings weighted toward affordable cost of living, strong economy, outdoor access, livability, low taxes, and safe communities — what remote workers prioritize when choosing where to live.