Montana’s big secret has been out of the bag for a while now. We all know the secret. It’s the best place ever, and that’s why it is “ The Last Best Place.” It’s growing, and more people continue to call it home each year. The big question is where that growth is happening. Some of these counties may not be the ones you would expect.

#10 Carbon County – 10.73%

#9 Flathead County – 11.17%

#8 Granite County – 11.19%

#7 Jefferson County – 13.16%

#6 Sanders County – 14.22%

#5 Lincoln County – 15.57%

#4 Mineral County – 16.35%

#3 Musselshell County – 17.96%

#2 Madison County – 18.24%

#1 Broadwater County – 27.93%

Broadwater County stands out in a big way, growing by nearly 28% in just six years. That kind of increase is hard to ignore. Madison and Musselshell counties are also seeing strong momentum, while places like Mineral and Lincoln are not far behind.

You might have noticed some of these areas sit near the more expensive cities like Bozeman. Seems like people are trying to escape the extreme price hike and take on a longer commute. Others are more rural and quieter, which may be part of the appeal. People are clearly looking for space, community, and opportunity across different parts of the state. Montana is evolving. Whether you love the growth or miss how things used to be, the numbers show that plenty of folks are still choosing to build a life here.