How is Bozeman for a mid 20s single male? (Billings: 2014, apartment)

[joeyg2014]

I'm considering a move that way to attend MSU. I was never sure what I wanted to do after high school so I spent it working. Now I'd like to start college in my mid 20s and I'm looking for a place I'd like to be. I know most freshman will be around 18 so will I feel alone in Bozeman? It's not a big city but are there a lot of people in their mid 20s I as a freshman would find in the area to hang out with? I just don't want to struggle to meet people my age there.

This is really my only concern about heading there. Plus I know most people in their mid 20s will have already graduated and have decent jobs if they even stay in Bozeman after college while I'll only be a freshman in college. Or is Bozeman basically for 18-24 year old college students and then 35+ year old people and families?

This is really my only concern about heading there; meeting people my age if I'm years behind them.

[historyfan]

Bozeman is full of outdoorsy people of all ages. I think people in their twenties & early thirties are in the majority in Bozeman. It has a college town/ ski town/ mountain bike vibe compared to the many years ago cowtown one.
Montana universities have plenty of students that are changing careers & seeking degrees in a different field, military who have completed their service & are entering first college at an older age, and women who have raised children & are training for new careers.
Obviously most freshmen will be traditional right out of high school age but "non-trads" have a strong presence. Good luck.

[rzzzz]

I know maybe 8 people who went to Bozeman for MSU after military or working on the oil fields in western ND for a few years.

However, all of them were from North Dakota and Montana to begin with so they had a feel for the area. I'd say most of them were also into skiing, snowboarding and outdoorsy stuff like backpacking.

MSU probably has actual stats regarding the ages of incoming students.

[joeyg2014]

Thanks for the replies.

You said Bozeman is a ski and backpacking type of town now. In my experience those type of areas attract a lot of wealthier and snooty people. Will I be looked down on there by people and especially women if I'm a 26 year old construction worker in college? Is Bozeman a blue collar friendly town? I know it's expensive but what I mean is it blue collar friendly socially?

[flyingcat2k]

No, Bozeman is not blue collar friendly. It was many years ago but not anymore. The town council is more interested in out-of-state residents and tourists than working people. I would recommend Belgrade for being more blue collar friendly.

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by flyingcat2k

No, Bozeman is not blue collar friendly. It was many years ago but not anymore. The town council is more interested in out-of-state residents and tourists than working people. I would recommend Belgrade for being more blue collar friendly.

Agreed. Bozeman is far from blue collar friendly. Belgrade would be a better bet.

[RotseCherut]

Originally Posted by joeyg2014

Thanks for the replies.

You said Bozeman is a ski and backpacking type of town now. In my experience those type of areas attract a lot of wealthier and snooty people. Will I be looked down on there by people and especially women if I'm a 26 year old construction worker in college? Is Bozeman a blue collar friendly town? I know it's expensive but what I mean is it blue collar friendly socially?

Living in many of these resorty, yuppie, trendy type of mountain towns growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I can say the answer is probably "Yes". I, myself, am sick of the mentality of the snotty people in these more uppity/pretentious resort towns and want to get the hell out of them and move to a place where people are more genuine. I live in the Seattle area which essentially is an entire city of these kind of people. From what I have read, it sounds like Billings is more up your alley and I am thinking of that area among others, myself.

[mroane07]

I am a mid-20s post-military single guy. I am planning to move to the area in December, if everything works out. My only concern is finding a job and a place to rent. Studio apartment for $800? No thank you.

[CTC]

Originally Posted by joeyg2014

I'm considering a move that way to attend MSU. I was never sure what I wanted to do after high school so I spent it working. Now I'd like to start college in my mid 20s and I'm looking for a place I'd like to be. I know most freshman will be around 18 so will I feel alone in Bozeman? It's not a big city but are there a lot of people in their mid 20s I as a freshman would find in the area to hang out with? I just don't want to struggle to meet people my age there.

This is really my only concern about heading there. Plus I know most people in their mid 20s will have already graduated and have decent jobs if they even stay in Bozeman after college while I'll only be a freshman in college. Or is Bozeman basically for 18-24 year old college students and then 35+ year old people and families?

This is really my only concern about heading there; meeting people my age if I'm years behind them.

with the building boom going on in Bozeman, there are plenty of Blue Collar types here. Most of my neighbors are either blue collar types or students. Friendly folk with some bewildered California Bling types mixed in.

[flyingcat2k]

Originally Posted by CTC

with the building boom going on in Bozeman, there are plenty of Blue Collar types here. Most of my neighbors are either blue collar types or students. Friendly folk with some bewildered California Bling types mixed in.

Unless the blue collar types lived in Bozeman before 2000, they are priced out of The City of Bozeman. They likely commute in from Belgrade or other areas.