There are all types when it comes to being a snob in Montana. You’ve got your Wine Snobs, Book Snobs, and, of course, Clothes Snobs. Then there are the Technology Snobs, Car Snobs, and yes, even City Snobsas in, I’m better than you because I live in (insert snooty city here).
How can we tell which Montana cities are the snobbiest? By measuring snobby things, that’s how.
We used Saturday Night Science to look at things like expensive homes, high incomes, and overly educated populations by city in Montana. These are the criteria you’d argue with a friend over a foodie dinner about who’s snobbier.
After analyzing 33 of the state’s most populous areas over 2,000 people, we came up with this ranking of the ten snobbiest places in the state of Montana.
The Montanan in these places aren’t snobby, they just know they’re better than you.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Don’t freak out.
What’s the snobbiest place in Montana? The snobbiest place in Montana is Bozeman based on the data. If we had their wealth and lifestyle, we’d probably be a little snobby, too.
The most laid back? That would be Eureka.
We’re not so full of ourselves as to make this ranking up from nowhere. So here’s a look at the top ten and more on how we did it. And if you’re curious, Montana is the 23rd snobbiest in the United States.
For more Montana reading, check out:
The 10 Snobbiest Places In Montana For 2025
/10
% Highly Educated: 65.0%
Median Income: $79,903
Median Home Price: $614,900
More on Bozeman: Data
/10
% Highly Educated: 56.0%
Median Income: $71,110
Median Home Price: $648,200
More on Whitefish: Data
/10
% Highly Educated: 38.0%
Median Income: $88,896
Median Home Price: $469,600
More on Belgrade: Data
/10
% Highly Educated: 52.0%
Median Income: $65,329
Median Home Price: $427,400
More on Missoula: Data
/10
% Highly Educated: 50.0%
Median Income: $69,341
Median Home Price: $355,100
More on Helena: Data
6. Manhattan
/10
% Highly Educated: 33.0%
Median Income: $69,671
Median Home Price: $460,400
More on Manhattan:
/10
% Highly Educated: 38.0%
Median Income: $71,855
Median Home Price: $311,800
More on Billings: Data
8. Three Forks
/10
% Highly Educated: 21.0%
Median Income: $80,394
Median Home Price: $382,400
More on Three Forks:
/10
% Highly Educated: 34.0%
Median Income: $65,187
Median Home Price: $348,700
More on Livingston: Data
/10
% Highly Educated: 33.0%
Median Income: $61,590
Median Home Price: $381,400
More on Kalispell: Data
Methodology: How we determined the snobbiest cities in the Treasure State
Do you think wed just come up with this list willy-nilly? Not a chance – we only use Saturday Night Science around here.
We gathered up all of the places in Montana with populations of 2,000 people or more. This left us with a total of 33 places. Then, we looked at each place in terms of these snoot-er-iffic criteria (And no, its not a word. English snob.):
- Median home price (Higher is snobbier)
- Median household income (Higher is snobbier)
- Percent of population with a college degree (Higher is snobbier)
Incomes and college education levels come from the American Community Survey. Home prices come from Zillow.
Turned out this simple criteria was much better at sniffing out the snobby places then more snobby criteria like:
- Libaries per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Museums per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Private schools per capita (Higher is snobbier)
From there, we ranked each of our 33 places in each category with scores from one to 33. We then averaged each places ranking into one overall score, where the lowest score went to the snobbiest place in Montana. So lets all flip a table in honor of Bozeman (with our pinkies up, of course.)
Before you get upset and ruin your blowout or something drastic here, lets remember that this is all in good fun. Would we live in one of these 10 places if we had the chance? Of course, we would.
And it’s not like your real estate agent would ever point out how snobby the town you’re moving to is. We’re here to keep you grounded, even if you’re wearing a monocle.
There You Have It – Now That You’re On Your High Horse
When it comes to snobbery, these places in Montana are heading ever upward. Residents in these communities are well educated, well paid, and appear to have all the sophisticated culture and entertainment of an Ernst Lubitsch film right at their fingertips.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The snobbiest cities in Montana are Bozeman, Whitefish, Belgrade, Missoula, Helena, Manhattan, Billings, Three Forks, Livingston, and Kalispell.
If you’re also curious enough, here are the most laid back places in Montana, according to science:
- Eureka
- Wolf Point
- Lewistown
For more Montana reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Montana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Montana
- Most Dangerous Cities In Montana
- Richest Cities In Montana
- Safest Places In Montana
- Worst Places To Live In Montana
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Montana
Table: The Snobbiest Cities In Montana For 2025
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Adult Highly Educated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bozeman, MT | 55,042 | $79,903 | $614,900 | 65.0% |
| 2 | Whitefish, MT | 8,422 | $71,110 | $648,200 | 56.0% |
| 3 | Belgrade, MT | 11,425 | $88,896 | $469,600 | 38.0% |
| 4 | Missoula, MT | 75,600 | $65,329 | $427,400 | 52.0% |
| 5 | Helena, MT | 33,126 | $69,341 | $355,100 | 50.0% |
| 6 | Manhattan, MT | 2,149 | $69,671 | $460,400 | 33.0% |
| 7 | Billings, MT | 118,321 | $71,855 | $311,800 | 38.0% |
| 8 | Three Forks, MT | 2,034 | $80,394 | $382,400 | 21.0% |
| 9 | Livingston, MT | 8,635 | $65,187 | $348,700 | 34.0% |
| 10 | Kalispell, MT | 26,830 | $61,590 | $381,400 | 33.0% |
| 11 | Columbia Falls, MT | 5,531 | $65,313 | $346,700 | 31.0% |
| 12 | Red Lodge, MT | 2,399 | $43,857 | $374,900 | 45.0% |
| 13 | Colstrip, MT | 2,156 | $86,000 | $193,700 | 25.0% |
| 14 | Hamilton, MT | 4,949 | $52,917 | $299,800 | 33.0% |
| 15 | Great Falls, MT | 60,412 | $63,934 | $237,400 | 28.0% |
| 16 | Glasgow, MT | 3,194 | $76,985 | $206,000 | 20.0% |
| 17 | Glendive, MT | 4,831 | $71,063 | $176,900 | 26.0% |
| 18 | Polson, MT | 5,334 | $51,463 | $321,000 | 29.0% |
| 19 | Laurel, MT | 7,198 | $66,382 | $232,700 | 20.0% |
| 20 | Dillon, MT | 4,020 | $51,458 | $237,500 | 32.0% |
| 21 | Stevensville, MT | 2,172 | $52,745 | $336,500 | 24.0% |
| 22 | Havre, MT | 9,333 | $58,000 | $197,600 | 31.0% |
| 23 | Townsend, MT | 2,232 | $70,774 | $212,800 | 18.0% |
| 24 | Sidney, MT | 6,235 | $62,992 | $249,100 | 19.0% |
| 25 | Hardin, MT | 3,766 | $60,463 | $142,800 | 30.0% |
| 26 | Deer Lodge, MT | 3,035 | $53,676 | $196,400 | 23.0% |
| 27 | Shelby, MT | 3,129 | $53,357 | $206,000 | 20.0% |
| 28 | Cut Bank, MT | 3,040 | $55,848 | $161,400 | 19.0% |
| 29 | Conrad, MT | 2,553 | $47,348 | $158,400 | 21.0% |
| 30 | Libby, MT | 2,948 | $39,261 | $218,500 | 17.0% |
| 31 | Lewistown, MT | 6,028 | $44,195 | $159,500 | 16.0% |
| 32 | Wolf Point, MT | 2,604 | $48,750 | $124,600 | 12.0% |
| 33 | Eureka, MT | 2,009 | $43,750 | $172,300 | 8.0% |
do you have any articles about Somers Montana? what is that place known for or all about? My sister is moving there and I am not impressed with what I have read about Kalispell and those surrounding areas….tell us how it is brother!
Whitefish and Kalispell also have two of the highest crime rates in Montana! As for “snobiness” I would rather live in little old Lima, Mt. On my comparable income and a lot less crime or snobiness!
There is no way Red Lodge is snobby. Everyone is friendly and all the stores appreciate each and every person who comes to town. Don’t know how you determined to rely on impersonal statistics to arrive at your conclusions. I am not a full time resident but we have been summer residents for sixteen years. Suspect none of you intellectual creators of this list have never spent much time there!
For shame..