Great Falls, MT, United States

Capital City

Living in Great Falls means braving the region's notoriously frigid winters, with an average of 20.8 nights per year dipping below 0°F. The city's population of 60,442 makes it the third largest in Montana, but its economy has struggled to recover from the decline of industries like copper smelting and military cutbacks. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city government grapples with concentrated poverty and sluggish growth compared to the rest of the state. However, Great Falls remains an outdoor recreation hub, with a network of parks and trails along the Missouri River. Those drawn to the region's rugged natural beauty and small-town charm may find Great Falls a suitable - if chilly - home.