Living without a Car : Is it possible in Missoula?

[Geologic]

I have not yet been to Montana yet, so please forgive me for the series of stupid questions.

What about food: Is Montana near self-sufficient in food? When you visit the supermarket grocery section, do you see mostly local produce? (And especially the fruits and vegetables.)

If oil price shot up by 2X or 4X, how would it effect life in Missoula ?

[historyfan]

I can not speak to year round availability of local produce, but in summer/fall Missoula has an excellent Farmers Market which includes a local meats division.

[MontanaGyrl]

You certainly can live without a car. We live in the Lewis & Clark neighborhood, which I highly recommend. Middle-class, small but nice homes, close to shopping, schools, and parks. I live just one block from the nearest "official" bus stop but have also seen Mountain Line drivers drop people just steps away from our house.

I regularly walk to the grocery store, drugstore, post office, restaurants, mall, and other places. My husband walks to bowling and indoor golf. In the winter I put "YakTrax" on my shoes for walking but don't like to ride my bike in snow for fear of slipping and falling. That's just me. Love riding my bike around town in the nice weather, especially down to Out to Lunch in the summer, food & music every Wednesday downtown along the river.

I wouldn't recommend the Northside neighborhood, the area between downtown and the interstate. Walkable but higher crime. Hope that helps!

[Geologic]

Originally Posted by MontanaGyrl

You certainly can live without a car. We live in the Lewis & Clark neighborhood, which I highly recommend...
. . .
I regularly walk to the grocery store, drugstore, post office, restaurants, mall, and other places.

Thanks, MontanaGirl.
Can you give me the name or address of that Grocery Store. I want to look it up on Google.

[Geologic]

I read on another thread that Food costs are higher in Missoula than in Denver.
That was a bit of a shock to me.

What about housing costs?
Would you say they are similar to a place like Denver?

[MontanaGyrl]

The grocery store I walk to is Albertson's in Tremper Shopping Center on Brooks Avenue. Tremper is a small center with just a few stores -- Albertson's, Ace Hardware (best hardware store in town -- the people working there actually know what they're doing), Paul's Pancake Parlor (kind of a dive-looking diner but some of the best breakfasts in town, try the caramel-pecan pancakes), and The Book Exchange, a wonderful bookstore and coffee shop.

I don't know anything about Denver to answer your other questions, sorry.

[AT-AT28]

Housings costs are ludicrious in Montana no thanks to out of staters and economy the last 20 years. Unless you have a nice $100k+ sitting in the bank somewhere or plan on finding a job in this town with around 35K in income, forget owning a house up here.