Montana
Montana exhibits amenity migration: fourth-largest state by area attracts remote workers to Bozeman's tech scene while mining and tourism export value from vast empty spaces.
Montana's economy reflects its vastness: the fourth-largest state by area with a population smaller than San Francisco. Mining provides high-wage employment but volatile revenue as copper, gold, and coal prices fluctuate. Agriculture spans cattle ranching and wheat farming across the eastern plains, while the western mountains draw tourists to Glacier National Park and ski resorts.
The state has become a destination for remote workers and retirees seeking natural beauty and lower density—a trend accelerated by the pandemic but rooted in decades of amenity migration. Bozeman has transformed from a college town into a tech hub with satellite offices for companies whose workers prefer mountain access to urban density. Real estate prices have surged accordingly, creating tension between newcomers and longtime residents.
Montana's low population limits economic diversification. Industries requiring talent density or market proximity struggle to establish presence. The state compensates through resource extraction and tourism, both industries that export value while employing relatively few. Montana's future depends on whether remote work durably shifts employment to lifestyle destinations, or whether the migration wave recedes leaving behind inflated housing costs and insufficient local economy.