How Healthy Is Living in Bozeman?

Main Street to the Mountains trailhead in Bozeman from Gallatin Valley Land Trust news release

Bozeman is a town that is dedicated to a healthy lifestyle, which may explain why we saw a huge influx of out-of-town buyers in 2020. Many people came for healthier air and water, open spaces, easy commuting and incredible outdoor amenities.

How Healthy Is Living in Bozeman?

• Population: 49,831 (estimate by U.S. Census Bureau)
• Average commute: 14.6 minutes
• Water: 100% Bozeman’s municipal water comes from National Forest land—80% from Hyalite and Bozeman Creeks and 20% from Lyman Creek in the Bridger Range. The city’s 2020 Water Quality Report reports that Bozeman’s drinking water meets, or exceeds, all established federal and state water quality standards. The water treatment plant also had zero violations in 2020. (City of Bozeman 2020 Water Quality Report)

Main Street to the Mountains is an incredible in-town trail system. Commuters, bikers, hikers, runners and birdwatchers get to enjoy more than 80 miles of natural trails that run from Bozeman’s core to surrounding public lands.

Bozeman Health and Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) recently announced a new half-mile Wellness Trail that will “provide a safe and critical connection to the existing 4.5 miles of trails within Highland Glen Nature Preserve for the more than 2,000 individuals who use the Gallatin Mental Health Center annually.”

Trail RX is another healthy lifestyle program by GVLT that encourages local family practice, mental health, and physical therapy providers to prescribe patients to get outside and use the trails to help with weight loss, balance, endurance and anxiety, among others.

Gallatin Valley Farm to School helps kids love healthy food. This great nonprofit comes into school gardens, classrooms and cafeterias to teach kids, families and staff about where their food comes from, the importance of making healthy choices and the role of agriculture in a community. Bozeman is fiercely committed to supporting local growers and producers and this program helps start the connection early.

Bozeman isn’t the only town in Montana with great quality of life. Check out my previous posts on Dillon, Lewistown, Red Lodge and the northern prairie area. If you’re interested in finding out more about what Montana has to offer, feel free to contact me at [email protected].