Surveys: Havre is happy, exciting

Havre is one of the most exciting and happy places in Montana.

That’s the finding of two surveys that seek to find out where Montana cities fit in different categories.

Movoto Real Estate Blog endeavored to discover which were the most exciting of Montana’s cities. It checked out 21 cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Havre, it determined, was No. 4 behind Bozeman, Whitefish and Missoula.

The experts looked at eight categories in determining which cities excited them the most. Categories included these criteria:

• Live music venues per capita

• Nightlife per capita (bars, clubs, comedy, etc.)

• Active life options, such as parks and outdoor activities.

• Number of movie theaters, festivals and galleries.

• Fast-food establishments — the lower per capita the better.

• Percentage of restaurants that are not fast food

• The number of young people, age 18-34 per capita.

• Population density, the higher the better.

Havre does great in population density and the number of young people in town — largely because of Montana State University-Northern. And it doesn't have as many fast-food places as other cities, the survey found.

"Havre you heard how exciting this city is? Havre you ever been there? Okay, sorry. No more Havre jokes," Movoto said in its summary.

It went on, "in all seriousness, this place really is awesome, and if you’ve been there, you must know."

Havre has 2,840 people per square mile, compared to Butte/Silver Bow, which has but 47 per square mile.

Some of these same factors helped CreditDonkey.com determine that Havre was the second-happiest city in the state, just behind Miles City.

"These are the places where residents have the most reasons to be happy, from the range of dining options to the low crime rates, lower likelihood of divorce and housing they can actually afford," CreditDonkey said.

The website looked into categories such as restaurants per capita, crime rate, commute time, income, divorce rates and housing costs.

Havre rated high in this survey because its per capita income is $44,446, higher than most Montana cities. And in housing costs, it is dead last. Havreites spend 15.7 percent of their income on housing. People's chance of being a victim of a violent crime was higher in Havre than most cities, but that was overcome by other survey results.

How many Havreites are divorced? According to the survey, 10.9 percent of males and 9.9 percent of females. That's lower than the state average.

If all of this translates into Havre being a friendly place with a lot to do, one Havre booster says the survey results are right on.

Terry Lilletvedt, a Havre city councilwoman and Havre booster, said she finds the city full of happy, friendly people.

"It is a very friendly place with a lot of good people."

She cited the number of people always willing to contribute their time to help out community projects.

And it is exciting because there are so many things to do, she said.

And if by exciting, they mean there are things to do, she said she couldn't agree more.

"There is always something to do," she said. "Between high school and college athletics, and MAT theater and the community benefits ..." she said, "and we have a great library."

10 happiest cities in Montana

1. Miles City

2. Havre

3. Bozeman

4. Helena

5. Great Falls

6. Laurel

7. Billings

8. Whitefish

9. Belgrade

10. Missoula

Source: CreditDonkey.com

10 most exciting cities in Montana

1. Bozeman

2. Whitefish

3. Missoula

4. Havre

5. Livingston

6. Lewistown

7. Helena

8. Great Falls (Tie)

8. Belgrade (Tie)

8. Kalispell (Tie)

Source: Movoto Real Estate Blog