Havre ranked 7th best in Montana

Havre is the seventh best place in the Last Best Place.

That’s the view of Movoto.com, a blog that concentrates on “the lighter side of real estate.” Movoto surveyed 50 communities in Montana to determine the 10 best places in the Last Best Place.

The blog looked at factors such a education levels, commute time, crime rates, home values, cost of living and median income.

Havre fared well in commute time, education levels and median income, and did poorly only in the crime rate, which the survey said was the fourth highest in the state.

In all, it tied with Sidney and Shelby for seventh place.

West Yellowstone was voted the best place in the state, doing well in every category except cost of living — the third highest in Montana.

Hardin was dead last in the list of 50.

Chinook was listed in 12th place, propelled by a low cost of living. Chinook was tied for first place in that category with Malta, Plentywood and Wolf Point.

Debbie Vandeberg, executive director of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, said she agreed with the thrust of the survey, but added, “I think we should be number one.”

The commute time is especially good in Havre, she said.

“I live outside of town, but I can get to work downtown in 10 minutes, less if I make the lights at the viaduct and 5th Avenue.”

Montana State University-Northern helps keep the education levels high, she speculated.

Indeed, the college towns of Bozeman, Missoula and Helena also did well in the education category.

Havre’s high crime rate might be because a single serious crime can throw the figures out of kilter, she said.

The survey reinforced Havre’s reputation as a good place to live, she said.

If factors such as community involvement, recreational activities and an active business community were figured into the equation, Havre would finish even higher, she said.

“It’s a great community,” she said.

Movoto Real Estate’s best cities in Montana

#1 West Yellowstone, population 1,271

#2 Colstrip, population 2,214

#3 East Helena, population 1,984

#4 Baker, population 1,741

#4 Big Timber, population 1,641

#6 Helena, population 28,190

#7 Sidney, population 5,191

#7 Havre, population 9,310

#7 Shelby, population 3,376

#10 Manhattan, population 1,520

#10 Cut Bank , population 2,869