The Truth About Moving To Montana From California

Are Californians Moving To Montana?

When it comes to outsiders moving to Montana, California is the state that gets mentioned the most, and that's because for years that's exactly who was moving here the most.

During the first couple of years of the pandemic, Montana was the number one move-to location, with most coming from California and New York.

RELATED: Montana Was the Number One Move-to Location During the Pandemic

So many people were moving from California to Montana that entire websites were created that help people make the transition from one state to the other.

Now, in 2025, it seems Californians looking to leave Cali are looking at places other than Montana as their first destination.

What Happens When You Move To Montana?

That doesn't mean Montana isn't still a popular location to make your new home.

We don't want to besmirch our new guests, nor are we talking smack about Montana here.

We just want people who might be thinking about moving from the Golden State to the Treasure State to understand what it really means to live here.

Keep scrolling to see what you need to know when moving to Montana from California. 👇

Moving To Rural Montana Has Different Rules

Those are just a few things to expect when moving to the Big Sky, but let's say you're moving to a more rural location.

Well, we've got some great tips to get you up to speed there as well.