Montana Lands Among America’s Best States to Move to in 2026

If you're thinking about packing up and starting over somewhere new, you've got 50 states to choose from. But which state is actually the best place to move to?

ConsumerAffairs Rankings: What Factors Matter Most?

ConsumerAffairs ranked the fifty states to determine the best states to relocate to in 2026. 

Montana came in at No. 15 overall, climbing three spots compared to last year's rankings. 

ConsumerAffairs based its rankings on six major categories: affordability, safety, economic strength, healthcare, education and overall quality of life. Montana scored especially well for quality of life, though housing affordability continues to be one of the biggest factors holding the state back.

Too Crowded? The Reality of Montana's Popularity

Considering how often we hear people say Montana is getting too crowded, some longtime residents may actually be happy we didn't crack the Top 10. 

Of course, there's another side to the story. Montana also continues to rank as one of the more expensive states to move to, thanks to higher housing costs and the surge in people relocating here over the past several years. 

Comparative Rankings: How Does Montana Stack Up?

If you're wondering how Montana stacks up against nearby states, here's where things get interesting. 

Several of our neighbors actually finished ahead of us: 

• Idaho: No. 3  
• South Dakota: No. 7  
• Wyoming: No. 10  
• North Dakota: No. 11  

That makes Montana the lowest-ranked state among our immediate neighbors. 

READ MORE: Montana’s Influx Continues According to U-Haul

For people who believe Montana is already full, that may not be the worst news. Anyone looking at these rankings might decide one of our neighboring states is a better fit. 

I was recently talking with someone from Boise, and they talked about how fast that area is growing.  

READ MORE: Montana’s Tech Sector is “Booming” With Billions in Business

They described construction cranes everywhere, new developments going up in every direction, and businesses continuing to relocate to the area. They even said they wouldn't be surprised if the Boise metro area goes beyond a million people within the next few years. 

Growth like that is one reason Idaho continues to rank so highly as a destination for people looking to relocate. 

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According to ConsumerAffairs, the five best states to move to in 2026 are: 

1. New Hampshire  
2. Utah  
3. Idaho  
4. Virginia
5. Maine  

At the other end of the rankings, the five least desirable states to move to are: 

• No. 50: New Mexico  
• No. 49: Louisiana  
• No. 48: California  
• No. 47: Arkansas  
• No. 46: Oklahoma  

While Montana didn't make the Top 10, it still reinforces what many of us already know. The Treasure State continues to be viewed as a great place to live, even if the cost of moving here has become tougher for the average person.