On any given day at the airport in Bozeman, Montana, between 80 and 100 private jets can be seen lined up on the tarmac. They carry wealthy vacationers and celebrities, including stars like Justin Timberlake and Tom Brady, to their multi-million-dollar estates at the exclusive Yellowstone Club. Yet just a short distance away, long-time residents are fighting for their survival, struggling to afford the rising rents of local trailer parks.
Bozeman was once a quiet Western town known for its rugged charm and a relaxed community of cowboys, college students, and ski bums. However, since the pandemic, the city's population has skyrocketed by about 20%. This rapid growth was driven by wealthy out-of-state buyers fleeing coastal cities, drawn by Montana's lack of sales, luxury, and inheritance taxes.
Another unexpected driver was the "Yellowstone Effect." The hit television drama, starring Kevin Costner, showcased Montana's dramatic landscapes, inspiring thousands of viewers to seek out an idealized ranching lifestyle. This sudden popularity caused Bozeman's home values to jump by 40% in just two years. Downtown businesses that once served locals have been replaced by high-end retail stores, custom cowboy hat boutiques, and expensive steakhouses.
The sudden influx of wealth has left the working class behind. Local buyers are regularly outbid by out-of-state investors offering cash, forcing many to buy property sight-unseen or rent apartments where a single bedroom costs upwards of $2,000 a month.
This economic pressure led to the election of 30-year-old Joey Morrison as mayor in late 2023. Running on a platform focused on housing affordability, Morrison represents a growing grassroots movement. The mayor, who still lives with roommates to afford rent, previously helped organize local tenant unions, leading rent strikes at mobile home parks where many elderly residents face eviction.
For residents like 73-year-old Sara Folger, who has lived in her mobile home for 17 years, the future is uncertain. As her lot rent continues to rise, she has had to take a part-time job at a local supermarket. Many others have already left the state, while those who remain are working multiple jobs, commuting long distances on mountain roads, or postponing starting families.