Extreme temperatures are needed for the extreme winter sporting events that happen in Bozeman, MT. Beyond the recreational opportunities that Bozeman's cold climate provides, the city got high marks for snow clearing."Bozeman is a winter city that makes a good effort to enhance winter living," says Patrick Coleman, CEO of the Winter Cities Institute. "The public works department uses the 'friendly snowplow.' This device does much to minimize resident frustration resulting from large snow berms planted in cleared driveways by the plows. Bozeman is also concerned about maintaining bike routes and bike lanes in the winter."
Bozeman averages more than 90 inches of snow each year, which means there’s plenty of the white stuff for snowboarding, snowmobiling, cross- country and Nordic skiing. And when the rest of the country is celebrating the arrival of spring, Bozeman area ski resorts are still packing powder. In March 2012, Bozeman and Montana State University will host the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Skiing Championships at the Bridger Bowl Ski Area. On the extreme side, there's the Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival, held each December at Hyalite Canyon, the nation’s premier ice-climbing destination. A few dozen of the most influential climbers gather to lead three days of clinics for aspiring climbers from across the country.
Population: 38,334
Average January low: 14 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 91 inches
Median home price: $201,869
Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent