A study conducted by the Montana Department of Commerce and Carroll College, projects that Missoula County will add 16,500 residents by the year 2035, for a total population of about 138,000. And, Gallatin County will add 42,000 in that same time. Montana’s population is expected to increase from 1,112,000 to 1,200,000 by 2035.

At the same time, a report from a Chapman economics professor shows that over the past two years California has lost 700,000 in population according to U.S. Census data from April 2020 to July 2022. Migration trends in California,  show that the net losses began in 2011 and the migration is gradually increasing.  The reasons given were high taxes, the tough business environment, and hefty environmental regulations.