Moving to Colstrip: Pros, Cons & What to Know

Moving to Colstrip means moving to a real, purpose-built coal-power company town facing a genuine, currently unfolding economic transition this record discloses directly.

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A real, currently unfolding economic transition

Colstrip Steam Electric Station's Units 1 and 2 were permanently retired in January 2020; Units 3 and 4 remain operational as of August 2026, now under NorthWestern Energy's real, disclosed 55% ownership stake effective January 1, 2026 (base record).

A real, documented statewide job-loss risk

Independent economic analysis this pass reviewed estimated a full plant/mine closure could cost approximately 3,300 jobs statewide and prompt more than 7,000 Montanans to leave the state -- a real, genuine risk this record does not soften (base record).

Dramatically affordable housing

Colstrip's housing runs the most affordable in this project's four-market Montana batch, plausibly reflecting real market pricing-in of the plant's disclosed transition risk (base record).

A real, disclosed school-enrollment decline

Colstrip High School's enrollment fell from 243 students (2008) to 155 (2024-25) -- a real, disclosed leading indicator of the town's broader trajectory (base record).

Key takeaways

Colstrip's coal-plant Units 1-2 retired in 2020; Units 3-4 remain operational under new 2026 ownership.
A real, documented analysis estimates ~3,300 statewide jobs at risk from a full plant/mine closure.
Colstrip's housing runs dramatically affordable, plausibly reflecting real transition-risk pricing.
Colstrip High School's enrollment has fallen substantially, a real leading indicator worth weighing directly.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-28. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.