Are Montanans as Tight-Knit as We Think? A Look at the Latest Rankings

This holiday season, we have been reflecting on how Montana excels at helping one another in times of need. But when it comes to being a tight-knit community, Montana isn't tied together as closely as some of our neighbors.

SmileHub.org looked at which states have the most tight-knit communities across the country. Montana is higher than most, but we have a long way to go to get to number one. According to their rankings, Montana comes in at number eighteen on the list. Tight-knit communities can help lower stress and anxiety and can help with depression levels.

Their report also notes that only 54% of people feel close to others in their local communities. The most tight-knit state in the country is Minnesota. It was interesting to see how high our neighboring states ranked. Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota all ranked in the top 5.

SmileHub.org looked at three key metrics to determine the most tight-knit state. They took into consideration community well-being and togetherness, financial & social support, and "stability detractors" (such as divorce and crime rates). Montana's highest ranking was in community and well-being coming in at fourteen. Our lowest rating was in stability coming in at twenty sixth.

Montana, to me, has always been known as a state that is very independent. Maybe we can become more tight-knit to help with some of the stresses that people have. While Montana’s ranking as 18th highlights room for improvement, it also shows that we’re not far behind. This holiday season, let’s take small steps to strengthen our local connections—whether by volunteering, attending community events, or simply reaching out to neighbors. By fostering these bonds, we can not only improve our ranking but also enrich our lives and the lives of those around us.