Quoted:
As far as living here, the west is mountainous and has a distinct liberal air about it. The east is mostly plains and generally conservative. Either side of the state will likely be an improvement for you based on my travels of the metro areas back east. Just my observations and opinion, YMMV.
The west side of the state gets the "liberal" label because of Missoula. It's a college town, what do you expect. We've got a bunch of cosmopolitan yuppies that have invaded Whitefish also, but the rest of us are just as conservative, if not more so (remember we're closer to the Idaho panhandle
) than the east side.
Regardless of where in MT you want to settle a job is the key element. The economy is really taking a hit out here. If you're serious about coming out this way and need a "connection" let me know I'll do my best to network you around the northwest corner of the state. I've got some friends out here that are "liberated" New Yorkers. They escaped a long time ago.