Swanson To Discuss Missoula Growth on Radio Program

New West Network

February 23, 2007

Do we have enough housing for the changing needs of older adults?  I think not

Missoula County's population growth has slowed in the last several years from around percent annual growth in the '90s to about one percent annual growth, says Larry Swanson, the Director of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West at the University of Montana. 

County-wide population is about 100,000 and is now growing by about 1,000 people a year, which will require about 400 to 500 additional housing units each year.  There is some natural increase (more people are born than die), but mostly there are more people moving in than moving out. Numbers from the UM Bureau of Business and Economic Research indicate that only about 25 percent of these are residents new to the area.  The others are moving from somewhere else in Montana (50 percent) or have previous ties to the area (25 percent).

Swanson will be discussing the demographics of this growth this weekend on the Live Missoula! radio program airing Sunday, February 25 on News Radio 1290 KGVO at 10:30 a.m.

Montana, like much of the nation, reflects an aging population and Swanson, citing U.S. Census projections, says Montana and Wyoming will join Florida and Arizona as the four oldest populations in the U.S. in future years.

What are the implications for the housing market?  Swanson says that the heaviest area population growth will be among persons 60 and older.  "Do we have enough housing for the changing needs of older adults?  I think not," Swanson says.  He suggests small growing cities that find ways to introduce housing that appeals to the lifestyle of the retirees i.e. apartments, condos, and townhomes in locations near downtowns, hospitals, parks, golf courses, attractive pedestrian-friendly shopping areas, will be the nice places to be in the future.  And as older couples find new housing choices, their three and four bedroom homes are opened up for younger adults and families.

New West is a partner with Clear Channel news, KECI-TV 13 and the Missoula Organization of Realtors in the Live Missoula! program, which brings a new radio show each week to the airwaves about the hot issues relating to housing, growth and development, public policy, homeownership and Missoula life.

Copyright © 2007 New West Network, All Rights Reserved.

Hosted by: Topix.net Publisher Platform (beta)