Getting to Know Missoula’s Neighborhoods: Grant Creek
Grant Creek in Missoula is often considered one of the more affluent neighborhoods. With neighborhoods tucked into the hills and mountains, culminating in Snowbowl, Missoula's downhill ski run, it's a blend of suburban and rustic living, depending on how far up the mountain you go.
In this series, we'll take a look at information from the City of Missoula's Neighborhood Profiles for each of Missoula's Neighborhoods, with all data cited below coming from the Neighborhood Profile. In this article, we'll look at the Grant Creek Neighborhood.
Where is the Grant Creek Neighborhood?
The Grant Creek neighborhood is sort of shaped like an "L" with one branch along Highway 10 and the other along Grant Creek Road. The neighborhood is spoiled with natural features including the Bluebird Preserve, and the Charlotte Marbut Nature Preserve. It's also home to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Big Sky Brewing, and De Smet School. For those who enjoy walking or running trails, the Grant Creek Trail is an out and back with some dips and rises that would qualify as an easy hike.
Related: Easy Hikes Around Missoula for Just About Anybody
Who Lives in the Grant Creek Neighborhood?
The Grant Creek Neighborhood is known for being one of the more affluent areas of Missoula. The Neighborhood median salary is approximately $30,000 more than the city's median salary. It's also the area that's seen recent growth, adding 21% to its population in the last 12 years, with 3,913 total residents as of 2022. Students from the Grant Creek neighborhood typically attend Hellgate Elementary and Middle School, which is a separate school district, but then attend Big Sky High School, which is part of Missoula County Public Schools School District 1.
What is Housing Like in the Grant Creek Neighborhood?
Many of the residential buildings were built in the last 20 years, which contributes to the suburban feel of Grant Creek. Only 28% of residents rent, and the median rent is higher than in some Missoula neighborhoods at $1,082. While the median home price is $650,000, there is a wide range in home prices with some listed for hundreds of thousands of dollars and others listed for millions of dollars. The "Harry Potter" streets fall in the Grant Creek Neighborhood, as well as the Grant Creek Ranch.
Key Feature of the Grant Creek Neighborhood: the Nature Preserves
The Bluebird preserve is actually home to the rare flower named for Missoula, the Missoula Phlox. The Preserve hasn't been around long--only purchased by the city in 2019, but it has already become a popular recreational area.