How Billings, Montana, became the top place to buy a home in the U.S.

Billings, Montana, has become the place to buy a home in the United States — at least according to The Wall Street Journal/ Emerging Housing Markets Index.

The rise to the top of the index isn’t completely out of the blue for the city, which has a population of 184,000, since it was previously in the fourth spot. But Billings got a boost thanks to its low unemployment (in May, the rate was 3 percent, which is about half of the U.S. rate), affordability, outdoor activities, and booming housing market, the Journal writes.