Wyoming is a fantastic State! But how can you afford to live in the Jackson Hole area if you are not rich and famous?
I have heard that question more than once in my life! The issue of affordable housing can make, or more likely break, relocation plans to the Jackson area.
Typically, I find that a high percentage of the workers rent instead of buying and they have one or more roommates to share costs.
Compared to the larger cities, full-time work is low-paying with health insurance and other benefits not even offered. If you are relocating from a full-time job with full benefits and affordable home ownership, the changes may be hard to deal with.
A practical option to Jackson Hole is the Star Valley area (Alpine, Etna and Thayne):
This is a beautiful area with housing more affordable than Jackson Hole. As of today, there were four homes under $150,000.00. Three were “older” homes and one is an 800 sq ft cabin! In the $150,000.00 to $250,000.00 range, there are 40-plus choices.
By comparison, in Jackson Hole anything under $150K will be one of seventeen “time-shares” (for example, a 1/48th fee simple interest)! In the $150K - $250K range, there are five listings in Jackson. Again time-shares (for example an undivided 5/48ths fee simple interest).
One of the drawbacks to living in Star Valley is the 45-minute or more commutes to Jackson (about 600-cars a day run the so-called Jackson 500 from Star Valley). This is even more fun during inclement weather!
A second consideration is the social aspects. It is one thing if you have your own entertainment under your roof and you are an hour away from Jackson. It is quite another if you are single and want to socialize.Victor and Driggs, Idaho are other alternatives. These communities are over the Teton Pass and, like Star Valley, have housing that is more affordable than Jackson. The commute over the pass can get rough during bad weather and, like the Snake River Canyon leading to Star Valley, may be closed for short durations during the winter months.
So …. Bottom line? Wyoming is a great place to live, work and play! But there will be a trade off from what you have elsewhere and what we have here!
I have heard that question more than once in my life! The issue of affordable housing can make, or more likely break, relocation plans to the Jackson area.
Typically, I find that a high percentage of the workers rent instead of buying and they have one or more roommates to share costs.
Compared to the larger cities, full-time work is low-paying with health insurance and other benefits not even offered. If you are relocating from a full-time job with full benefits and affordable home ownership, the changes may be hard to deal with.
A practical option to Jackson Hole is the Star Valley area (Alpine, Etna and Thayne):
This is a beautiful area with housing more affordable than Jackson Hole. As of today, there were four homes under $150,000.00. Three were “older” homes and one is an 800 sq ft cabin! In the $150,000.00 to $250,000.00 range, there are 40-plus choices.
By comparison, in Jackson Hole anything under $150K will be one of seventeen “time-shares” (for example, a 1/48th fee simple interest)! In the $150K - $250K range, there are five listings in Jackson. Again time-shares (for example an undivided 5/48ths fee simple interest).
One of the drawbacks to living in Star Valley is the 45-minute or more commutes to Jackson (about 600-cars a day run the so-called Jackson 500 from Star Valley). This is even more fun during inclement weather!
A second consideration is the social aspects. It is one thing if you have your own entertainment under your roof and you are an hour away from Jackson. It is quite another if you are single and want to socialize.Victor and Driggs, Idaho are other alternatives. These communities are over the Teton Pass and, like Star Valley, have housing that is more affordable than Jackson. The commute over the pass can get rough during bad weather and, like the Snake River Canyon leading to Star Valley, may be closed for short durations during the winter months.
So …. Bottom line? Wyoming is a great place to live, work and play! But there will be a trade off from what you have elsewhere and what we have here!
