SperlingViews - Jackson, Wyoming

The public transportation in Jackson is amazing for a town of this size. The bus within the town is free, it runs every 15 min during peak times of the day. The bus to Teton Village runs just as often and the cost is around $3.00. There is also a commuter bus to Alpine, WY, Swan Valley, and Teton Valley.[read more...]

Despite the high cost of living in Jackson it is the one of the most beautiful places to live. If you like the outdoors, you can ski, snowmobile, hike, fish, climb mountains, hunt and camp. If you're not in to the outdoors there are galleries, museums,concerts and plays. The shopping will put you back quite a bit so it helps to have deep pockets. It can be worth the high prices[read more...]

Jackson Hole is wonderful if you can pay for it. It is the wealthiest per capita county in the country. The working class needs to work two jobs to make ends meet, or simply be replaced by illegal aliens. The real estate market is geared for the super wealthy, and the middle classes only opportunity to own a home is to commute to neighboring areas or buy deed restricted housing on a qualifying basis. I have lived here for 30 years and have watched Jackson Hole become an elitist refuge. What you get for the high prices is one of the most beautiful settings in the country. And a lot of people are willing to work two jobs so they can experience all that Jackson has to offer.[read more...]

Jackson is a very expensive place to live. Mostly because we have a housing problem. THus the homes that are here are worth alot as they are hard to come buy. Rent here is around 1,800-2,200 a month for a three bedroom and it is impossible to find a home for sale under 500,000 or even 600,000.[read more...]

I've lived in Jackson for a number of years and I am reminded daily of why I moved here.The skiing, hiking, biking, climbing and boating is the best in the country. If you move here for the right reasons,ie a love for the outdoor lifestyle, then you won't be disappointed. Contrary to another comment, I live in town on the east side and I have a perfect view of the Tetons from my backyard. During the summer tourists are everywhere, however they don't venture far from town so the best places are still quiet. You eventually learn to ingnore them. Yes, it is expensive. No, we do not have the culture of a Seattle, or Portland. But then again you can walk to dinner safely after dark, there is no interstate drone in the background and everyone (locals that is) is amazingly friendly. If you are an outdoorsman/woman, there is simply no comparison and if you feel you need a little "culture" now and again, hop a flight to New York and remind yourself how good you really have it![read more...]

Jackson is prohibitively expensive. Families that would normally buy a home for $150K back in their suburban middle-sized hometowns come here for the skiing and have to buy something more around $500K. For that price, you could buy a home in most any big city like Seattle or Portland. I'm not sure if the trade-off is worth it; sure, it's beautiful out here, but culturally lacking unless you're into jam bands, are a hippy, or are a casual square dance at the bar every Wednesday night.[read more...]

Jackson is an absolutely beautiful place to live. During summer there is enough hiking and biking to last you a lifetime! Thousands of miles of trails at your fingertips! Winters are equally awesome. Some of the best skiing in the world is at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (Targhee in alta,wy is great too). The XC Skiing is great also. Grand Teton National Park grooms their roads in the winter, and there are some groomed roads in yellowstone as well. You are surrounded by mountains (hence the name jackson hole). The winters can be exceptionally harsh, with lows in the negative temparatures a very regular occurence for months on end. There was a few week stretch in the winter of 2005/2006 where it never got above above zero(f). Skiing at -15(f) can be a challenge, you can feel ice crystals forming on your nose hairs with every breath. Now for the worst part about living here. The property values are insane. The average house in jackson is currently around $800,000 and they project it will hit $1,000,000 by the end of 2006. The reason for this is mostly because ridiculously wealthy people have second homes here. It's absolutely nuts. Most working people have to live in victor idaho (18 miles over teton pass), or alpine wyoming (25 miles down hoback canyon) and commute into jackson, which can be a nightmare in the winter. Even in those sleepy little towns the property values are getting out of hand. Another bad thing is there are some services that are lacking. I.E. I had to take my motorcycle to Idaho Falls because none of the motorcycle shops in jackson could order the parts necessary for the repair. Jackson will make you fall in love with it, until you have to pay rent or buy a house. I think it's worth it though.[read more...]

Jackson, WY and Teton County in which the city of Jackson is located..has the highest per capita income in the U.S. Consequently, housing and the fact that only 3% of Teton County real estate is available for habitation and development (remainder owned by National Park System & BLM)...which makes this locale's real estate some of the most expensive in the entire U.S. It's extremely difficult if not impossible to find any decent home properties under $500K here. Couple that with the fact that home builders and developers have cut corners and scrimped on new construction (even multi million $$ properties) for years here..which has resulted in narrow stairways, narrow hallways (difficult to get furniture into the house), all mechanical under the house (extremely difficult to service and maintain) while the land on which these disfunctional structures sit along with the home...continues to skyrocket in value.[read more...]

I was so surprised when I visited last year that from the town of Jackson you cannot see any of the Tetons! The town is a touristy area that caters to the wealthy, who, by the way, have THEIR homes on the mountainsides where there IS a view to the Tetons. Expensive place to visit probably because there is no other place to stay near the National Park. My experience was filled with snooty waiters and the unspoken expectation that I should have more money if I want to be in Jackson. I can't resist: Jackson WY, what a hole![read more...]