In Jackson Hole, two bedroom, three bath homes, many with 1/2 acre of land or more and mountain views, start in the $1.25 million range and increase dramatically from there.  Condo prices begin in the $400,000 range.  Luxury residences nestled in Aspen groves or in the pines along gentle creeks dot the area.  Snake River Sporting Club is a private, gated community with home sites beginning at $1.25 million.  Teton Village, 12 miles north of Jackson, is the community at the base of the local ski resort.   Here all residences are considered luxury properties; condominiums start at $1.5 million  (and are ski-in/ski out), and single family homes start at $2.25 million.   Ranches in the valley are also for sale; some of these are working cattle spreads and some are owned by city slickers who are not sure how to distinguish between a goat and a sheep.

Generally, the farther east one travels from the Tetons, the less property costs.   Two-acre parcels of prairie land with very distant views of the mountains sell for $80,000-$100,000.   Closer to the valley, 75 acres of land can be had for $250,000 or 240 acres for $900,000.   In the valley, 75 acres can cost $1.2 million and 240 acres can run $5 million or more.

Despite their affluence, Jackson and Jackson Hole do have a few manufactured home communities, including Snake River Trailer Court and Evans Mobile Home Park in town and Budge Trailer Park and Cliff Lutz Mobile Home Park in Jackson Hole.   At this writing, we did not find any mobile homes for sale.   Pioneer Homestead Apartments (307-733-9787) in Jackson offer independent living units for seniors.

Tax on real estate within Jackson and throughout the valley is charged at $59 per $1,000 in assessed value, and property is assessed at 9.5% of market value.    On a $500,000 home, the annual tax would be $2,802.   Wyoming has one of the nation's lowest property tax rates (and has no state income tax), so while property is pricey, the lower taxes help offset the cost of real estate.  At least a little bit.

The Senior Center of Jackson Hole (307-733-7300) is located in Jackson and offers services to those aged 60 and above.  Services include home-delivered meals, in-home services (personal care, respite care and some housekeeping), health services and recreational activities, including a computer room, pool tables, an exercise room and a library.    The Center also provides transportation, but Jackson has local bus service (Southern Teton Area Rapid Transit or START).  Within town limits, rides are free.   

The town is named after an early fur trapper, Davey Jackson, and the valley name Jackson Hole comes from trappers having to descend steep slopes and ravines from the north to reach the area, giving the impression of entering a hole.  The valley sits at an elevation of 6,500 feet, and the Tetons shoot up another 7,000 feet from there, making for a long, six month winter and a short, cool summer.  Skiers flock to the area since Jackson Hole Ski Resort is known for deep powder and short lift lines (except on holidays).  Photographers revel in the spectacular scenery, and everyone should visit striking Jackson Lake on the northern edge of the valley at least once!

Snow in Jackson Hole melts by late May, but the mountain peaks stay covered in white year-round, and wildflowers create a carpet of color across mountain meadows in the spring and summer.  The air is clean and crisp, and moose, along with 10,000 of their elk friends, graze under a turquoise sky.  In the fall, Jackson Hole turns a glorious gold as the Aspen change color, and the stars twinkle in a jet-black sky with the days and nights growing chillier.  

While skiing and other winter sports (snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice fishing, etc.) are the big draws for tourists, the area also has a lively summer season.   Outdoorsy types travel here for the camping, hiking and outstanding fly-fishing.   Teton Pines Golf Club, designed by Arnold Palmer, offers 18 holes of championship play surrounded by breathtaking scenery.  The Grand Teton Music Festival is a popular event that brings 200 musicians to town each July and August.  Other concerts and dance festivals also bring visitors to town, as do the more than 40 museums and art galleries.  Dining is quite good, particularly for a town of this size.    Shopping is adequate (most stores are high-end), but many residents shop online for items not found locally.   

Retirees will also find many volunteer opportunities, including working with Habitat for Humanity, CityKids Camp or the National Museum of Wildlife Art.  Twenty-six churches provide further avenues for volunteering (we were unable to find a synagogue).  Seniors will also be glad to know that Jackson is a safe community with a crime rate below the national average.  

St. John's Hospital provides most kinds of medical care and has 40 beds.  Major illnesses, however, would need to be addressed in a larger facility, most likely in Salt Lake City.

There are two ways in and out of Jackson.  One is by air (Jackson Hole Airport is located at the base of the Tetons).  The other is by Highway 26, a two-lane road that twists through dazzling country but that becomes very congested during the summer months.   The nearest town if any size is probably Riverton (population 9,500), 165 miles southeast, and by car, it can take six hours to reach it.   Salt Lake City is 265 miles to the west.   Cody (named after Buffalo Bill Cody) is 140 miles to the northeast, but to get there, one has to drive through Yellowstone National Park, which, due to traffic, can be a day-long trip.  

The valley receives a lot of snow each season, but the roads stay open.  This area is isolated and rather inaccessible, so it is surprising how many tourists make their way here each season.   This isolation may be a drawback for anyone used to the hustle and bustle of a city, and cabin fever may strike in winter.   Click here for more information.