Whitefish vs. Kalispell (Missoula: ski resort, for sale, rentals)

[clk7]

Hi. I am considering moving to either Kalispell or Whitefish. I am looking for any information about these two communities in order to decide which community would be a better place to live.

Which community has better elementary schools?

I noticed that Kalispell has some after school programs for younger kids. Does Whitefish have anything like this? What do working parents do during after-school hours or days when school is not in session?

I have been told that Kalispell is less expensive. I will be renting a place and when I looked in the paper it seemed like the rentals seemed comparable. Living in Kalispell would also add an additional 30 miles per day to my commute. Does a person save enough in rent to make up for the cost of gas?

On my visit to Whitefish it looked like there were a lot of houses for sale. Is there a reason for this, or is it just the slow market?

Thanks for any insight that anyone can give that can help me make this decision.

[jimj]

Let's see if I can answer some of this for you. Also, realize I've got no dog in this hunt as I live in neither town but know many who do.
Schools: They both have comparable elementary and jr high schools but I would never send my child to Whitefish High (high being the key word here) due to drug and alchohol problems there.
I think Flathead and Glacier high are superior to Whitefish.
The cities are two very different atmospheres, Whitefish is trying and heading towards being like aspen or sun valley or insert name of yuppie ski town.
Kalispell is heading towards being like Missoula with all the strip malls and stores.
Houses cost less to own in Kalispell.
Personally I wouldn't live in either city but would find someplace in between in the county. In my opinion it's worth the 15 to 20 mile drive to be outside the cities and have peace and quiet. In reality you're only talking about 1-2 gallons of gas right? A cheap price for peace of mind.
As for all the houses for sale, it's just built up inventory in a slow market, not to be confused with everyone wanting to leave the area for some bad reason.
Good luck with whatever place you choose!!

[clk7]

Thanks for your insights. It's sad to hear that the Whitefish High School has such a problem with drugs. My daughter isn't in high school yet, but it is definitely something to think about.

Living out in the country sounds great, but I worry about the winters. I'm not much for shoveling snow! Thanks again.

[jimj]

I think you may have a misconception of city life here. You will shovel snow no matter where you live. The city does NOT do any shoveling beyond plowing the streets (if and when they get to them) which leaves a berm in front of your driveway. Streets are plowed on a priority basis with emergency travel ones being first, school ones being next etc.
You are responsible for the sidewalks in front of your property and will get fined if you do not shovel them in the AM. You also are responsible for your walkways,driveway etc.
This is not like a lot of cities where a crew comes along and does all the walks,streets etc, we can't afford that. Even downtown the merchants all have to do all their own sidewalks.
So find a good snow shovel or blower no matter where you go you'll need it!

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by clk7

Hi. I am considering moving to either Kalispell or Whitefish. I am looking for any information about these two communities in order to decide which community would be a better place to live.

Which community has better elementary schools?

I noticed that Kalispell has some after school programs for younger kids. Does Whitefish have anything like this? What do working parents do during after-school hours or days when school is not in session?

I have been told that Kalispell is less expensive. I will be renting a place and when I looked in the paper it seemed like the rentals seemed comparable. Living in Kalispell would also add an additional 30 miles per day to my commute. Does a person save enough in rent to make up for the cost of gas?

On my visit to Whitefish it looked like there were a lot of houses for sale. Is there a reason for this, or is it just the slow market?

Thanks for any insight that anyone can give that can help me make this decision.

I'm a Whitefish High School graduate and a native (born and raised) of the Flathead Valley. I went through the Montana school system and will try to give you some insights.

Whitefish and Kalispell are two different towns but are only about 15 miles apart. For renting, I don't think I'd make a big deal about living in one over the other.

Whitefish is the tourist town, Gateway to Glacier Park and home of a well known ski resort. It means that we have lots of botique stores that cater to the tourists. Lots of gift stores, huge concentrations of restaurants/bars, and a generally nice town. Locals in Whitefish complain there is no shopping in Whitefish, they always have to drive to Kalispell to buy anything. There really aren't stores in Whitefish that sell products for the locals, except for groceries. The summer and Christmas get really busy in Whitefish, the spring and fall slow down. A favorite phrase growing up was "It's tourist season. Does that mean we get to shoot them?"

Kalispell is more of a normal town. It's still touristy in the summer and winter but not like Whitefish. It's more of a regular town. I shopped in Kalispell a lot but don't know what it is like to live there.

As far as the school systems, Whitefish (in my opinion) is one of the best in the state. Our high school sports program consistently placed in the top 3 at the state level and was the pride and joy of the school. We graduated some phenominal graduates. The drug problems that Jimj makes reference to are in all schools, not just Whitefish. Kalispell had undercover cops in the high school a few years back that busted a fairly large drug culture. None of my friends nor me ever once saw drugs at Whitefish but we were the naieve ones, we all knew they were out there.

As far as recommendations for you, I'd choose it based on your job location and your choice in housing. Both are nice places and I wouldn't get too hung up on one or the other. Your kids will do fine in any school they go to, one is not going to be better for them than any other.

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by clk7

Living out in the country sounds great, but I worry about the winters. I'm not much for shoveling snow! Thanks again.

As Jimj said, the winters are long and hard here in the Flathead. Have you ever heard of Seattle weather? It blows right over into the Flathead, and the winters in the Flathead are basically like Seattle except that it snows in the Flathead.

Growing up in the Flathead, we'd frequently go quite a stretch in the winter without seeing the sun. The rare sunny day was always a special treat. Be ready for long, gray winters without too much sun.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by bigtrees

The drug problems that Jimj makes reference to are in all schools, not just Whitefish. Kalispell had undercover cops in the high school a few years back that busted a fairly large drug culture. None of my friends nor me ever once saw drugs at Whitefish but we were the naieve ones, we all knew they were out there.

To be honest yes, there are drugs in every school and since my son is currently in school and has friends in all the schools and that subject does come up. We also used to belong to the new health club in whitefish and had several teens we were friends with and I specificaly asked them about the schools. What I found was that while yes drugs are at all the schools it's the type and quantity that gave me pause.
What I've been told over and over is while most schools it's beer and pot at whitefish it's coke,pot and hard alchohol and in that order.
I guess it's the money thing, since there's more money in whitefish the drugs of choice are more expensive but who's to know for sure.
That's all I know and you can take it for what it's worth I guess...

[acwhite96]

Originally Posted by jimj

What I've been told over and over is while most schools it's beer and pot at whitefish it's coke,pot and hard alchohol and in that order.

With my talking to people over the last week, Whitefish was one of the highly recommended schools, but the drugs were mentioned as being the biggest draw back. Coke use was the number one thing I have been told about. Biggest problem I heard was the school was trying to do a sports drug test and the parents were the ones fighting it......makes a parent really wonder what is going on.

What I am hearing, all the schools are good, some high schools offer something different from the other.

[ctr88]

Whitefish

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by ctr88

Whitefish

Whitefish what?