Will Jackson Hole be right for me? (Cody: rent, house)

[LosAngelesKid]

I am a recent graduate from Los Angeles and I have a possible job opportunity in Jackson Hole. I've always lived in a big diverse city and I'm worried about moving to a small town. I love to snow board and I love the out doors, but I'm worried about the lack of ethnic diversity.

Will people stare at me because I'm Asian?
Will I feel comfortable in Jackson Hole?
Will I be the only Asian person in town?
Is there some what of a night life?

I need help finding housing as well. I would also even be interested in renting out a room in a house.

I would appreciate everyones opinion and advice. Thank You.

[j1n]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesKid

I am a recent graduate from Los Angeles and I have a possible job opportunity in Jackson Hole. I've always lived in a big diverse city and I'm worried about moving to a small town. I love to snow board and I love the out doors, but I'm worried about the lack of ethnic diversity.

Will people stare at me because I'm Asian?
Will I feel comfortable in Jackson Hole?
Will I be the only Asian person in town?
Is there some what of a night life?

I need help finding housing as well. I would also even be interested in renting out a room in a house.

I would appreciate everyones opinion and advice. Thank You.

People won't stare at you because you are Asian. People visit Jackson from all over. You will not be the only Asian in town. And yes, there appears to be a thriving nightlife in Jackson...especially if you are hooked up with the ski/snowboard crowd. Housing's going to be tough. Do a search on "Jackson" here on the WY forum, and you'll get the picture.

[GregW]

I would jump at a chance to live in Jackson Hole. Go for it.

[WyoMama]

I wouldn't live there for NOTHIN'!!! Just trying to drive thru town that is only about a mile or so from north to get out the south end can take 40 minutes or so because of all the tourists (and prob'ly locals) who walk along the middle of the street. To deal with that DAILY would drive me insane. Also as is a year-round tourist destination it never stops & they gouge you terribly financially cause they can. I live in Cody, a part-time tourist town, and that is enough to get thru the summer. I know our economy depends on tourism & I just take side roads, etc. & is fun to take fam pics when I see a fam or couple might want one of all of them standing at a landmark or something, giving some history, etc. But year-long gouging & the housing market & having to go to Idaho Falls to buy much more than groceries (like real things you need?) No thank you. We have to go to Billings for a lot of things, which is about 110 miles away; although I do much more shopping online than I do going to Billings. You better be ready for paying a bunch of bucks for housing, gas, everything - even more than anywhere else in the region. It can be 20-30 cents more a gallon than in Cody & we are high compared to most of the state. (Don't mean to upset anybody from Jackson - if you live there it is a lifestyle you can handle; if you want a town w/o a lot of facade feel, I just don't get that in JH.)

[paintersspouse]

I moved from a Vancouver Canada to Jackson in 2000. I am not Asian but half my family is ( Japanese step mother, brothers and sisters etc).

Jackson has all you could want for a great life, just leaving out the big city part of the equation. There is a lack of ethnic stores and supplies but you will not suffer. Yes it gets a little busy on the roads but nothing like a city and you just learn to scheduale your day around the worst.

The abundance of outdoor activities will more than make up for other things.

You will not get stared at. There are Asians just not what you are used to.. It is a bit of a shock when you come from a city with a large Asian community but you will not be the only one.

[jadybug]

Hey, maybe Harrison Ford (AKA: INDIANA )would let you stay in his bunkhouse!! Just a little comic relief friends!!

[j1n]

You can avoid a lot of rough gas prices and traffic by sharing rides to Albertsons with the roomates you will most likely need to have. Also, you can ride a bike, skateboard, walk, whatever. If you are working in town and living in town, make sure you have a bike and pair of snowshoes, and you'll be good!
One thing I just gotta throw in here...
Jackson is the town. Jackson Hole (actually Jackson's Hole, right?) is the actual hole in the midst of the mountain range...the valley, so-to-speak. The folks who refer to the town of Jackson as "Jackson Hole" are probably overwhelmingly the tourist kids there with their parents for family vacation at Yellowstone...the ones with the brand new "JACKSON HOLE" tshirts.

[Sockeye]

It's a resort town, so expect higher rent and food costs. As j1n suggested, try teaming up with roomates to defray costs.
I hope Jackson Hole hasn't quite become what Telluride, Aspen, and Crested Butte have here in CO, i.e. a superficially charming place where nobody there is from there anymore, because the old hangers on were forced out with skyrocketing property taxes. What you have now are assortments of trustafarians who occupy their McMansions 3 months out of the year, a few old hippies, and a transient worker base.

[LosAngelesKid]

Thanks everyone for all your response.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Sockeye

I hope Jackson Hole hasn't quite become what Telluride, Aspen, and Crested Butte have here in CO, i.e. a superficially charming place where nobody there is from there anymore, because the old hangers on were forced out with skyrocketing property taxes. What you have now are assortments of trustafarians who occupy their McMansions 3 months out of the year, a few old hippies, and a transient worker base.

It has. The billionaires are chasing the millionaires out. I would put Jackson and Telluride about on the same level. Jackson has reached the point that it has almost nothing in common with the rest of Wyoming, except the license plate. I had to go there quite a bit when I lived in Wyoming. Great country around Jackson, but the town is just another trophy house resort ghetto.