From Alabama to Wyoming? (Casper, Laramie: for sale, real estate, rentals)

[IShotBigfoot]

My wife & I are looking to move. Currently, we live in South Alabama. Lets just say between meddling family & pathetic politics we have to get away...

We visited jackson Hole on our honeymoon 5 years ago. I pleaded with my wife to return home, pack all of our "few" belongings & move back to jackson immediately. Alas, she would not concede. Now we are parents of 2 small daughters & are wondering if life in Wyoming (or Montana, Idaho, etc.) is right for us, and if a move across country is feasable.

My wife is a teacher. How are the schools out there? I have experience in operating heavy equipment, doing landscaping, & currently work with a collection agency. Should finding a job for me be difficult? I see that as a state, WY has low unemployment.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Froggie Legs]

You might want to check out this website. It lists current Wyoming teaching jobs.Wyoming Job Vacancies

Also, where you live is partially dependent on what you want to do, work, play, schools, etc... Do you want mountains or rolling hills or high plains desert?

Jackson, from what many posts on this board and current real estate has lead me to believe, is a bit more spendy than other areas in WY. You might want to check out https://www.wyomingatwork.com/ as well, to see if you can find an area in the field your work is... teachers seem to be in demand all over the state.

Good luck with your decision making. Wyoming's a great place, and I'm anxious to get back there myself.

[sunsprit]

If your wife can meet the Wyoming teacher qualifications and get hired, she'll have a pretty good job and income in the area.

However, you may not find steady work so easy to come by, and while the hourly wage may be pretty good ... your annual income plus your wife's may not be sufficient to live in Jackson or anywhere close by.

A quick glance at the current houses for sale market still shows it close to $1mil for a "starter" house in the area. Even small 2 bedroom condo's are $800,000, which is probably what you'd need with the two daughters. Rentals are expensive due to the high costs of housing ownership in the area and the tourist driven local economy. For the sake of discussion, even if the local housing market "crashes" back to the price points of years ago ... you'd still be looking at $500,000 housing; Not going to make that happen on your wife's $45,000 income and yours ... and the state highway department type jobs, while offering stability to you, don't pay very much ($15-17 per hour).

The folks at lower income levels who work and live locally, such as ski area or service/hospitality workers ... typically live in shared houses/condo's, where they can split the expenses and manage to "get by". That's a lot different situation than your family needs ....

[GEORGIAINMT]

Originally Posted by Froggie Legs

You might want to check out this website. It lists current Wyoming teaching jobs.Wyoming Job Vacancies

Also, where you live is partially dependent on what you want to do, work, play, schools, etc... Do you want mountains or rolling hills or high plains desert?

Jackson, from what many posts on this board and current real estate has lead me to believe, is a bit more spendy than other areas in WY. You might want to check out https://www.wyomingatwork.com/ as well, to see if you can find an area in the field your work is... teachers seem to be in demand all over the state.

Good luck with your decision making. Wyoming's a great place, and I'm anxious to get back there myself.

Jackson isn't "a bit more spendy", it's wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy out of line compared to other areas of Wyoming. I don't think a teacher and spouse could make it there, to be honest, unless you have substantial money to get you started.

[Froggie Legs]

Originally Posted by GEORGIAINMT

Jackson isn't "a bit more spendy", it's wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy out of line compared to other areas of Wyoming. I don't think a teacher and spouse could make it there, to be honest, unless you have substantial money to get you started.

Well I was trying to be nice and tactful ... and no offense to anyone who does live in Jackson, I love visiting there too! But there isn't any way I could live there either. Not unless I won the lottery or something first.

But if it's mountains that drew the OP to Wyoming, there are other places that would fulfill that need in the great state of Wyoming.

[IShotBigfoot]

Thank you so much for the help. That helps a lot. You do raise a couple of questions though.

1.) Froggie Legs - It was the mountains that drew us there & the lifestyle that draws us back. Any regions or towns you can suggest? Do you think we'd be better off looking in south west Montana?

2.) Considering the ridiculous cost of real estate in Jackson, would one assume that teachers at the Jackson schools commute in every day, or that they are just independantly wealthy people who want something to do? Hard to imagine buying a million dollar home on $55K/yr !!!

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by IShotBigfoot

snip
2.) Considering the ridiculous cost of real estate in Jackson, would one assume that teachers at the Jackson schools commute in every day, or that they are just independantly wealthy people who want something to do? Hard to imagine buying a million dollar home on $55K/yr !!!

What you are seeing is the typical problem of affordable housing in expensive high-profile resort areas ... be it Malibu, Aspen, Jackson, Telluride, or many other high dollar areas where the multi-millionaires have been forced out by the centi-millionaires who have a lot of pressure on them from the billionaires.

For the most part, there isn't affordable family housing in the area. Somebody making a normal salary must either commute in from out of the area or have the resources up front to buy in so that their monthly payment is affordable, or have outside income that allows them to afford the cost of being there.

[Froggie Legs]

Originally Posted by IShotBigfoot

Thank you so much for the help. That helps a lot. You do raise a couple of questions though.

1.) Froggie Legs - It was the mountains that drew us there & the lifestyle that draws us back. Any regions or towns you can suggest? Do you think we'd be better off looking in south west Montana?

As to mountainous area, it depends some on what you are looking for. I prefer the Lander ~ Riverton area, but mostly because I have family there, lived there for a spell when I was younger, and have a desire to work on or near the Reservation.

Dubois is also pretty, but it is more badland type topography around there, from what I recall, though the mountains aren't too far off . But keep in mind that the cities (using that term loosely) are no larger than 10,000 in population (Riverton)... and least around 1000 (Dubois).

If you are looking for a little larger area, my cousin says Laramie is really nice. It's a university town, so boasts the only graduate school in the state, and it's not far from Colorado for a variety of scenery without having to live in that state. You might find job hunting in your specialty easier in larger places like Laramie or Casper. I think the "Snowy" mountain range is near Laramie.

I can't really speak for Montana, though I'm guessing that the Livingston (southwestish mt) area (since A River Runs Through It was allegedly set there) would be spendy as well --again my guess--might want to ask that on the MT board.

What grade/area does your wife teach? Good luck on your search

[IShotBigfoot]

Small town life is what we want. 100-1,000 population would be terrific. Just so long as getting groceries isn't an all day ordeal. One of the things I am really trying to escape from is small town rural people who long for urban life & culture. I like people who are proud of who they are & still believe in honesty & respect.

I am also concerned with the moral and ethical culture in which our children are raised. While Alabama may be considered in the "Bible belt", Christian values are constantly under attack here. (Who would have thought you'd ever hear a pastor speaking from the pulpit about the need for "safe sex" instead of abstenance?) That being said, we are Baptist and having a local Baptist congregation would also be a plus.

And as far as working goes... My wife has her degree in secondary education (English). She has taught for the last 5 years at a local middle school. She has taught 6th-8th grades, English, reading, & drama. I am a bit of a Jack of all trades & willing to do most any type work that will provide for my family sufficiently & allow me an adequate home life with my children. (The latter being the reason I quit working construction through the Union. Always out of town, months at a time.)

That is my priority order as well. A safe small community rooted in values that don't make you blush. A place where people of faith can join together with like minded people and not be at odds with the local government (never mind the Feds!). And lastly, enough work to make sure needs are all met.

[Bill7719]

IShotBigfoot, I can't help you in your search, but just wanted to echo your sentiments. I come from Upstate NY, so imagine your situation (Christianity under attack, etc.) x 1,000. I'm looking to move to WY for some of the same reasons. I've visited twice and have really liked it. I'll admit I haven't seen a winter there yet.

To the others in the thread, thanks for mentioning Dubois. After doing some research, it looks like my kind of place. I like western culture and want a small town atmosphere. I like badlands-type scenery a lot.

Bill