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I'm looking for a place with a pre-California invasion Boulder vibe. Basically a livable mountain town that isn't totally touristy, has good internet, a food co-op or two with a little gun-toting survivalist edge. Snow is OK and preferred (skiing). Also within ~3 hours of metropolis with good airport. Paradoxically, I have also spent some time in the Sierra Foothills and also kind of loved it. Debating about buying land and slowly building or just picking up a home.
I've kind of been looking at Wenatchee, Bellingham, McCall, and Bozeman, but open to other ideas.
I'm looking for a place with a pre-California invasion Boulder vibe. Basically a livable mountain town that isn't totally touristy, has good internet, a food co-op or two with a little gun-toting survivalist edge. Snow is OK and preferred (skiing). Also within ~3 hours of metropolis with good airport. Paradoxically, I have also spent some time in the Sierra Foothills and also kind of loved it. Debating about buying land and slowly building or just picking up a home.
I've kind of been looking at Wenatchee, Bellingham, McCall, and Bozeman, but open to other ideas.
Have you looked into Livingston, Montana? It's pretty much exactly what you describe, if you're okay with Billings being said metropolis...
Bozeman is a great town too, but you're gonna feel a bit of that Californian edge (Lululemon on Main St). Likely to increase in the coming years.
I'm looking for a place with a pre-California invasion Boulder vibe. Basically a livable mountain town that isn't totally touristy, has good internet, a food co-op or two with a little gun-toting survivalist edge. Snow is OK and preferred (skiing). Also within ~3 hours of metropolis with good airport. Paradoxically, I have also spent some time in the Sierra Foothills and also kind of loved it. Debating about buying land and slowly building or just picking up a home.
I've kind of been looking at Wenatchee, Bellingham, McCall, and Bozeman, but open to other ideas.
You probably will not find this type of vibe around Boise/SW Idaho as this area has already been invaded by Californians. You mentioned McCall which is a few hours drive from Boise but it is touristy and expensive; incredibly beautiful with a few great ski resorts, but the McCall area has blown up with tourists and expensive real estate the past decade.
I agree with the others here that towns in Montana, Utah, or possibly western Wyoming might fit your desires.
Wenatchee is not that much like Boulder in feel, though it does meet some of your criteria. Ellensburg isn't Boulder but it is a college town. Bellingham is more like Boulder of today or recent (though not as expensive); but for like 80s Boulder, you'd to timeport back at least to the 90s. McCall is nothing like Boulder. Pretty old, quite small and conservative. Bozeman is most like Boulder on the OP's list. Missoula is closer. So is Chico CA. Corvallis OR. Durango is fairly close. Laramie WY is another option. Moscow ID. If you didn't care what most others thought, Pocatello ID could work. Cheap. Helena MT is a nice, not too small, not too big size.
Wenatchee is not that much like Boulder in feel, though it does meet some of your criteria. Ellensburg isn't Boulder but it is a college town. Bellingham is more like Boulder of today but for like 80s Boulder you'd to timeport back at least to the 90s. McCall is nothing like Boulder. Pretty old, quite small and conservative. Bozeman is most like Boulder on the OP's list. Missoula is closer. So is Chico CA. Corvallis OR. Durango is fairly close. Laramie WY is another option. Moscow ID. If you didn't care what most others thought, Pocatello ID could work. Cheap. Helena MT is a nice not too small, not too big size.
Concerning McCall, there has been a lot of growth and new developments in the town and surrounding area and it has a youthful vibe to it, of course there are the rich old folks if that is what you mean by "old".
I would say there are enough tourists and people with 2nd or 3rd homes there that is isn't as conservative as many might think.
When I was there last summer for a week, I saw plenty of young and middle aged hippy types and of course tourists that appeared to have $$$. McCall has the classy nickname of being the poor mans Sun Valley...for those who can't afford Sun Valley. Similar to Jackson Hole and Driggs.
I am sure McCall gets all ages of visitors and has some 30s/40s second homers. I think I recall the average age was 50 something... but maybe I was wrong or that was for 10-20 years ago. Only 44 on avg. now (7 years above national age), so I guess there probably has been some change. Still, only 9% in 35-44 range (35% less than national average) and 18% 65-74 (double natl avg). Some of the oldest may have moved away after awhile (or passed away).
35% voted Democratic for President in 2016. That seems higher than it used to be as well. So my memories / statements do appear somewhat dated here. But compared to Boulder, it is still quite a bit more conservative and about 50% older on average (Boulder avg is 28).
I am sure McCall gets all ages of visitors and has some 30s/40s second homers. I think I recall the average age was 50 something... but maybe I was wrong or that was for 10-20 years ago. Only 44 on avg. now (7 years above national age), so I guess there probably has been some change. Still, only 9% in 35-44 range (35% less than national average) and 18% 65-74 (double natl avg). Some of the oldest may have moved away after awhile (or passed away).
That age range makes sense for the people who live there year round and are considered citizens and register to vote/complete the census, etc.
There are a lot of younger people during the summer and winter who aren't citizens or necessarily tourists but live there part year to work in the outdoor recreational industry which is one of the big drivers of the McCall economy.
Nevertheless, it might be a bit too small and isolated for the OP. It is definitely deep in the woods.
Bonners Ferry up North might be an option, deep woods, snow, ski resorts. It is near larger towns with hippie vibes (Sandpoint) and the big metro of Spokane/Coeur d'Alene for the airport access.
Last edited by Syringaloid; 06-18-2020 at 03:10 PM..
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