I visited the most expensive places in Utah and Wyoming. They were similar, but I'd only consider moving to one.

Business Insider

18-07-2025

Park City and Jackson Hole are Western hot spots for wealthy Americans.
East of Salt Lake City in northern Utah, Park City sits on 20 square miles.
Jackson Hole is in western Wyoming. The 60-mile-long valley in Teton County is just south of Grand Teton National Park and includes the towns of Jackson, Moose, Teton Village, and Wilson, among others.
Tech workers, retirees, and C-suite execs are flocking to Park City from around the US.
Park City is perhaps best known for its slopes, where you'll find world-class skiing. It served as the setting for several events during the 2002 Olympic Games.
Park City is also part of the Silicon Slopes, a 50-mile area comprising Salt Lake City and surrounding suburbs that has grown into a tech hub over the past two decades.
Park City's roughly 8,100 residents have an average household income of $247,300, according to World Population Review.
Local real-estate agent Derrik Carlson told Business Insider his clients are techies, entrepreneurs, retirees, and CEOs from Chicago and the coasts.
Boomers and DINKs from Texas to California are snatching up homes in Jackson Hole.
Best known for its proximity to Grand Teton National Park, Teton County has about 23,000 residents — more than 10,000 of whom live in the town of Jackson, the heart of Jackson Hole, where you'll find most businesses and infrastructure.
Teton County and the town of Jackson have the most unequal income in the US. Data from the Economic Policy Institute states that the top 1% of residents in Teton County generate 142 times the income of the bottom 99%.
"Our clients in the past few years have ranged in age from 30 to 60 years and come from high-net-worth backgrounds," Laurie Huff, a real-estate agent at Sotheby's Jackson Hole, told BI. "A finance/business background seems to account for a large percentage."
Sam Haack, a local real-estate agent, told BI his clientele is made up mostly of DINKs (dual-income, no kids) and boomers.
"The baby boomers have largely gained their wealth through their appreciation of assets over the years, like their equity portfolios, other homes, and businesses," he said. "Some of these clients may still work W2 jobs in finance, consulting, or real estate, but are usually business owners and entrepreneurs."
Both are luxury ski towns full of resorts and part-time residents.
Park City and Jackson Hole are popular destinations for purchasing vacation homes. Both have an active ski scene.
In Jackson Hole, 60% of Haack's clients and 50% of Huff's buyers became part-time residents.
Meanwhile, Carlson said about 50% of incoming Park City residents are vacation-home buyers.
Both locations have a range of seasonal activities.
Living in either location would allow me to pursue a variety of sports and hobbies, from skiing and snowboarding to golfing and hiking.
"We have so much public land right out our back doors, and the goal is to spend as little time indoors as possible," Haack said. "I think this is why people are willing to live in such small and expensive living situations in Jackson."
Park City may be more affordable.
Before considering moving anywhere, I'd have to research the cost of living. Best Places' cost of living calculator shows that both places are more expensive than the average US city or county.
From food and housing to healthcare and transportation, the cost of living in Park City is 69% higher than the country's average, while Teton County is 80.9% higher.
You'll find cheaper groceries in Park City and cheaper utility bills in Teton County.
You can find housing in Park City for a range of price points.
Park City real estate appealed to me because it can accommodate a variety of budgets. According to Realtor.com, the median listing price is $2 million. There's a selection of homes on the market for less than $1 million and plenty of condos listed for less than $500,000.
On the high end of the market, 20,000-square-foot mansions on multiple acres with ski-in/ski-out access cost up to $50 million.
Jackson Hole has a primarily luxury market.
Private property is scarce in Teton County because 97% of it is public land. Haack told BI that this drives up home prices on the slim 3% of available acreage.
Homeowners "tend to hang onto these properties for the appreciation and tax advantages, leading to even less inventory and supply," he added.
According to the Viehman Group's 2025 first-quarter Jackson Hole Real Estate report, the average listing price of a single-family home in the area as of April 1 was $10.7 million.
The priciest home in Teton County listed on Realtor.com is a $65 million, 16-bedroom, 14-bathroom ranch on a whopping 190 acres. I saw fewer listings costing under $1 million in Teton County than in Park City.
I found the most expensive neighborhoods outside the town of Jackson. Haack said this is because they offer larger, more secluded properties.
Both places have walkable streets lined with shops and restaurants.
One of the best parts of living in New York is having plenty of stores, restaurants, and a nightlife scene within walking distance of my apartment. So, if I were ever to leave my city, I'd want some version of these conveniences.
Both Park City and Jackson Hole have walkable neighborhoods. Park City's Old Town neighborhood was active and vibrant when I visited, thanks to its shops, eateries, venues, and ski lifts.
"Downtown is designed to be walkable to get to Main Street or skiing," Carlson said.
There was housing in Old Town, too, so I could imagine stepping outside my home and grabbing a coffee down the street.
In Jackson Hole, downtown Jackson is a walkable haven with similar offerings, including the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and a plethora of home furniture and decor stores.
Both have awe-inspiring landscapes, but I thought Jackson Hole's views were more dramatic.
It's easy to find a stunning view of the surrounding mountains in Park City and Jackson Hole. But the Wyoming enclave's scenery is far more striking. The mountains stand taller, and since Jackson Hole borders Grand Teton National Park, the scenery is less developed than Park City's.
It seemed easier to travel in and out of Park City.
Since I travel for work and have family spread out all over the country, it's important to me to live near a well-connected major airport. I'd be just 30 to 45 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport by car in Park City.
Meanwhile, Jackson Hole Airport is one of the smallest US airports. Located in Grand Teton National Park, it offers phenomenal views from the plane. However, I had to take a connecting flight to get there, so I imagine I'd have to deal with layovers often if it were my home airport.
Ultimately, I could only see myself living in Park City.
Park City and Jackson Hole offer similar lifestyles, with luxury real estate and an active outdoors scene. Still, Park City seems more financially attainable and convenient for me.