What it's like to live in Jackson
Jackson is a small city in Wyoming with county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Jackson deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, cold, harsh winters, and heavy snowfall.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Cold, harsh winters
- Heavy snowfall — 78" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Jackson compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Jackson
Based on Jackson's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,200
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $84,000 a year
- 26% of Jackson renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$304,380
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $152,190
- Homes cost 12.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 49% above US
$2,100/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,100 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $1,521,900. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $1,521,900 · 26% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in Teton County is 2.4%, well below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Teton County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 46% below US
178 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 573/100k · Jackson Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 52% below US
12 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 12.4 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 5% take public transit; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 76°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 7°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 46% above US
52% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Grand Teton National Park (24 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Jackson's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,100/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
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