Colorado western slope vs Idaho panhandle mountain towns (Idaho Falls, Coeur d'Alene: house, live)

[CaptainSaltyBones]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

Here's an example of what is available, in Clark Fork, 25 miles from Schweitzer Resort/Sandpoint, on 3 acres. Frequently the minimum is 5 acres outside of city limits. Scotchman Peaks proposed wilderness just up the road.
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...1_M25656-49552

Wow, that is gorgeous! Don’t tempt me! I’m not in a position to move right now but I’m trying to get a general feel for the area to see if it would be an option to consider in the future. Eventually I will have to make it up there and experience it for myself.

Are the winters pretty overcast? I know that’s kind of a silly question to ask since Google tells me it’s cloudier than my location, but how bad is it really? I’m seeing 175 days on sunshine on average, vs 275 days where I live now. How do you deal with it? Is it truly a flat gray sky or more like a mix of sun and clouds? I’m from the northeast originally and could not deal with the flat gray winters.

What is the culture like overall? More Midwest friendly or intermountain state independent? My current town is very liberal but I’m not opposed to living in a more conservative area, as I have before.

Are the more rural areas higher in crime and drug use? Is racism a big problem there? Or are those areas more for weekend homes owned by rich second homeowners? Any towns I should look near in particular? Schools don’t matter for me (no kids), and neither does nightlife.

Are the recreational areas overrun with 4 wheelers and hunters? I want to get an overall picture of the good and the bad

[CaptainSaltyBones]

Originally Posted by NW Crow

Would the OP consider Wallace or Grangeville? Bonners Ferry? Priest River? Rathdrum? St. Maries? Orofino?

I was looking at the area between Kellogg to St. Marie’s northward to Bonners Ferry, but I’m not at all familiar with the area and would be open to other options as well.

[CaptainSaltyBones]

Originally Posted by MoosePad

Try looking at the Kettle Falls and Colville area of Washington. The 49 North Mountain Resort east of Chewelah is 40 miles from Kettle Falls. Real estate seems to be priced less than the Idaho panhandle.

I used to live in the Colville and Addy area. And I used to live in the Dolores and Cortez area of Colorado.

Thank you. I’ll look into it.

[NW Crow]

What size town do you prefer? You want to step away from ski town but do you prefer a town with some tourism / amenities or would you go for just average / no frills town for locals? Employment considerations?

The answers to some of your questions vary for specific locations.

Place size, land budget, in town / out of town are details that might get more targeted responses. You may be open to many or all possibilities but people may not want to say a lot without you narrowing the options down.

Certainly read past threads for useful information previously provided for similar inquiries.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by CaptainSaltyBones

.....What is the culture like overall? More Midwest friendly or intermountain state independent?..........

The people of North Idaho are polite and most of them seem to be happy enough that they will smile and wave. However, do not expect any of your neighbors to take care of you. Idahoans are independent people and they will expect you to be able to take care of yourself.


The bit about wanting a place where you can borrow a cup of sugar bothers me. Your neighbors will expect you to plan ahead and maintain your own larder like an adult. If you get caught short once and need a cup of sugar, you will get it, but if you expect your neighbors to fill in holes in your pantry because you are too lazy to go shopping or you can't plan ahead, your neighbors will very soon be quite irritated with you.


Pull you out of the ditch once when you slide off the road, but not twice a week because you refuse to learn how to drive in the snow.


Note, if you are disabled and literally can't do things for yourself due to health reasons, you will most likely get a fair amount of help, as that is a completely different situation, but don't be expecting anyone else to be doing your work or doing your planning or your shopping for you. Taking advantage of a person's good nature is frowned upon.

[CaptainSaltyBones]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

The people of North Idaho are polite and most of them seem to be happy enough that they will smile and wave. However, do not expect any of your neighbors to take care of you. Idahoans are independent people and they will expect you to be able to take care of yourself.


The bit about wanting a place where you can borrow a cup of sugar bothers me. Your neighbors will expect you to plan ahead and maintain your own larder like an adult. If you get caught short once and need a cup of sugar, you will get it, but if you expect your neighbors to fill in holes in your pantry because you are too lazy to go shopping or you can't plan ahead, your neighbors will very soon be quite irritated with you.


Pull you out of the ditch once when you slide off the road, but not twice a week because you refuse to learn how to drive in the snow.


Note, if you are disabled and literally can't do things for yourself due to health reasons, you will most likely get a fair amount of help, as that is a completely different situation, but don't be expecting anyone else to be doing your work or doing your planning or your shopping for you. Taking advantage of a person's good nature is frowned upon.

Thanks for the response. My husband and I are always down to help a neighbor we’re but independent and like to keep to ourselves, which I fear can come off as rude in smaller towns. Where I live now is more community oriented and close knit than I expected. Everybody knows each other and there are a lot of opportunities to get involved in the community, which we haven’t really taken advantage of. Sounds like we will be ok in that respect. My main concern with being in a mostly conservative area (especially North Idaho in particular due to its history) is that I’m not white, and my husband is of Jewish descent. I’ve always lived in mostly white communities and never had a problem, at least not to my face. But I don’t want to get stares at the grocery store or anything weird like that

[CaptainSaltyBones]

Originally Posted by NW Crow

What size town do you prefer? You want to step away from ski town but do you prefer a town with some tourism / amenities or would you go for just average / no frills town for locals? Employment considerations?

The answers to some of your questions vary for specific locations.

Place size, land budget, in town / out of town are details that might get more targeted responses. You may be open to many or all possibilities but people may not want to say a lot without you narrowing the options down.

Certainly read past threads for useful information previously provided for similar inquiries.

The reason I haven’t given many specifics is because I’m still not sure if I would be interested in living here at all. I’m also not in a position to move right now, especially with the inflation of the current housing market and whether that will stabilize or drop in the next 5-10 years or not. I’m trying to get people’s opinions of life here in general, especially those who have lived in both places. I found one thread that was relevant but it was over 15 years old.

In general though, I’m not interested in living in a town with a population of more than 25k or off the grid (unless I can get good enough connectivity to WFH). I would be looking for a place either in or outside of town. My husband and I currently work in the service industry but are in the process of figuring out remote jobs, which I would want to lock down before I consider moving.

[volosong]

Originally Posted by CaptainSaltyBones

But I don’t want to get stares at the grocery store or anything weird like that

There are idiots and bigots everywhere, but for the most part, nobody will care what you look like or where your ancestors came from. Same for your husband.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by CaptainSaltyBones

......... But I don’t want to get stares at the grocery store or anything weird like that

The people who are telling you that all conservatives are racists are lying to you. Conservatives are no more likely to be racist than anyone else.



No one is going to care about your race or religion. Make a bit of effort to fit yourself in and you will be fine. Just don't go around telling everyone how things were done better in California and that Idaho would be so much better if they just did things like it was done back home.

[volosong]

Originally Posted by Heron31

There are, unfortunately, a few folks up here who feel compelled to fly a Confederate flag. Perhaps that's not unique to North Idaho. On the other hand, you'll certainly see a lot of Trump signs. I don't quite get it. "Advertising" for an ex-president?

I just ignore them and think to myself, "what an idiot". I cherish the freedom to do stuff like that, even if it is stupid.