Choosing Wyoming: Casper vs. Jackson. Are you considering a move to Wyoming? The Cowboy State offers a variety of picturesque destinations, and today, I’m here to help you navigate the differences between two stunning cities: Casper and Jackson. Hi, I’m Alisha Collins with the Alisha Collins Real Estate Team. I’ve called Casper home for over 20 years, so I may be a bit biased towards Casper. However, let’s compare the two to help you make an informed decision. First, let’s talk population. Casper, with around 58,000 residents, is larger than Jackson, which has about 10,700 residents. Casper’s size means more amenities, but Jackson’s intimacy fosters a strong sense of community. Casper covers 27.24 square miles, nearly nine times larger than Jackson’s 2.99 square miles. So, if you’re looking for more land, Casper is the choice, but if you prefer a cozier town, Jackson might suit you. Casper, in the heart of Wyoming, offers easy access to various regions within the state. In contrast, Jackson, nestled amidst the Teton Range, offers picturesque isolation but is still just an hour from Yellowstone National Park. Both cities offer abundant outdoor activities. Casper’s Casper Mountain provides hiking, skiing, and more, while Jackson has renowned ski resorts and proximity to national parks. Jackson has a higher median household income, around $77,000, compared to Casper’s $60,000. But Casper’s median home price of $286,000 makes it more affordable than Jackson’s $1.7 million. According to bestplaces.net, Casper has a significantly lower cost of living compared to Jackson, making it a more budget-friendly option. Both cities have no state income tax, but Jackson has a slightly higher sales tax at 6% compared to Casper’s 5%. When it comes to weather, Casper gets less rain (13 inches) and snow (70.3 inches) compared to Jackson (20 inches of rain, 109 inches of snow). So, if you love skiing, Jackson might be your choice. As for wind, both cities have their windy days, but Casper’s average wind speed is 12 mph, while Jackson’s is 5 mph. Weather-wise, Casper has a wider temperature range, from 18 to 88, while Jackson ranges from 6 to 78, thanks to its higher elevation. Jackson leans more left politically, with more registered Democrats, while Casper is more conservative with a higher percentage of Republicans. Both cities offer fantastic outdoor opportunities. Casper provides easy access to hiking, skiing, and kayaking. Jackson’s proximity to Yellowstone and its beautiful mountain ranges make it an outdoor paradise. In terms of vibe, Jackson has a friendly small-town atmosphere, while Casper offers small-town charm with big city amenities. Jackson caters more to tourists due to its proximity to Yellowstone, with boutique shops and art galleries in its vibrant downtown. So, which city suits you best? Whether it’s Casper or Jackson, both offer unique experiences. If you decide on Casper, my team and I are here to help you find the perfect home. We love where we live and want you to love it too!
How in the heck do you figure out which location in Wyoming is the right fit for you? Stick with me. Maybe I can help shed a little light on your big decision. When it comes to picturesque destinations in the United States, Wyoming is often at the forefront of people’s minds. With stunning landscapings and an abundance of outdoor activities Wyoming attracts natural enthusiasts from all over the world. It may be no surprise to you. Casper and Jackson are two of the most breathtaking and sought after destinations in the Cowboy State.
Hi, I’m Alisha Collins with the Alisha Collins Real Estate team. I have lived in Casper for over 20 years, so of course I’m a bit partial to Casper, but I’ll admit Casper isn’t the only great city to consider in Wyoming. For comparison’s sake and today’s video, let’s compare Casper to Jackson.
Let’s start with some statistics. How about the population? Casper boasts a much larger population in comparison to Jackson with its strategic position as a regional economic center and its thriving oil and gas industry, Casper has attracted a significant number of residents over time. Consequently, this bustling city offers a vibrant atmosphere with numerous amenities and services to meet the needs of its diverse population. Casper’s population is second right behind number one ranked Cheyenne for having the largest populated city in Wyoming. In contrast, Jackson’s smaller population with about 10,700 residents contributes to its intimate community feeling where people know each other by name. This tight-knit smaller town fostering strong social connections between its residents who often engage in collaborative efforts to serve their unique lifestyle. Regardless of its smaller size, Jackson makes the list as the 10th largest city in Wyoming. If you’re looking for a city with a larger population and more amenities, Casper wins.
Which one is larger by area? Casper is much larger than Jackson containing a total of 27.24 square miles, making Casper almost nine times larger than Jackson, which contains only 2.99 square miles. If you’re looking for a location with more land area, then Casper is the better choice. However, if you value a smaller town, then Jackson is for you.
Location, location, location. Casper is nestled in the heart of the state, while Jackson is tucked away in the western part of Wyoming. Casper’s central location provides easy access to various regions within the state, making it an ideal hub for residents who want to travel to larger cities or anywhere else in the state within just a few hours. For example, it might be four and a half hours from Jackson, but the drive from Casper to Sheridan, Laramie, or Cheyenne is just over two hours. Casper is situated at the base of beautiful Casper Mountain with the North Platte River running right through town. Jackson’s remote location admits the majestic Teton range offers a picturesque setting that attracts visitors from all over. It’s located in the northwestern part of Wyoming, and it’s only about an hour’s drive to Yellowstone National Park. In the eyes of many Jackson is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Wyoming, and the alluring Snake River winding its way through the Scenic Valley, situated right between two mountain ranges, the Grand Tetons and the Gros Ventre. Both locations have some excellent features, including mountains, rivers, and more. You will just have to decide which location features is best for you.
What about median household income? Depending upon what source you check, Casper’s median income is right around 60,000 per year. Jackson’s median household income is quite a bit higher at about $77,000 per year. Again, depending on the information source. At face value, Jackson wins for median household income, but there are other factors to consider.
What about home prices? The median home price in Casper is around 286,000 with an average price per square foot of 145. The demand for homes in Jackson has become so high that the median home price there is 1.7 million with an average per square foot cost of $1,200 per square foot. So although Jackson’s median household income is a bit higher than Casper’s, the cost of a home in Jackson is dramatically higher, making Casper a much better choice for home affordability. According to bestplaces.net, the overall cost of living in Casper is considerably lower than the cost of living in Jackson. The median household costs create the biggest disparity related to the cost of living, but other factors such as healthcare, groceries, and transportation are also accounted for. In bestplaces.net’s calculations, the overall cost of living is 79.9%, making Casper much more affordable city to live in.
Since both cities are in Wyoming, both have great state income tax: none. So I guess tax wise, we could compare sales tax. Both are relatively low. Jackson’s is currently sitting at 6% compared to Casper’s 5%. 1% difference doesn’t really seem that large, but it can add up on those larger purchases.
Climate and weather are relatively similar in both Jackson and Casper, but due to differences in terrain and elevation, there are a few things that are decidedly not the same. When it comes to rainfall, Casper, it’s 13 inches per year compared to Jackson’s 20 inches. Casper also gets less snow averaging 70.3 inches per year compared to Jackson’s 109 inches. Of course, more snow is great if you like to ski, snowboard, etc. One thing that Jackson has less of than Casper is wind. Now, of course, if you were to ask residents in Wyoming which city is the windiest, they’d probably start an argument because everyone thinks their city wins this one. If you want to know more about the wind situation in Wyoming, check out my video about Wyoming wind to learn more. There’s actually a lot of videos on wind of Wyoming. The truth is, depending on the day, any Wyoming city could really win when it comes to wind gusts. However, average wind speeds is another situation. If higher wind wins, then Jackson loses this comparison. Jackson has an annual average of about five miles per hour compared to 12 miles per hour average for Casper. Weatherspark.com has a neat comparison tool where you can see how the different weather stacks up in the same chart. It looks like Jackson and Casper have a fairly similar temperature throughout the year. However, Jackson tends to be a little bit cooler due to their higher elevation. Casper’s average temperature ranges throughout the year is 18 to 88, and Jackson ranges from six to 78.
What about the political climate? I am sure it comes to no surprise that Wyoming tends to have a reputation of being pretty conservative. However, if you think all of Wyoming is conservative, it might come as a surprise to you. Politically Jackson leans more toward the left when compared to Casper. Middle of the year voter registration shows that Jackson is more liberal than Casper. Casper, or rather Natrona County, has around a 72.5% of total voters registered as Republicans compared to Teton County, where Jackson is located with 29.6% Republican voters. In both counties, there are a number of unregistered voters and a very small number of voters registered for alternative parties. The percentage of voters registered as Democrats in Teton County is 67.1%, whereas Natrona County has 24.2% registered Democrat voters. These percentages tend to shift a bit in election years, especially around election time, but the Jackson area tends to be more liberal, where the Casper area generally leans more conservatively.
How does Jackson compare to Casper and access to the great outdoors? Casper is located at the base of Casper Mountain with hiking, skiing, and other snow sports, mountain biking, and camping all within 15 miles of town. There’s a river running right through the city, kayaking, fishing, and floating the river are minutes from home as well. I think it almost goes without saying that since Jackson is just 57 miles from Yellowstone National Park, there are some awesome outdoor activities near Jackson. Along with this, Jackson is home to some of the most amazing skiing and snowboarding resorts. Outdoor recreation is an integral part of life for residents and visitors in both Jackson and Casper. However, each city provides distinct opportunities to indulge in nature’s wonders. Casper provides easy access to hiking trails along Casper Mountain with breathtaking views of the city’s skate below. Meanwhile, Jackson offers unparalleled access to world renowned national parks like Grand Teton and Yellowstone for activities such as hiking, wildlife spotting, skiing, all of those types of things. Both cities have great outdoor adventures available. Jackson has more mountains and closer proximity to Yellowstone National Park, while Casper offers somewhat easier access to outdoor fun. I do think that Jackson is better known for those outdoor type activities along with Grand Targhee. A lot of people travel to Jackson for outdoor activities like skiing. My impression of Jackson is that it is a very nice and friendly small town with a great vibe, maybe even more so than Casper. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Small town feel is what Wyoming is known for. In comparison to Jackson, I would say that Casper feels like a big city inside of a small city with lots of amenities of a big city. Well, the Wyoming version of a big city, anyway.
Another big difference between Jackson and Casper is linked to the largest industry in Jackson: tourism. Jackson is a bit more of a tourist destination than Casper. Jackson’s proximity to Yellowstone really comes into play. On several lists of places to visit in Wyoming, Jackson comes in higher than Casper. Whether you prefer the vibrant city life experience or seek solace amidst nature’s grandeur will determine what city resonates with you profoundly. Is it Jackson or is it Casper?
I will leave that up to you to decide which is the right city for you. Of course, if it is Casper, give me a call. We would love to work with you. We have time for you, and we’d like to find the home of your dreams. We love where we live, and we want you to love where you live too. See you soon.