The famous people there blend in with everyone else, it is very low key and relaxed compared to Vail. It is more exclusive than Park City or Jackson Hole in the respect that the area is so expensive and hasn't sold out to national chains. I saw a show a few years back that ranked Sun Valley/Ketchum as one of the most exclusive areas in the US for the rich and famous to vacation in and own homes. The area also has homes owned by the rich and famous. There are also a lot of older uber rich people who live there or have 2nd or 3rd homes in the area. There are all age ranges, a lot of families around Hailey and a lot of younger working people living in Ketchum and Sun Valley during the high tourist seasons. The Wood River Valley is diverse in that there are tourists from around the world, and people of differing nationalities live in the valley. Hailey does have a McDonalds and Albertsons, but the entire valley is mostly locally owned businesses and restaurants. Ketchum and Sun Valley have ordinances keeping national chain stores out so you will not see fast food there, a Wal Mart or Target or Costco. It is an expensive resort area, most of the restaurants are high end and spendy but there are some affordable options, the gas is expensive, the grocery stores are gourmet. You may need to contact an agency in Ketchum to give you listings of available places. Northwood Place, Ketchum, ID - Affordable Apartments near Sun Valley I have friends who used to live in the place I have linked to and they are nice apartments. Ketchum has some "affordable" apartments and they have salary requirements. The cost of living there is sky high and affordable housing is hard to find unless you head south towards Hailey and Bellevue and those areas are still somewhat expensive. I spend a lot of time in that area and used to live and work there for a few years. Thanks for any comments, and if you want to say anything about the area that I didn't mention, that's cool too. Would I be sorely out of place because of my age or sexuality? Would I run into much, if any, trouble about my sexuality up there? I'm pretty down to earth and have enjoyed living in Wyoming for the people's "live and let live" attitude for the most part regarding that kind of thing. .Is it fairly diverse (speaking in terms of rural Western towns)? How about the age of residents? Is it mostly old people or are there some younger people (like, late 20s early 30s) there? I know it's in a spectacular setting, which is part of its appeal, and I've heard it's a pretty artsy place, which is a bonus. What I'd like to know is what the feel of the area is. In general do you guys have a salary range that you think would be necessary for a single guy, renting, would need to have a high quality of life there? A little 1-bedroom or well-kept studio would be fine. I'd be planning on renting, not buying, and it doesn't have to be huge. I understand that Ketchum and the Wood River Valley in general carries a high cost of living compared to the rest of Idaho. I love mountains and the West and have lived in Wyoming for the past few years. So I'm a 27-year-old gay guy who might have a job opportunity in Ketchum.