Housing inventory in Sun Valley is tight and relatively expensive. To accommodate increasing demand, home developers have begun building comparatively less expensive single-family residences in the surrounding towns of Hailey and Bellevue. The demand for seasonal residences is high. Rental rates within Sun Valley tend to be more expensive than in its surrounding towns. Tourism historically has been the main economic lifeline for Sun Valley, but the local economy gradually has become more diverse, including a growing population of high-tech industries.
Architecture is diverse, and many newcomers gravitate toward Sun Valley's popular log homes.
As a result, schools are excellent here, many of the district's specialized programs have been used as models for other school districts throughout the country. If Blaine County sounds like your dream, but you have your doubts about your ability to afford a home here, O'Connell adds that contrary to what you might think, both rental prices and housing prices are quite diverse. Rents and home prices tend to be at their highest in the north and then gradually decrease as one heads south. Sun Valley is a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of overcrowded ski communities. Courtney Ronan is a freelance writer who contributes a weekly column profiling various communities.