I would try to avoid ones that are actually on a list like this, but this is a good start and the kind of place you're looking for.

Heck, there are a TON of incredible ski resorts that are in a town of less than 10k just North of the border

https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/best-small-ski-resorts...

Thanks!

Upper Peninsula in Michigan is pretty cheap (I've seen nice home listings for under $300k on Zillow), has some ski resorts (not sure how good they are, I've been in the area but not to ski, but there's several up there)

They're no Rocky Mountains, but the Porcupine Mountains are up there and still pretty nice. And Lake Superior is right there also, as well as a bunch of waterfalls. And at night you can see the Milky Way.

Some places to ski up there: https://localfreshies.com/upper-peninsula-skiing/

Not a lot of jobs up there though, that I could tell. If I moved up there I'd have to work remote for sure.

The UP is pretty great but I wouldn’t characterize it in the same way the OP did with the ski towns. More of a hunting and fishing vibe. A bit insular as well which is fine if that’s what you’re aiming for.

If they're trying to avoid paying million dollar house prices that those other ski towns have, they might have to look at something that's not quite a dedicated ski town.

Although some places up in the UP seem pretty close to that. Ironwood, MI for example, has 4 ski resorts within 15 miles of it, and doesn't seem to have a whole lot else happening there (we stayed there as a base of operations to go to the Porcupine Mountains though).

From Wikipedia: "While originally an iron mining town, the area is now known for its downhill skiing resorts, including Big Powderhorn, Black River, Snow River, Mount Zion and Whitecap as well as its cross country skiing at the Wolverine Nordic Trail System and the ABR Nordic Center."

Right totally agree. Thanks for the tip on Ironwood as well. Though it would take me longer to get there from Ohio than it would to fly out to Colorado or anywhere out west to ski it could be a cool place to go check out. :)