Where to spend next winter on a budget?

[coldsmoke]

I favor low crowds and longer lasting powder over very advanced terrain

Sounds like Driggs is the perfect choice for you. You can still mix it up with Jackson Hole and maybe even check Liftopia for any deals at Big Sky/Moonlight (an easy 2.5 hour drive on good roads with a beautiful section that goes right through Yellowstone). You'll probably meet some locals who will show you around Teton Pass if you decide to hike a little bit, it is very convenient and there is a lot of good stuff accessible with short hikes. The Tetons are a very special place, we make a couple of trips every year. I don't think you will be disappointed if you choose Driggs.

My son on March 3 at Targhee this year, a Saturday afternoon after 20+ inches , still lots of powder to be had:

 

[Tony Crocker]

Driggs vs. SLC:
1) Lodging cost is probably similar, other living costs (food etc.) less in SLC.
2) If you're there for 3 months, lots more to do when you're not skiing in SLC.
The decision probably turns on where you get your season pass and how often you will be skiing other places.

I favor low crowds and longer lasting powder over very advanced terrain

Powder Mt. is the definition of that, but no way would I suggest the season pass be there. It gets ~3/4 as much snow as Targhee and does not preserve it as well. The best strategy living in Utah in your situation is probably a pass at Alta and/or Snowbird but going other places on weekends or other likely crowded days. Alta has a midweek pass for $599 (maybe it's cheaper in the fall?). As noted by our Altaphile locals you can ski Snowbird for $32/day with an Alta pass. The "other places" day tickets in Utah at SLC sport shops are a lot cheaper than what you will get for Jackson or Big Sky.

If you truly intend to ski the season pass area a very high percentage of your days and don't think you'll get tired of Targhee on the non-powder days (even there that's going to be well over half of them) you will probably come out cheaper at Driggs/Targhee. In SLC the convenience and crowd avoidance factors will draw you to mix it up more among different areas.

Given your parameters these look like the best choices to me.

 

[Marc_C]

Alta has a midweek pass for $599 (maybe it's cheaper in the fall?).

Actually it's more expensive. There's early purchase pricing that is ~$100 less than full price. That typically ends on 9/15 or 9/30 (I get confused between Alta and Snowbird on when their early pricing ends).

However, Alta significantly drops prices on Jan 31 across the board for the remainder of that season. Those are the prices you see on their web site right now.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Not discounting the obvious upsides to choosing SLC as a season-long base, but considering how comparatively easy/inexpensive it is to get there, wouldn't it be smarter to choose a less-traveled region that you normally wouldn't consider for a shorter visit due to costly plane fares?

 

[Tony Crocker]

wouldn't it be smarter to choose a less-traveled region that you normally wouldn't consider for a shorter visit due to costly plane fares?

Only if you can live there for 3 months at similar cost and fulfill the desired skiing requirements. You won't get close to SLC in costs in most ski resort towns, though perhaps you may in a place like Driggs. SLC also sets a very high bar on the skiing, though the specific requirements vary by personal taste as noted by the OP.

 

[Marc_C]

wouldn't it be smarter to choose a less-traveled region that you normally wouldn't consider for a shorter visit due to costly plane fares?

Only if you can live there for 3 months at similar cost and fulfill the desired skiing requirements. You won't get close to SLC in costs in most ski resort towns, though perhaps you may in a place like Driggs.

But all the people in Driggs travel to Jackson or SLC for good dining, concerts, outdoor gear stores, etc. when they go bat-$hit insane from living in a tiny Idaho town (which btw, is far more intense in the predominant regional religion than SLC, if that's the sort of thing that bothers you).