which town is best in Boulder county? (Denver, Arvada: for sale, houses)

[damusic]

I love this forum. I've read so much about Southern Denver, Southern Colorado (Parker, Highlands Park, Colorado springs, etc.)...not much listed about Boulder county. Towns including Superior, Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield, Erie...am I missing any?
This is where we will most likely relocate from CA, what does everyone think about these areas...like most about them and least? Thanks.

[tao]

It might help if you tell us what you're looking for in a town. What is important to you? Proximity to Boulder and/or Denver? A newer house with air conditioning and walk-in closets? An older house with unique charm? A large yard? Small town feel or suburbs with a big upscale mall?

My husband and I are planning to move to Superior once our current house sells. I lived in Boulder once upon a time but you get way more house for the money in Superior and it's only a ten minute drive to downtown Boulder/Pearl Street from there. We personally prefer a newer house with air conditioning and walk-in closets to an older house with charm and uniqueness (but often small closets, no a/c, and the need for updating/repairs). A lot of people feel the opposite. Our priority is being close to Boulder and Denver and having a nice home with all the modern convienences (even if it does look like every other house on the block from the outside) for the price we can afford (a 4 or 5 bedroom house from $300K - $375K). Some people turn their noses up at the kind of home/community I'm describing but we'll be happy to live in luxury in the suburbs while being able to enjoy everything Boulder and Denver has to offer a short drive away. But not everyone is looking for the same things. What do you value most?

[SilverCharm]

Actually Broomfield is now its own county of Broomfield County. Not much of Erie is in Boulder County, most is in Weld County. Longmont is also in Boulder County and of course Boulder itself.

I live in Louisville and we have lived there since 1992 and lived in Longmont from 1981-1992. We love living in Louisville though if you want a newer house, not much has been built there since about the mid 1990s. We also love the school district and like that you can open enroll your students anywhere within the district. I think its location is very good with Boulder and Denver so close without being too close and Flatirons Crossing Mall just across the highway.

Boulder is quite a bit more expensive to live in. Longmont I think has the most variety in housing. Lafayette has one extra nice neighborhood, Indian Peaks Golf Course, but almost all the kids open enroll in other schools in Louisville and Boulder because the Lafayette schools are amongst the worst performing schools in the district with so many Hispanic kids not knowing english. The district is working on it, but it will take years I think for that to change.

You might want to go to http://www.realtor.com to check out prices for the areas you are interested in. I only saw three four bedroom homes in the price range Tao is looking for that are for sale in Superior. Most are priced higher, but looking at just the photos of those houses I couldn't see anything wrong with them.

[tao]

Just wanted to add...besides realtor.com another good site for checking out houses in Colorado is coloproperty.com.

[2bindenver]

www.REColorado.com is the public side of the MLS and it is updated every weekday.

Realtor.com updates regularly, BUT, sometimes there are glitches and it takes two days to get them online.

ColoProperty is an ILD site (Internet Listing Display), a commercial venture.

[damusic]

thanks everyone. To answer some questions from Tao: We're looking for:
* good schools, safe and family friendly city (though I hear all of Boulder Co. is like this) REALLY interesting and good to know about Lafayette schools though. I haven't heard this (thanks silvercharm).

* I don't necessarily want 'suburbia...' meaning all the homes are stacked in rows, no yard and they look alike. I do like homes with character...new or old, just some variation to the neighborhood and houses. But, I'm not a huge fan of the 1950-1970 homes...a little to cement like, square and uninteresting to me.

* We're looking to spend $420,000 and under for a home.
* It would be wonderful to have an "old town" to walk to...with events during the holidays...Halloween, Christmas, etc. Parades for the kids? I know Arvada and Louisville, Boulder too has this...but, Boulder is more expensive.

*views of the mountains, definitely! Walking trails, parks, etc.
*and easy commute to U.Boulder and Denver.

[damusic]

also, which school has the best reputation in Louisville and Superior? I'm actually more interested in my children making a smooth transition (5th, 3rd and preschool)...being "accepted" as the new kid on the block. Any thoughts?

[damusic]

looking at cofinder. com...it seems like there are more homes available in Superior than Louisville? Is Louisville more expensive than Superior? And
are they both connected to each other? I see that some share the same zip code of 80027. Thanks!

[tao]

Louisville borders the east side of Hwy 36. Superior borders the west side. I believe the towns are connected by McCaslin Blvd as well as a large pedestrian bridge.

[BrianPhill]

Can someone explain how this open enrollment works? Do students who live within the boundaries of a specific school get first priority, or is it possible you could live next door to a school but your kids could not go there?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by SilverCharm

Actually Broomfield is now its own county of Broomfield County. Not much of Erie is in Boulder County, most is in Weld County. Longmont is also in Boulder County and of course Boulder itself.

I live in Louisville and we have lived there since 1992 and lived in Longmont from 1981-1992. We love living in Louisville though if you want a newer house, not much has been built there since about the mid 1990s. We also love the school district and like that you can open enroll your students anywhere within the district. I think its location is very good with Boulder and Denver so close without being too close and Flatirons Crossing Mall just across the highway.

Boulder is quite a bit more expensive to live in. Longmont I think has the most variety in housing. Lafayette has one extra nice neighborhood, Indian Peaks Golf Course, but almost all the kids open enroll in other schools in Louisville and Boulder because the Lafayette schools are amongst the worst performing schools in the district with so many Hispanic kids not knowing english. The district is working on it, but it will take years I think for that to change.

You might want to go to http://www.realtor.com to check out prices for the areas you are interested in. I only saw three four bedroom homes in the price range Tao is looking for that are for sale in Superior. Most are priced higher, but looking at just the photos of those houses I couldn't see anything wrong with them.