Would Boulder be a good fit? (Denver, Longmont: 2010, rentals, homes)

[Kris000]

Please help- I need some info in Boulder! It is one of a handful of places my boyfriend and I are considering for relocation due to the law school at CU, which I plan to apply to in about a year.

We would be moving from Las Vegas, which we both hate. Vegas is hot, has no real change of seasons, and is filled with people who practically live at the bars, casinos, and clubs (which is so not my thing- I'm not a drinker or partier). I'm not sure how Boulder is, but the more different Boulder and/or the Denver area are from this, the better. I understand that Boulder has a lot of young college students, but I'm not concerned about them. I just don't want to be in a town where people who are late 20s and older do nothing but party.

I am from Southern California originally and have never lived anywhere that gets a real winter. I love the idea of snow, but would appreciate any feedback on the winters here, especially from anyone who moved from a warmer climate.

Things that seem appealing about Boulder are the somewhat liberal and laid back vibe, the university, the proximity to outdoor activites, proximity to Denver, and that I keep hearing public transportation is good.

What we are looking for in a new place are availabilty of jobs (especially in restaurant industry), safe, pretty, fairly close to the university, close to a downtown or entertainment/restaurant district, and ability for 2 people to get by without a car or sharing one car. We would prefer not to have an outrageous cost of living, but I am used to So Cal and completely get the concept of you get what you pay for in terms of location- would be willing to pay a little more for the "right" areas if I had to.

Does Boulder seem like it would meet our needs? If not, would Denver work? How big of a commute is it from Denver to Boulder (factor in things like weather, rush hour)? I am open to suggestions of other towns as long as they are within half an hour or so of CU and can meet our other needs.

Thanks in advance for any info!

[Mike from back east]

Kris: All that you want is in Boulder. See the thread on "landlords" (search tool) and check rentals via the usual websites (beware of Craigslist, read the warnings on that site).

There's also a law school in Denver, a really fine city. Use the search tool in the denver forum with keyword "lawyer" to find that thread.

There may be residency requirements to qualify for in-state tuition.

TONS of eateries in both cities, though Denver is much larger.

Driving isn't a biggie, we have tons of threads on "driving in snow" and such but it usually melts out in a day.

[sumukru]

As a Midwesterner that moved to Boulder from SoCal, I can tell you the moment I set foot off the plane for the first, Colorado felt like home.

The people I have met here are genuine, good hearted and laid back. The scenery is gorgeous. The cost of living isn't as bad as CA (more than NV). The seasons are not harsh. Sure, you'll get some snow now and again, but it doesn't typically pile up or last long. And frankly, if you can drive in SoCal after the first rain, you shouldn't have a problem driving in snow.

I think Boulder would be a great fit, and Denver would too. They both have a lot to offer.

[PunkGuy]

My wife and I are originally from MD, and lived in SoCal (me for 10 years) and moved here (Lafayette actually) a year ago and love it!
The weather (except for winter) is similar to SoCal in that it's dry, sunny, and nice (60's to 80's).
Though we've heard that last winter was mild, it was very manageable.
The snow is gone within a day so no big worries about that.
I actually wore shorts/tshirt today (it was 35) and it didn't seem that cold to me.
We moved here from the south because it was ALOT more liberal (our county voted for McCain/Palin 95% ugh!) and we couldn't afford moving back to San Diego (even though I love it there).

[BKK09]

I think we are on a similar path as you! Left Maryland (Annapolis) which we liked but wanted a change. Landed in San Diego which we absolutely hate. Now considering Boulder.......how do you find the people in Boulder? The SoCal thing isn't working for us because we just don't click with the people at all....the laid back approach only drives us nuts because nothing ever gets done. We have had more luck with good vets and dentists then friendships that we want to grow....really need a change and looking for a place with more of a sense of community. Plus, the cost of living in SoCal is crazy - you certainly don't get any more benefits for the money. I look at the homes on our street selling for over a million which in any other part of the country would be under $300K. Got to really love it here to get involved in that kind of money! Failing Boulder, we are seriously thinking of heading back to Maryland. But, each time we have visited Boulder we have loved it as tourists...just not sure what it would be like to live....

Originally Posted by PunkGuy

My wife and I are originally from MD, and lived in SoCal (me for 10 years) and moved here (Lafayette actually) a year ago and love it!
The weather (except for winter) is similar to SoCal in that it's dry, sunny, and nice (60's to 80's).
Though we've heard that last winter was mild, it was very manageable.
The snow is gone within a day so no big worries about that.
I actually wore shorts/tshirt today (it was 35) and it didn't seem that cold to me.
We moved here from the south because it was ALOT more liberal (our county voted for McCain/Palin 95% ugh!) and we couldn't afford moving back to San Diego (even though I love it there).

[Kris000]

I lived in San Diego for 5 years and loved it, but the cost of living just isn't worth it unless you are very well off. Besides, I would rather try somewhere new than go back to a city I've already lived in. From everything I've read on these forums, Boulder seems to have everything I'm looking for and it is now at the top of my list. Thanks everyone for the info!

[GregX999]

I'm originally from (and currently in) upstate NY, but I lived in San Diego for 9 years, then moved to Boulder and lived there for 3 years. I'm seriously considering moving back. (BTW, I was 31 when I moved there. I'm 36 now.)

It sounds like Boulder could work out very well for you. The winters are not bad IN Boulder, but drive 30 mins into the mountains and you have tons of snow for skiing, etc. Outdoor activities are HUGE there - especially rock climbing, biking and skiing. There are lots of great restaurants and shops. I had a car, but had friends that either didn't, or had 1 car for 2 people, and they all got along fine - of course they did all live within a mile or two of downtown. There are bike paths all over the place so even if you don't live right near downtown, riding your bike around the entire Boulder area is super easy. There are no clubs - it's more of a bar/pub as well as cafe vibe in Boulder. Most of the live music is either Blue Grass or "folksy" (which I actually didn't like until I moved there!). The inner-Boulder busses are frequent and very safe/clean. I've taken the express bus back and forth to the Denver airport a number of times - it was pleasant.

Rent can be high - right near downtown I'd say it's about on par with many areas of San Diego. Cost to buy is up there too. But while there I felt that the "overall" cost of living was less than SD. In any case, living there was way more WORTH it, for me, then in SD.

Overall, it has a small-town vibe. I would walk down Pearl St. almost every day and you see a lot of the same people. Even just going to the grocery store or eating out, I'd often bump into people I knew. But, it's large enough that it's not like everyone is getting into your business.

Hope that helps,
Greg

[eon-krate32]

Boulder may be decent for what you need, but unless you can't help it i highly recommend you DON'T live there. The city is way to congested and their current methods of trying to cope with the motor traffic and the ped traffic are not working. Plus with the recent development of Interlocken in the city/county of Broomfield the commute traffic has taken a nosedive. Yeah Boulder is a decent city, but I personally don't believe that it's a fit match for you and your boyfriend to live in, at least not yet.

As for the weather Boulder tends to miss most of the snow due to it's location in the crook of the Rockies, but anywhere up within the actual mountains during the winters the opportunities for skiing and boarding are abundant, although better access may be achieved through Longmont or Denver.

Regardless I do hope that you find a place that is fitting for the two of you.

[HanhepiWi]

With regard to transportation...a car is nice to have for things like grocery shopping, heading into the mountains, or taking off to Denver for a bit. Locally, public transportation is really good. My car doesn't leave the garage unless it's for one of the aforementioned reasons (I even have friends that live in Superior but take the bus into Denver to go to Metro State). You'll be able to get the student buss pass through CU, and your bf will have options as well for a pass; possibly through work, depending on where he goes.

Hope this helps!

- June

[getmeoutofhere]

Hey all!

Like the OP, I am applying to law school for 2010.

Couple questions -

1) Housing - we need to rent a house. Can we get something minimum 1200-1300 SF with at least a small yard for $1500 or under? Doesn't have to be in Boulder, we can live a little outside and drive in, that's fine.

2) Teaching - my wife is a teacher, certified here in 4-8. Not sure how it breaks down in CO, but she loves 5th grade, teaches everything here but prefers math and science. How's the teaching market in the area, and what are salaries like?


Thanks for any help!