Asheville, NC vs Boulder, CO (living, cost, state, better)
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nightlife: Boulder
culture: Boulder seems stronger
shopping: Boulder
dining: Can't say
scenery: Asheville
outdoor activities: Probably Asheville since it's right in the middle of the mountains
crime rate: No sure, but I'll guess Boulder is lower?
people: Not sure
weather: Boulder
quality of life: Tie
cost of living: Asheville
I looked at going to Colorado-Boulder for graduate school and cost of living was crazy there, and that was 12 years ago. It is no doubt worse now. I would think COL is worse than Asheville.
They don't seem similar to me, Boulder the biggest university in the state, and it is a suburb of a big city with numerous white collar companies. Asheville is isolated and not many people in 20s-40's can get good jobs there outside of healthcare.
Scenery will depend on what you prefer, Rockies to Applachian. CO obviously has better snowskiing. If you hate humidity, then CO for weather. Asheville if like being within reasonable driving distance of the beach.
I graduated from the University of Colorado. Given a chance to go back to Boulder, I'd jump on it! It's not about college life. That place is just awesome all around. I did a lot of trail running and hiking in the mountains just west of town. Driving into town on 36 just after a snowfall...pure awesomeness.
This isn't a knock on Asheville, a place I've only passed through. I understand it's a nice place but don't know from personal experience. Still, I know what I love and would take Boulder over Asheville without a second's thought.
Asheville is a beautiful, historic city with loads of art deco architecture and a liberal vibe. Surrounded by outdoor activities and the gorgeous Biltmore Estate (#1 tourist destination in NC), Asheville's natural scenery can't be beat. It is also within a 3-hour drive of Atlanta, Charlotte, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Durham, Greenville, Columbia, Roanoke, etc. My vote is for Asheville.
Asheville is a beautiful, historic city with loads of art deco architecture and a liberal vibe. Surrounded by outdoor activities and the gorgeous Biltmore Estate (#1 tourist destination in NC), Asheville's natural scenery can't be beat. It is also within a 3-hour drive of Atlanta, Charlotte, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Durham, Greenville, Columbia, Roanoke, etc. My vote is for Asheville.
Asheville and Boulder aren't comparable in that Boulder is an elite suburb while Asheville is a core community. Asheville actually has the full spectrum of community. Boulder is basically upper middle class to wealthy and not much else.
Boulder obviously has all the benefits of Denver on it's front porch, the Rockies on it's back porch and a beautiful world class university in it's front room.
Asheville and Boulder aren't comparable in that Boulder is an elite suburb while Asheville is a core community. Asheville actually has the full spectrum of community. Boulder is basically upper middle class to wealthy and not much else.
Boulder obviously has all the benefits of Denver on it's front porch, the Rockies on it's back porch and a beautiful world class university in it's front room.
Have you ever been to Boulder? Your description would suggest not, or if you have, that your time there was limited. Boulder is not an "elite suburb." It is its own core community that grew up its own core community and only in recent years has it more or less become a part of the Denver area.
Having been to both, I'd say this is a pretty close comparison. I like Asheville's downtown more, but Boulder has the better university. Mountains are interesting... Boulder has better mountains inside it (the Flatirons are iconic). Asheville arguably has better mountains within a close drive to it (the Black Mountains and Smokies beat the Front Range, for me), but Boulder has the core of the American Rockies within a couple hours drive, and lots of epic road trips throughout the region. Asheville is a day's drive from the coast. But... Boulder has quick access to Denver.
Have you ever been to Boulder? Your description would suggest not, or if you have, that your time there was limited. Boulder is not an "elite suburb." It is its own core community that grew up its own core community and only in recent years has it more or less become a part of the Denver area.
Have you looked at the price of homes in Boulder? Or even rent? It's definitely only for the elite, unless you are a student. Asheville by comparison is much more affordable and therefor able to represent a broader demographic. No knock on Boulder, it's an amazing place. But Asheville at least to me offers more of an actual community.
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