Denver vs. Albuquerque (theatre, universities, income)

[AllTheWayToMemphis]

Pros/cons? Which would you rather live in (or rather have lived in) in your 20s?

[BergenCountyJohnny]

Albuquerque. You should have done a poll!

Albuquerque is higher in elevation than Denver, but that doesn't matter so much.

Albuquerque is right under some nice mountains, right on the edge of the city. Denver requires a lengthy drive into the mountains. Denver is closer to better skiing, it is also a bigger city with more opportunity for jobs and education, but that's about it.

Albuquerque has better food (red or green) and more interesting and diverse landscape, from desert to mountain. The Rio Grande runs through Albuquerque and provides many beautiful settings along the way. Albuquerque is close to Santa Fe and shares the unique Southwestern/New Mexican culture. Albq. is a very comfortable town, whereas Denver is very populated and feels either like big-box/retail/anywhere-USA in many parts and is crowded and has traffic issues.

Also, Denver has a lot of homeless kids downtown that panhandle somewhat aggressively, and it kills the environment. Albuquerque isn't pristine and has some low-income areas also, as does any city, but I have never been hassled there by aggressive panhandling kids with tattooed and pierced necks and heads, which was a daily occurrence on 16th st. in Denver when I went there for work.

Albuquerque is also prettier. The Rockies near Denver are majestic and beautiful, but Denver itself is on large, flat plains and just isn't terribly interesting or exciting. Albq. has mesas, desert, mountains, browns and reds and oranges in the landscape, rivers and valleys and various vegetation and is much prettier and more interesting. Also, the snowfall is milder in Albq.

[AllTheWayToMemphis]

Oops! I meant to make this a poll...is it too late to edit?

[UrbanRocks]

Hilarious there BergenCountyJohnny. Denver kicks Albuquerque's ass. It is much more sophisticated in every aspect. Much more developed core with great arts, sports, theatre, restaurants, shopping, major universities, top notch lodging. It is also a leader in urban infill and transportation. NO comparison between the two cities. From your post I gather you have a problem with diversity. Yup, better not go to the 16th Street Mall, those tatooed kids might attack.

To be fair, this is not really a fair match-up as Denver metro is 3X Albuquerque. Albuquerque is a fine city...but not even close.

[desert sun]

Originally Posted by BergenCountyJohnny

Albuquerque. You should have done a poll!

Albuquerque is higher in elevation than Denver, but that doesn't matter so much.

Albuquerque is right under some nice mountains, right on the edge of the city. Denver requires a lengthy drive into the mountains. Denver is closer to better skiing, it is also a bigger city with more opportunity for jobs and education, but that's about it.

Albuquerque has better food (red or green) and more interesting and diverse landscape, from desert to mountain. The Rio Grande runs through Albuquerque and provides many beautiful settings along the way. Albuquerque is close to Santa Fe and shares the unique Southwestern/New Mexican culture. Albq. is a very comfortable town, whereas Denver is very populated and feels either like big-box/retail/anywhere-USA in many parts and is crowded and has traffic issues.

Also, Denver has a lot of homeless kids downtown that panhandle somewhat aggressively, and it kills the environment. Albuquerque isn't pristine and has some low-income areas also, as does any city, but I have never been hassled there by aggressive panhandling kids with tattooed and pierced necks and heads, which was a daily occurrence on 16th st. in Denver when I went there for work.

Albuquerque is also prettier. The Rockies near Denver are majestic and beautiful, but Denver itself is on large, flat plains and just isn't terribly interesting or exciting. Albq. has mesas, desert, mountains, browns and reds and oranges in the landscape, rivers and valleys and various vegetation and is much prettier and more interesting. Also, the snowfall is milder in Albq.

good post,I have to agree with pretty much everything here. ABQ gets like 50 inches less of snowfall than Denver a year,big big difference.

Denver is a nice city though and is way more advanced and modern.

[iknowftbll]

Denver is in a whole different league as a city. Everyone is free to compare any city they'd like, so that's fine, but I think Colorado Springs is a much closer comparison to Albuquerque than Denver is.

[AZLiam]

Originally Posted by iknowftbll

denver is in a whole different league as a city. Everyone is free to compare any city they'd like, so that's fine, but i think colorado springs is a much closer comparison to albuquerque than denver is.

I totally agree.