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Hi, I could really use some help in trying to decide between living in these two cities. I am a college undergraduate in NC and will be going on exchange next semester so that I can see more of this country. The main thing I want is opportunity for outdoor activities which is why Bozeman and Colorado Springs are my two main choices. From the research I have done it seems Bozeman is fairly more expensive than the Springs and money is definitely a factor for me. On the down side for the Springs though is that the city seems, from what I can tell from looking around, very religious and conservative. I don't affiliate myself with any religion so if there are a ton of people there trying to shove theirs down my throat I don't know how I would fit in.
Would I be able to fit in in the Springs? Which place has more/better outdoor activities and opportunities? Which city has nicer people? And is there a huge difference in costs of living? I would most likely be staying in an off-campus student apartment complex.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Kind of apples and oranges. Bozeman is a beautiful, college town (Montana State) but much smaller (metro 89,000) than COS (metro 672,000). Colorado Springs is a nice locale and I’m sure you would find the access to outdoor activities remarkable. And if you need a "big city" fix, Denver is an hour away. As for the city itself, it is a military town. Therefore, fairly conservative but NOT overtly so, as some would have you think. I’ve lived here for 12 years (Denver native) and have never been proselytized by any faith. If anything, this city has a “live and let live”, libertarian attitude. You’d be welcome here!
Just stay away from Focus on the Family. No one is going to try to shove religion down your throat, that's an outdated COS stereotype. The "Ted Haggard/Focus on the Family" era has been in decline in the city, it's slowly becoming more normalized despite what some like to say.
Besides, the people that are the most outdoorsy, fit types live on the west side in the foothills and they're the more liberal-leaning/independent thinking type folks. Lived there for 15 years and your outdoor opportunities are pretty much limitless, plus you have the amenities of a medium-sized city right there unlike Bozeman.
Hi, I could really use some help in trying to decide between living in these two cities. I am a college undergraduate in NC and will be going on exchange next semester so that I can see more of this country. The main thing I want is opportunity for outdoor activities which is why Bozeman and Colorado Springs are my two main choices. From the research I have done it seems Bozeman is fairly more expensive than the Springs and money is definitely a factor for me. On the down side for the Springs though is that the city seems, from what I can tell from looking around, very religious and conservative. I don't affiliate myself with any religion so if there are a ton of people there trying to shove theirs down my throat I don't know how I would fit in.
Would I be able to fit in in the Springs? Which place has more/better outdoor activities and opportunities? Which city has nicer people? And is there a huge difference in costs of living? I would most likely be staying in an off-campus student apartment complex.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
In my opinion Bozeman has easier accessibility to outdoor activities and the quality is world-class. I have found Montanans quite friendly and can't speak to Colorado Springs specifically but as a larger city have trouble believing that it could be as friendly or friendlier than a town of under 100K. In terms of expenses, look at Craigslist for both cities. I just looked quickly and Rooms/Shares looked to be significantly more expensive in Colorado Springs than Bozeman and I would say the higher proportion of students in Bozeman actually keeps costs down. Year long leases might be more expensive in Bozeman but since you're renting for a semester you obviously wouldn't be looking in that sector, and furthermore would imagine finding a sublet over the summer in Bozeman will offer a number of choices. Good luck!
You're in North Carolina, and you're afraid people in Colorado will push religion down your throat?
When people try to do that, you have to just learn to be rude to the buggers. First, ask them to buy you a meal, though. They love to make a pretense of being generous and altruistic.
If outdoor opportunities are, indeed, your primary criteria, Bozeman wins this in a landslide. You have Yellowstone and the Beartooth Mountains practically at your backdoor. Glacier NP, which far surpasses anything the Front Range (including RMNP) can offer in terms of natural beauty, is only 5.5 hours away. The amenities Colorado Springs offers could be construed as a bit of a double-edged sword. If you value the solitude of a true wilderness experience, it is much easier to find in the areas surrounding Bozeman than the Front Range, which is heavily utilized for recreational purposes by locals, particularly on weekends.
I'm not sure what schools you are looking at attending. I am a graduate of Colorado College, long ago, married a girl from the Springs, and have also been in Bozeman and worked with researchers at Montana State. It's a great university for various natural-resource related disciplines. CC is an outstanding, small, liberal arts college and UC, Colorado Springs is not all that good a place to have on your resume.
The better place for recreation - probably Bozeman - since the mountains are closer, but both places are good as jumping off points to get into some pretty rugged territory. Culture-wise, Bozeman is a pretty hip place, but the Springs also has a lot to offer in and around CC.
Yes, Bozeman housing is more expensive, but you have the US army to deal with in the Springs and there's lots of really cheap housing that weighs on the market.
Colorado Springs is indeed full of conservatives and Christians. But I--and most people who live there--tend to think that that fact makes the area even more desirable to live in. It's very friendly, family-centered, and liveable, and much of that is due to the influence of low-tax conservatives and community-minded Christians.
You're in North Carolina, and you're afraid people in Colorado will push religion down your throat?
When people try to do that, you have to just learn to be rude to the buggers. First, ask them to buy you a meal, though. They love to make a pretense of being generous and altruistic.
As they used to say in the '70s, right on.
And I'm a native/resident of NC, by the way.
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No one is going to try to shove religion down your throat, that's an outdated COS stereotype. The "Ted Haggard/Focus on the Family" era has been in decline in the city, it's slowly becoming more normalized despite what some like to say.
