COS v Monument/Palmer lake v Larkspur

[DrDog]

Originally Posted by MrGuy

Meh too expensive. The whole n cali/Portland/Seattle thing doesn't appeal to me for some reason. Perhaps I should reconsider.

Too expensive and too crowded is why most people leave there.

[TCHP]

The issue I see is that when you combine all the desirable qualities you want, prices tend to escalate rapidly and create a barrier to admission. This is why places like northern CA, Summit County CO, and Boulder all are expensive. If you find a place that is truly inexpensive to reasonably priced for access to property, there is usually a reason, or several, behind that, and that tends to impact all the amenities around it. So this is a tough balancing act to achieve in our computerized age where anyone anywhere can search out these little niches and migrate there rapidly.

I agree that not all small towns are conservative, and there are plenty of them in Colo that would decent places to raise families with reasonably decent performing schools, but not all are reasonably priced anymore and not all have mild weather all of the time and you will need to deal with inhospitable weather at least occasionally to regularly. I also think if you view Cos as a cultural wasteland, why in the world consider places like Woodland Park, Larkspur, Durango, or Corrales. But perhaps your view of culture is considerably different than mine.

Since you seem to be leaning more towards more southerly exposure, you might also look into Monte Vista or Del Norte down in the San Luis valley. Sargent school district is accessible from either of these and is a reasonably high performing district and has test scores that are above those in Woodland Park. Also on par with that and also in the southern part of the state is the North Conejos District in La Jara, Sanford District in Sanford, and the Sangre De Cristo district in Alamosa and Mosca, although you may be put off by attending a district literally named The Blood of Christ. Further out west nearer to Grand Junction is the Meek District in Rio Blanco County. This area, while having some winter temps and occasional snow, is more high mountain desert than even the Front Range. Prices in any of these areas may be as reasonable as it gets in Colorado while still having access to other amenities. Although I'd call it a stretch that any of them provide any more high culture than the local movie house or senior prom. They all have plenty of local culture though.

[MrGuy]

Originally Posted by TCHP

The issue I see is that when you combine all the desirable qualities you want, prices tend to escalate rapidly and create a barrier to admission. This is why places like northern CA, Summit County CO, and Boulder all are expensive. If you find a place that is truly inexpensive to reasonably priced for access to property, there is usually a reason, or several, behind that, and that tends to impact all the amenities around it. So this is a tough balancing act to achieve in our computerized age where anyone anywhere can search out these little niches and migrate there rapidly.

I agree that not all small towns are conservative, and there are plenty of them in Colo that would decent places to raise families with reasonably decent performing schools, but not all are reasonably priced anymore and not all have mild weather all of the time and you will need to deal with inhospitable weather at least occasionally to regularly. I also think if you view Cos as a cultural wasteland, why in the world consider places like Woodland Park, Larkspur, Durango, or Corrales. But perhaps your view of culture is considerably different than mine.

Since you seem to be leaning more towards more southerly exposure, you might also look into Monte Vista or Del Norte down in the San Luis valley. Sargent school district is accessible from either of these and is a reasonably high performing district and has test scores that are above those in Woodland Park. Also on par with that and also in the southern part of the state is the North Conejos District in La Jara, Sanford District in Sanford, and the Sangre De Cristo district in Alamosa and Mosca, although you may be put off by attending a district literally named The Blood of Christ. Further out west nearer to Grand Junction is the Meek District in Rio Blanco County. This area, while having some winter temps and occasional snow, is more high mountain desert than even the Front Range. Prices in any of these areas may be as reasonable as it gets in Colorado while still having access to other amenities. Although I'd call it a stretch that any of them provide any more high culture than the local movie house or senior prom. They all have plenty of local culture though.

All fair points- thank you for making them. It's a Blanancing act act for sure. I've looked over the state real estate wise, and while some places are certainly more expensive, I could afford to live just about anywhere save aspen/telluride/vail/boulder.

When I say culture I am using it in the sense of local culture/history, not high culture (operas, ballets, concerts, sports, theatre, etc). So in this sense Corrales is very rich in culture.

I am not into the San Luis valley. Too remote. I'll just go south to New Mexico at that point.

While I am liberal, I cannot stand the yuppification of the boulder/superior/Westminster corridor, and would not consider living there, even if I could afford it.