Colorado Springs vs Denver area (Fort Collins, Boulder: real estate, new home, unemployment)

[klysik]

Just came back from Boulder. What a beautiful (but very expensive) town. After dropping our daughter off at CU we started to think heavily about a move to CO. We did a lot of driving around the Denver area but nothing seemed to 'click' for me. The backdrops of the mountains are obviously breathtaking but I didn't care for the many areas we saw that had house on top of house on top of house. I also didn't come across any charming towns (other than Boulder) that have a walkable downtown. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to Colorado Springs but were wondering if you all could give me a comparison of the areas I described and Colorado Springs. The real estate seems more 'affordable' ($500's++) and the houses don't seem to be on top of each other. Are there charming walkable safe suburbs? Thank you so much!

[Wittgenstein's Ghost]

Originally Posted by klysik

Just came back from Boulder. What a beautiful (but very expensive) town. After dropping our daughter off at CU we started to think heavily about a move to CO. We did a lot of driving around the Denver area but nothing seemed to 'click' for me. The backdrops of the mountains are obviously breathtaking but I didn't care for the many areas we saw that had house on top of house on top of house. I also didn't come across any charming towns (other than Boulder) that have a walkable downtown. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to Colorado Springs but were wondering if you all could give me a comparison of the areas I described and Colorado Springs. The real estate seems more 'affordable' ($500's++) and the houses don't seem to be on top of each other. Are there charming walkable safe suburbs? Thank you so much!

Yes! Downtown Colorado Springs fits this perfectly. You should check out the Old North End. Much of the area north of Uintah is filled will historic, charming houses. Lots are a decent size in many cases, and the COS downtown is very walkable.

$500k can get you a nice house in a nice area. The mountains are much, much more impressive in COS than in Denver, too.

[otowi]

Originally Posted by Wittgenstein's Ghost

Yes! Downtown Colorado Springs fits this perfectly. You should check out the Old North End. Much of the area north of Uintah is filled will historic, charming houses. Lots are a decent size in many cases, and the COS downtown is very walkable.

$500k can get you a nice house in a nice area. The mountains are much, much more impressive in COS than in Denver, too.

I had dinner last night at a place in the old Lincoln school - I really like what they're doing there - it is quite the little neighborhood community center going on there.

[wilberry]

My favorite area in Colorado springs is around the 500 block of Columbia , Wasatch , North El Paso st, a really nice mix of Old and newer homes . The Dog tooth coffee company used to be there in the little shopping center. As soon as I win the lottery I am going to buy a house there . My rich uncle died but left all his money to my 6 cousins. So I am saving my paychecks I should have a 15 % down payment in about 40 yrs .....

[klysik]

Thank you everyone!!

[MissTerri]

I think that Colorado Springs is far prettier then Denver. You also may be interested in Fort Collins.

[TCHP]

Denver has expanded greatly over its history and it does have some pockets of small cities that have somewhat retained their original downtowns. Louisville, Lafeyette and Superior are small towns outside of Denver towards Boulder. Littleton, Sheridan, Morrison, and Golden are some that are more in the Denver metro area. You really have to peel back some layers to get find these and they are still part of the larger Denver metro which means traffic and high real estate prices.

Cos will be more affordable than those, however we also have our share of cookie cutter suburban sprawl as well. We are similar to Boulder in our location to the mountains and the vistas they provide. We differ significantly from Boulder and Denver in that we tend to be much more fiscally and at times socially conservation and do have a significant military presence with the Air Force Academy, Ft Carson, and Peterson and Shreiver AFBs.

Employment and growth between Cos and the Denver area are also slightly different. While unemployment numbers in both are at record lows, competition for high paying jobs in Cos is much more intense and you may find your fields pay less than other areas in the nation. If you can import your job with you, then you'll be set.

I'd certainly recommend spending some time browsing the Colo Spgs and Denver forums on here for compare/contrast on items you want in a new home. Jump into topics that pique your interest and dig up more clarification on some of the differences.

[BornintheSprings]

Originally Posted by MissTerri

I think that Colorado Springs is far prettier then Denver. You also may be interested in Fort Collins.

Denver feels kind of grimey they have a nice downtown though. I'd still rather live in the springs though

[Kar54]

Originally Posted by MissTerri

I think that Colorado Springs is far prettier then Denver. You also may be interested in Fort Collins.

Agree. In Denver, one of the selling points realtors use is "mountain views". In COS, from almost anywhere in the city you'll have a mountain view.

[Wittgenstein's Ghost]

Originally Posted by TCHP

Denver has expanded greatly over its history and it does have some pockets of small cities that have somewhat retained their original downtowns. Louisville, Lafeyette and Superior are small towns outside of Denver towards Boulder. Littleton, Sheridan, Morrison, and Golden are some that are more in the Denver metro area. You really have to peel back some layers to get find these and they are still part of the larger Denver metro which means traffic and high real estate prices.

Cos will be more affordable than those, however we also have our share of cookie cutter suburban sprawl as well. We are similar to Boulder in our location to the mountains and the vistas they provide. We differ significantly from Boulder and Denver in that we tend to be much more fiscally and at times socially conservation and do have a significant military presence with the Air Force Academy, Ft Carson, and Peterson and Shreiver AFBs.

Employment and growth between Cos and the Denver area are also slightly different. While unemployment numbers in both are at record lows, competition for high paying jobs in Cos is much more intense and you may find your fields pay less than other areas in the nation. If you can import your job with you, then you'll be set.

I'd certainly recommend spending some time browsing the Colo Spgs and Denver forums on here for compare/contrast on items you want in a new home. Jump into topics that pique your interest and dig up more clarification on some of the differences.

This is certainly true in general, but the OP should know that this totally depends on the area of COS you are in. If the OP wants a walkable area, that isn't going to be out in the burbs anyway. There are areas in COS that are walkable and devoid of suburban tract housing. Those areas also tend to be much less conservative.