What's the best progressive family mountain/ski town in CO (or U.S.)? (Durango: short sale, foreclosure)

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Viper2

"Estimated median household income in 2008: $40,247 (it was $34,892 in 2000)" - (From http://www.city-data.com/city/Durango-Colorado.html#ixzz169iJDYVQ)

Not exactly a wealthy area.

Another ignorant statement from someone who doesn't even live in Colorado. Durango has a low median income because, like many Colorado resort areas, it has a lot of lower income worker bees and a smaller, but quite wealthy minority. That will pull a median down. If you had actually bothered to visit Durango and looked at the number of $1 million+ homes there (and a pretty bland tract house will be around $300K), it would dispel the notion that there are few wealthy people there. What is true is that most of the wealthy people in Durango bring in their money from elsewhere--it's not coming from the local economy.

[Viper2]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Another ignorant statement from someone who doesn't even live in Colorado. Durango has a low median income because, like many Colorado resort areas, it has a lot of lower income worker bees and a smaller, but quite wealthy minority. That will pull a median down. If you had actually bothered to visit Durango and looked at the number of $1 million+ homes there (and a pretty bland tract house will be around $300K), it would dispel the notion that there are few wealthy people there. What is true is that most of the wealthy people in Durango bring in their money from elsewhere--it's not coming from the local economy.

[Sissyjazzflute]

Wow - I'm wondering how I made it all these 15 years, 45 min from Telluride with 100k plus family income and as I write this staring off into my vast tree'd acreage property, dreaming about how completely insane jobless Jazzlover, hater of mountain towns maybe Find a place you love and be preparred to do what you need to do to stay where you love. Knowledge of local economy and opportunities only happens after your local. Our schools are great, Our community is great, The San Juans without question are ridiculously great. Yes people struggle to be here but for free this weekend I'm going to climb 5 pitches of Ice and ski 2500 vertical feet. For free. In the summer i fish world class rivers, rappel into the deepest canyons climb 14ers and raft class 4 water....for free. We didn't start with this success we cultivated it.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Sissyjazzflute

Wow - I'm wondering how I made it all these 15 years, 45 min from Telluride with 100k plus family income and as I write this staring off into my vast tree'd acreage property, dreaming about how completely insane jobless Jazzlover, hater of mountain towns maybe Find a place you love and be preparred to do what you need to do to stay where you love. Knowledge of local economy and opportunities only happens after your local. Our schools are great, Our community is great, The San Juans without question are ridiculously great. Yes people struggle to be here but for free this weekend I'm going to climb 5 pitches of Ice and ski 2500 vertical feet. For free. In the summer i fish world class rivers, rappel into the deepest canyons climb 14ers and raft class 4 water....for free. We didn't start with this success we cultivated it.

Well, considering that I've lived in rural Colorado for nearly 40 years total, including time in some areas in immediate proximity to the resorts, I happen to think I know what I'm talking about. I also work closely with people who have their finger on the pulse of the local economies of most every significant community in Colorado.

Oh, and by the way, if you live any community within a 45 minute drive of Telluride and have a $100K+ family income--congratulations, you are in around the top 10 percent of family incomes for most any of those communities. Fortunate you. Unfortunately, the other 90 percent are going to have a much rougher time of it--and likely a much less sanguine view of what the local economy is like.

One other thing--I'm not jobless. In fact, I hold one of the best jobs one can have in rural Colorado--and I'm very thankful for that. But I also understand quite clearly how tenuous and fickle the economy is here, and how quickly fortunes can change. I've lived through it before--a couple of times.

[Sissyjazzflute]

You have a tremendous grasp of the obvious Jazz and must be a blast at parties. However I have lived through it as well and unless your you were born yesterday eveyrone else has as well. The point is in a mountain town luck is not when opportunity meets prep. Its being smart & independent enough to adapt to changes and still survive long enough to find an opportunity. Yes were lucky that way & apparently u are as well. Are you so unique? Others can't follow in your employment footsteps? No one has any unique offerings and should stay away? Is that the solution to our economic woes? How the hell did these area even become popoulated in the first place?

[Anamax]

I love all your info, passion and wisdom. Thank you for commenting on my thread. Self-employed, we will create the life we want to live.

[PokerMunkee]

I'd go to Hawaii and pickup surfing if I could go anywhere.

[docwatson]

Curious why no one mentioned Glenwood Springs ... is it because it is not a "ski town" per se? We are considering relocation there, which is looking more solid as a possibibility. Thoughts?

We are looking to live in town, not on acreage, but other than that have similar preferences to the OP - decently progressive (accepting of new ideas, of us as a multi-cultural family, environmental values) but not the limo liberal craziness of Aspen or Boulder; and a decent place for young families. I know Glenwood is expensive but it appears we can get into a decent townhome without going down the Colorado to Rifle.

[choosing78]

I might have missed it but did you say what your budget for housing is?

[kapetrich]

Bend, OR.

You don't have to fight the snowfall in town like almost all other ski towns, plus it's just far enough away form the mountain to be a bit more than just a "ski town" which tend to cater to vacationers and the rich strictly. Bend is a VERY inexpensive liberal "ski town" all things considered. Plus, the weather is very sunny. Not as sunny as Colorado or the sunbelt, but 250-260 days of sun!

We just got voted the best foodie ski town, actually: http://www.sunset.com/travel/outdoor...725/page5.html (not that these mean much....)

Moreover, Mt. Bachelor gets TONS of fresh snow regularly sitting at 9k.


Check it out.