Leadville vs. Evergreen (Denver, Lakewood, Aspen: real estate, foreclosures, for sale)

[onthamove]

I have narrowed down where I want to live between Evergreen and Leadville. Both are much more affordable than many parts of the Colorado Rockies. I am concerned though about the weather, I unlike most adults LOVE snow we are talking love as in watching the weather and following a snowstorm on radar for hours at a time. According to some sources Evergreen averages 84'' a winter and Leadville gets 146 or so. I have heard different people say different things but do most snowstorms in Evergreen melt within 24 hours of falling? I know that it is like that in Denver especially in Spring and Fall but in the winter months? The snowfall is very important to me, i gotta have plenty of snow! Also on a plus Leadville has a mtn college and the closest college to evergreen is RRCC in lakewood about a 20 mile drive down onto the plains. So I am sort of in a pickle here and any comments answers or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Fuzz]

I've driven past Evergreen about 40-50 times every winter, and my observation is that Evergreen stays mostly snow-free most of the winter (I could be wrong of course -- perhaps someone who lives there can support or refute my observation). Leadville, on the other hand, has snow all winter, and lots of it.

But the main difference I'd say is in the lifestyle and vibe. Evergreen, being so close to Denver, is a commuter town for many residents. Leadville, on the other hand, is truly a mountain town.

If you really LOVE winter, snow, and cold, I'd suggest Leadville. But you have to determine which lifestyle/vibe is right for you. Leadville may be too small or remote for you, while Evergreen's proximity to Denver may be right. Or vice-versa.

[jazzlover]

OK, if you want snow on the ground most of the winter, like cold weather, and need a college nearby, you should consider Gunnison. Gunnison proper only gets about 50" of snow per winter, but most years that will stay on the ground from December until March. It gets damned cold there in the winter (when I lived there, I saw "unofficially" 55 below zero), but if winter is what you want, you'll get it there. Nice mountain country in all four directions.

Western State College is a small four-year college where one can get a good education. You could probably find something reasonable to rent in Gunnison and also be able to find roommates relatively easily. Finding a job could be difficult--lots of college kids with the same idea, but probably no more difficult than in the resort areas.

Just know that Gunnison is still in part a ranching community and has not totally renounced those roots the way most Colorado resort towns have. And Gunnison is relatively far from any big cities--if you long for them, it's not the place for you.

Crested Butte Ski Area is 28 miles north (though it has that resort vibe that I personally loathe). Crested Butte gets enough snow that the oldtimers (back when it was a coal mining town) strung their outdoor clothelines off of the second floor--the snow got that deep in the winter!

[onthamove]

Thanks for the responeses guys! Is Avon a tourist town or mountain town? Does anyone know if it is as pricy a vail? Vail has one of the mtn colleges and Avon is about 15 miles east of Vail, and i know vail gets hammered with snow, so i guess the only questions are is it "just another tourist area" or does Avon have that Rocky Mountain town atmosphere? And being close to vail is it ridicuously expensive?

[onthamove]

nvm Avon, a studio apartment there starts at 700, hell no!

[dj32]

Avon is extremely expensive- just like all the resort towns around it and summit county. I second jazzlover's recommendation of Gunnison. It gives you the college, access to skiing and will likely be much less expensive than the other places youare considering. Evergreen and Leadville seem very different from each other and if you want to meet people, I imagine Leadville could get quite isolated.

[onthamove]

Thank you all for taking the time to put in your thoughts and suggestions, but i still either want Evergreen or Leadville and i have decided i am going to take off work asap and visit both areas. there is no other way i am going to figure out how its gonna work, i need to actually see the areas. i am afraid leadville will give me my 140'' of snow and a local college but finding a job may be a challenge. Evergreen on the other hand is closer to the hustle and bustle of the front range with plenty more job opprotunity's avaliable yet still in the mts, and perhaps only 85'' of snow a winter, idk this is a hard decision that i need to make my gut is telling me Leadville and i figure if i am gonna live in colorado i might as well live in the really high country, idk though a trip is going to fix this. thanks again everyone

[breaksraver13]

onthamove-------

I seem to relate to alot of your comments and threads.......Evergreen is too, a place that I have considered.....I wish you the best of luck.........
I am headed out to Colorado, October 14-23 and am planning to go to the Evergreen, Lakewood, Lake County, Summit County, Clear Creek County, Jefferson County areas...........

If I get there before you I will share my pictures/thoughts with ya!!!!!

[Skytripper]

Two ENTIRELY different towns!
Leadville sits at about 2 MILES ABOVE sea level (over 10,000 ft. elevation)
Leadville is VERY small in population with few jobs but VERY Colorado mountain town as it can get!
They SKI down the main street in the winter and it's a very "cowboy", frontier town of days gone by for sure.
TONS of winterlong snow around.
NOT quite as expensive as Summit county or the Aspen or Vail/Beaver Creek areas....yet anyway.

Evergreen....on the other hand....Yes, it IS very close to the Denver-metro area.
Evergreen has been invaded by many former Californians and large homes abound.
It is nice but increasingly congested and overdeveloped.....BUT....you are far more likely to acquire work in the area or certainly down the hill in the Denver area.
MORE expensive than Leadville.....much less SNOW!

Seriously.....if snow is what you seek and the Colorado of years past.....LEADVILLE.....or, like others here have noted.....GUNNISON might be a good alternative since it compares more with "old" Colorado and has a good college.
IMO.....Evergreen WAS much nicer 20 years ago.
Then again, Colorado as a whole WAS nicer 20 or 30 years ago.....that's why I don't live there anymore.
Basically.....can't afford to.
Also....ranks #1...(I think).....in foreclosures now.
That could be in someone's favor though, I suppose.
But then again....the real estate market IS now in the TOILET pretty much EVERYWHERE and it looks like it probably will be for quite some time.
Houses here in Washington state are sitting on the market longer and longer.....price reductions still are not selling them and it seems like 1 in 4properties has a FOR SALE sign.....many with "Price Reduced" signs.
I loved Colorado once and especially Summit County...(Silverthorne and Breckenridge)......but ya gotta be a multi-millionaire anymore to live there.
It's become a SHAME in many, many places though.
Good Luck on your choice.

[onthamove]

Thanks for all the help guys, yea millionaires and Californians do ruffle my feathers to put it nicely. Evergreen or Leadville? My goodness questions do abound but there is only one way to figure it out go to these places for myself and figure it out. I am looking for the Colorado of old, not the one hollywood and millionaires dropped a big huge bucket of **** on. But my 18th bday is 9/17 and on 9/18 i am headed out to Colorado and with the money i have saved should be able to live in Evergreen and Leadville for a while before being employed.
Here is my plan; i like leadville because of the local college and oogobs of snow they get, but there is the one little thing jobs, i will search for jobs out there for two weeks if i find one, leadville it is, if not back east to Evergreen i'll have to make do with evergreen only 85'' snow in a winter the local college 2o miles away but guarteed jobs will be waiting just beyond the hill in lakewood. So wish me luck! I hope its leadville!