small towns in colorado (Loveland, Aspen: real estate, home, income)

[naturluvr]

I am wanting to move to colorado ! But I want a nice mtn town,with pop of
20000 or less!
Any ideas out there, thanks !

[jazzlover]

Bringing lots of money with you? That's pretty much what it takes . . .

[bco24]

What area of Colorado are you looking at? There's a lot small towns scattered throughout Colorado.

[Tom Emmerling]

There are many Mountain towns. If you are just looking to live in the mountains and not looking for skiing or anything like that you might want to consider places like Red Feather, GlacierView, and Estes Park. They are all within driving distance to Ft Collins/Loveland and offer a mountain community with lower prices, but they do not offer any of the resort type of activity or shopping. Basically just hunting, fishing, etc.

[zaphod07]

I can't speak for all of Colo...it really is a BIG place...

But, I do know of a couple of towns I have visited/vacationed at/known family that live there kind of thing. These are all 5000 or less population.

I basicly am predudiced toward the San Jauns... Ouray/Telluride/Ridgeway/Norwood area...San Miguel County and surrounding counties...including the towns of Silverton, Dolores and Cotez.
1) It is beautiful. There is a spot on Highway 62 between Ridgeway and Placerville on Dallas Divide that is suposedly "the most photographed spot in America". I would not have ever beleived this until last Sept. when I came over the Pass, and at the "scenic overlook" there had to be 100 photographers set up and waiting for the sun to cast it's early morning glow on the Aspens in yellow and The snow capped Sneiffels Range. The folks that came up with the term "breathtaking" thought of it first here.
2) It is still, despite the influx of non-natives, small-town america. Go watch the Norwood basketball team on a chilly February night if you don't beleive me. I can vacation here, and go home to Missouri after a week, and feel like I've been on another planet.... You can suck up or discard as much of the rest of the world as you like while you are here... It really does move at it's own pace. Friends that I know there have told me it's just "that" that makes the cold long winters tolerable.
3) It helps to be independently wealthy if you want to live here. Everything costs more, period. 10 to 25% more. Food, gas, bare essentials, a good combination plate at a Mexican restraunt, and especially real estate. Unless you are a vastly popular writer, painter, or webmaster, you need income from some other source to be able to live here. Don't expect to move there and find a high paying job easily. My daughter just moved for the Telluride area and after being there a year she saved zilch dollars.
4) If you are a nature lover, you know that it is the absence of Humans that makes for a pristine natural environment. You can still find that here. Hiking, Biking, Hunting fishing, or just sightseeing. You can do any of these and be completely alone. Perfect!

My suggestion is to visit the area. Spend a week. you will like it if you can afford it!

[rootseye]

I lived in colorado most of my life. It has changed so much , like most areas that are popular.The cost of living can be very high. Most of your money will go towards housing.Bring lots of cash. A good vehicle for snow is a must in the mountains.Seems Every one wants to move there....so you pay for the simple rule of supply and demand. As for my wife and I we have made the choice to move to a place where not everybody and his brother are considering moving to. Colorado has great people,the best air, ski, ski, ski!!!!and of course...THE MOUNTAINS My wife and I will always miss them. There are lots of great spots out there, and all over this country... go get you one!

[naturluvr]

Originally Posted by zaphod07

I can't speak for all of Colo...it really is a BIG place...

But, I do know of a couple of towns I have visited/vacationed at/known family that live there kind of thing. These are all 5000 or less population.

I basicly am predudiced toward the San Jauns... Ouray/Telluride/Ridgeway/Norwood area...San Miguel County and surrounding counties...including the towns of Silverton, Dolores and Cotez.
1) It is beautiful. There is a spot on Highway 62 between Ridgeway and Placerville on Dallas Divide that is suposedly "the most photographed spot in America". I would not have ever beleived this until last Sept. when I came over the Pass, and at the "scenic overlook" there had to be 100 photographers set up and waiting for the sun to cast it's early morning glow on the Aspens in yellow and The snow capped Sneiffels Range. The folks that came up with the term "breathtaking" thought of it first here.
2) It is still, despite the influx of non-natives, small-town america. Go watch the Norwood basketball team on a chilly February night if you don't beleive me. I can vacation here, and go home to Missouri after a week, and feel like I've been on another planet.... You can suck up or discard as much of the rest of the world as you like while you are here... It really does move at it's own pace. Friends that I know there have told me it's just "that" that makes the cold long winters tolerable.
3) It helps to be independently wealthy if you want to live here. Everything costs more, period. 10 to 25% more. Food, gas, bare essentials, a good combination plate at a Mexican restraunt, and especially real estate. Unless you are a vastly popular writer, painter, or webmaster, you need income from some other source to be able to live here. Don't expect to move there and find a high paying job easily. My daughter just moved for the Telluride area and after being there a year she saved zilch dollars.
4) If you are a nature lover, you know that it is the absence of Humans that makes for a pristine natural environment. You can still find that here. Hiking, Biking, Hunting fishing, or just sightseeing. You can do any of these and be completely alone. Perfect!

My suggestion is to visit the area. Spend a week. you will like it if you can afford it!

Thanks for all the great info ! I am going out this week to look around,but unfortunately,I am not independently wealthy !!
Thanks Again !

[naturluvr]

Originally Posted by Tom Emmerling

There are many Mountain towns. If you are just looking to live in the mountains and not looking for skiing or anything like that you might want to consider places like Red Feather, GlacierView, and Estes Park. They are all within driving distance to Ft Collins/Loveland and offer a mountain community with lower prices, but they do not offer any of the resort type of activity or shopping. Basically just hunting, fishing, etc.

Thanks for the info! I am going out this week to look around !