Why are so many people moving to Colorado? (Denver, Holly: foreclosures, houses)

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by beachrunner

...For me, recently out of college, ... I am mainly looking for a place that has good mass transportation, bike friendly, convenient access to outdoor activities. I would like somewhere less expensive than NJ/NYC, since I would be able to save very little (toward a house down payment) with the rent being high. I have never owned a car and would not like to own one until I can buy it full in cash. ....

Denver. Has all the things you're looking for.

Light rail is on its way to being a great service, several lines in place, more coming. So far the voters have supported paying for it. Look in the Index of Key Threads under the Transit category for a thread called "Car Free Living in Denver." There's also a category for "walkable."

[CO_Transplant]

Some of us just live here because there was a job opportunity! It's not like all of us transplants were pining to live in Colorado before we arrived. I started looking for jobs before graduation, interviewed for a position here for the pay and benefits, received a job offer, took the job, and moved!

I had only driven through the state with family once or twice and flew through Stapleton once. I never had a desire to live in or even visit Colorado. I just ended up here. I think there is a pretty large group of people who fall into the same category as I do!

Will I stay here much longer? I hope not. I am not much of an outdoors person and this town leaves a lot to be desired in terms of urban staples and amenities. It baffles me that people think the outdoor activities draw people here when Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and LA offer the same kind of recreation (plus water) and more sophisticated urban settings. I guess it's probably a proximity thing with the many Midwesterners who live here.

As a transplant, I hope Colorado continues to grow. Growth is a sign of a healthy economy and usually accompanies diversity, more shopping opportunities, and more recognition as a respectable place.

[DallastoCO]

To me the climate along the front range is perfect - I hated the humidity on the east coast and in the Ohio Valley that made summers feel hotter and so sweaty, and made the winters damp and bone chilling. I don't mind the heat in Dallas; some think it's humid, and it is compared to Colorado or western Texas, but it doesn't feel so to me.

But I've always missed the mountains and we're both ecstatic over the move. I'm originally from Longmont and have wanted to get back to Colorado for many years. However, we wouldn't have made the leap without already having a job for at least one of us, or upon hitting retirement. But the stars happened to align; my company offered me a transfer to Colorado - which I jumped at - and my husband found a job in Denver. We're hunting for a place now - he's already working there while in a corporate apartment and I've just started telecommuting and going up on long weekends to look for a place.

Ticking off the "natives" and the "don't move here" curmudgeons is just icing in the cake

[CAVA1990]

I'm thinking a healthier economy has a higher proportion of people arriving after having secured a job. I don't imagine CO scores high on that.

[Mike from back east]

Closed for moderation.

[Mike from back east]

Re-opened after moderation for hijacking of thread.

Please stick to the topic of "Why Are So Many People Moving to Colorado."

[CAVA1990]

If you look at migration numbers by state and age group, it appears CO is a heavier draw for people of child bearing age. This likely produces a population multiplier effect as they produce more little Coloradans once they get there. It's also likely a higher proportion of married migrants come there with small kids. It would seem to an outsider like a kid friendly place to move.

HigherEdInfo.org: Migration Rates by State, Age-Group, and Degree-Level

[Mike from back east]

Cava, good info source. I note all of the age group 22-39 are heavy in-bound to COLO.

My best guess is that it's a combination of businesses that are here or coming to COLO that are hiring younger workers as opposed to the older ones, and also a bunch of young ones who are simply following their wanderlust to enjoy this state.

The other Intermountain West states seem to have an influx as well as people flee the high-price coasts.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Cava, good info source. I note all of the age group 22-39 are heavy in-bound to COLO.

My best guess is that it's a combination of businesses that are here or coming to COLO that are hiring younger workers as opposed to the older ones, and also a bunch of young ones who are simply following their wanderlust to enjoy this state.

The other Intermountain West states seem to have an influx as well as people flee the high-price coasts.

Yes, that's the age when most people make such moves, especially (I'd guess) the 25-35 age group. Past 40, most people don't move again except for job transfers, until retirement.

[CAVA1990]

Although I will repeat what I've said before: anyone who picks up and moves somewhere else with a spouse, small kids, no family support, and no job is insane. You might be able to pull it off in the DC or NY metros or maybe TX, but nowhere else.