High immigration rate? (Denver, Fort Collins, Pueblo: real estate, house, quality of life)

[radraja]

I'm planning on relocating next year, and Colorado is one of the options I've been looking at. In theory, it seems perfect. However, I've heard that there's a problem with too many people rushing to move there.

I've experienced a similar problem in my current city, and it's been a bit crazy with the constant hoards of newcomers. I don't necessarily have a problem with massive growth and expansion, but I'd prefer to get away from it for awhile.

So I have to ask - how bad is it in CO?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by radraja

So I have to ask - how bad is it in CO?

What units do you want your answer in?

[radraja]

Subjective answers are fine. I don't need solid data.

[CAMom]

what area of Co are you looking at

[radraja]

Nice suburban areas, in the northern Colorado metropolitan area (basically any suburban town spanning from the Denver area to Fort Collins. The northern end of the spectrum being slightly preferred.).

I'm open to suggestions though.

[Tom Emmerling]

Colorado along the I25 corridor is growing FAST!!!! If you are worried about that I would look into Wyoming or Nebraska, or even eastern Colorado. These places have not seen growth in forever.

[jazzlover]

Colorado is adding population at the rate of approximately one city of Greeley (one of Colorado's fair-sized cities) every year. Growth is out-of-control in much of Colorado, and--in most cases--it is the kind of sprawling poorly-planned growth that will have extremely negative impacts on resources, open space, government fiscal resources, and overall quality of life over time. The state talks a lot about "smart growth," but it doesn't even really know what that means, or how to practice it. The developers and real estate interests control the governmental process to work for them, not for the long-term good of the state. Colorado is making every mistake today that California made starting decades ago--Colorado hasn't learned anything from anyplace else about the negative impacts of unfettered growth. It is the great tragedy of the state that I was born in. If you want to get away from rampant growth, your options in Colorado are pretty limited--mostly to areas that may not be particularly economically attractive--and poor local economic conditions haven't even stopped rampant growth in some of those areas.

[tfox]

Everything the other posters have said here is true. We're growing unsustainably fast, and the I-25 north corridor is the worst example of haphazard growth in the whole state. If you're looking for somewhere that's a little slower growth, stay far away from Weld County or nearby Larimer County! On the other hand, I don't think towns like Pueblo, for example, are really growing that fast. You could try looking down in that area.

However, I noticed that you said you were living in Las Vegas. We're not growing with THAT kind of insanity anywhere in Colorado.

[radraja]

Good point, tfox. I guess my question is sort of relative.

The situation in Vegas is that 80% of the adults you meet have lived here for less than two years.

People move here in masses, but refuse to let go of their home states, meaning that there really is no Nevada pride or Nevada culture, because no one's from here. And no one stays in a house for more than a few years, because newer and nicer areas keep popping up. It's ridiculous. You never get to know your neighbors, and it never ends up feeling like home.

I guess the better question would be - is CO anything like what I've experienced here?

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by radraja

Good point, tfox. I guess my question is sort of relative.

The situation in Vegas is that 80% of the adults you meet have lived here for less than two years.

People move here in masses, but refuse to let go of their home states, meaning that there really is no Nevada pride or Nevada culture, because no one's from here. And no one stays in a house for more than a few years, because newer and nicer areas keep popping up. It's ridiculous. You never get to know your neighbors, and it never ends up feeling like home.

I guess the better question would be - is CO anything like what I've experienced here?

Not that bad, but getting there. In-migration is causing many areas to lose their identity. Colorado's cultural, natural and historical heritage is at risk, too. Of course, few want to admit that growth and sprawl are the problems.