Medium Size Mountain Town (Denver, Boulder: relocate, condo, rent)

[ndteacher]

I am college student that is looking to relocate to Colorado after graduation. I grew up in small town North Dakota and would like a medium size town that is in the mountains, any ideas? I also would like a good school system being that I am a future teacher. Any information would be helpful.

[chilaili]

Needing a little more info, like what do you consider "medium sized"? Do you want to live on the East (Denver) side or Western slope of the Rockies? Are you looking to buy or rent and if so, what can you afford? What other interests do you have, eg; ski-ing, climbing, cultural things? Do you want to be close to a major city?

[ndteacher]

I am looking for a town with the small town atmosphere but still has all the amenities of a larger town. I have heard great things about Boulder, but I think it might be too large and too expensive.I would like a town that is at least 8,000, but no more than 50,000 people. Location can vary, as long as there are mountains. I plan on renting at first, than hopefully after a year or two buying a house. I need to be in an area of activity though, skiing, mountain climbing, hiking, white-water rafting, shopping, and anything outside.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Anyplace along the Front Range is very easily accessible to the mountains, without actually living in the mountains (which can be expensive). There are lots of towns like Erie, Dacono, Windsor, etc. that would fall into that description. Or, on the west side of the state, Grand Junction is 50,000; Delta, Montrose, etc. are smaller. Lots of choices all over the state.

[ndteacher]

What do you know about the school systems in these towns? Are their schools neighborhood based or do they shuttle? Do you know the average class size of most of these towns?

[colorado native]

Ya gotta go to the Western Slope. The Front Range is not actually Colorado, but you can almost see it from there.

Check out Durango.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by ndteacher

What do you know about the school systems in these towns? Are their schools neighborhood based or do they shuttle? Do you know the average class size of most of these towns?

Google the Colorado Dept of Ed website. There is a lot of information there. For towns with your criteria, you might also look at Louisville, Lafayette, and Superior (all Boulder County, which is not in the mtns, but near them.) For a mtn community in Boulder Co., try Nederland. All these towns, BTW are part of the Boulder Valley School District, which you can find at

www.bvsd.org

[bashep]

go to GreatSchools.net. It will give you ALOT of information. Durango is a beautiful area, a college town. I am not sure how expensive it is to rent there, I have heard it is getting more expensive to buy there. bashep

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by bashep

go to GreatSchools.net. It will give you ALOT of information. Durango is a beautiful area, a college town. I am not sure how expensive it is to rent there, I have heard it is getting more expensive to buy there. bashep

Understatement. Very expensive to buy--median home price well over $300K the last time I checked. Advertised rents I saw a few months ago were in the $1,000-$1,700 per mo. range.

[colorado native]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Understatement. Very expensive to buy--median home price well over $300K the last time I checked. Advertised rents I saw a few months ago were in the $1,000-$1,700 per mo. range.

'pends on what you rent.

I bought a nice condo for $185k and have never lived in a place here that rents for more than $1000.

All 'bout lifestyle choices, really.