City with 30-50k population? (Denver, Colorado Springs: job market, theatre, restaurants)

[WIGooFan]

Hello,
I am planning to relocate to CO with my mom next summer. She would prefer a city with 30-50k population. Can you suggest one that is within an hour or so of Denver? We are considering Loveland, Broomfield and Wheat Ridge.

I am a graphic designer and she has a degree in Marketing. We are looking for an area with a great view, yet close enough to "civilization." We just need a change...a BIG one. We are coming from WI.

Any suggestions you could offer would be helpful.
Thanks in advance!

[chilaili]

I don't know Broomfield or Wheat Ridge, but Loveland is about 50,000 people. It has all the modern conveniences of large supermarkets, Target, movie theatre, restaurants, etc. It also has a great view of the mountains and Hwy 34 (aka Big Thompson Canyon Drive) runs right thro it. You can get to Drake, Glen Haven, Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park in under 30 minutes. There are several publishing companies in Loveland as well as the usual businesses and organisations.

[WIGooFan]

Originally Posted by chilaili

I don't know Broomfield or Wheat Ridge, but Loveland is about 50,000 people. It has all the modern conveniences of large supermarkets, Target, movie theatre, restaurants, etc. It also has a great view of the mountains and Hwy 34 (aka Big Thompson Canyon Drive) runs right thro it. You can get to Drake, Glen Haven, Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park in under 30 minutes. There are several publishing companies in Loveland as well as the usual businesses and organisations.

Thanks so much! I appreciate your input

[CSColorado]

How about Monument? It is about 45 minutes south of the metro area and 15 minutes north of Colorado Springs.

[WIGooFan]

Originally Posted by CSColorado

How about Monument? It is about 45 minutes south of the metro area and 15 minutes north of Colorado Springs.

population in July 2005: 2,508 <-- looking for something a little bigger than that, thanks tho!

[2bindenver]

There are two Chedd's sandwich shops one in Denver and the other in unincorporated south jeffco (where it is all about the WI cheese)...maybe that would influence you

[BenWolfe]

You may want to consider Castle Rock. The traffic between Denver and Boulder could be a lot heavier than you are used to in WI. Traffic on I-25 coming into Castle Rock is not nearly as heavy. Castle Rock is only 15 minutes south of the Denver Tech Center less than 45 minutes from downtown Denver and about the same distance from northern Colorado Springs. This could also be appealing because it opens up both job markets.

Good luck with your move.

[Dan6200alt]

Bens right. Cheaper than Broomfield too. BF is only 10 miles from Boulder canyon, though. Thats an advantage if you like plan on going hiking often. The view is better there as well-Close view of the Flatirons that are always showcased in photos of Boulder. But the traffic, as Ben said, is a pain between Boulder and Denver.

Of the towns you mentioned, Loveland is the only one that feels like its a seperate city. Broomfield and Wheatridge are sorta stuck right next to or between other cities where you don't know when you left one town and entered the next. Of those three, I personally like Broomfield the best.

[WIGooFan]

Thank you for your help/suggestions everyone... I am anxious to move!