scenic, music and arts, sunny town in Colorado? (Denver, Colorado Springs: house, job market)

[DianaRose]

I'm trying to narrow it down to a few places to consider/visit for our relocation next year. We want to buy a few acres outside of a town or city but not too far away (30 minutes or less).

We are hoping for:

• Gorgeously scenic. Mountains!
• Homeschooling families/groups/activities.
• Would love to have neighbors that value farming, sustainable living, alternative building.
• We would like to be near a music scene and all kinds of artists.
• We'd love 4 seasons and not too much snow. Sunshine is a plus. We want to garden
• Hiking and outdoors activities, please!

Things that do NOT matter to us:

• We have an internet business and do not care about the job market.
• We don't care about schools since we homeschool.
• Politics not a major factor.

I don't know what our budget will be, but we are not rich. If I get recommendations that fit our above criteria, I'll look more closely into the economics of each place.

Any ideas or suggestions for me? We have never been to Colorado, but I'm hoping there's a place there that may fit the bill for us. Thanks for any thoughts you have!

[Littlekw]

Boulder would be a good fit but it's pretty expensive. Ft. Collins might work, it's a little cheaper and fits most of your criteria but it's further from the mountains. Colorado Springs would be even cheaper but a lot of your criteria are too liberal to find in the city.

If you want all of the things you're looking for you either pay a lot to live in a place like that or you sacrifice some of what you want to live cheaper. Honestly, a housing budget would help us help you much more. Prices vary immensely all over Colorado. You can get a house in Boulder that would cost four times the same place in Pueblo. You have some pretty unrealistic parameters for almost all of Colorado.

Oh, and four seasons? The best you'll find in Colorado is 2 1/2 seasons in the lower elevations. We have summer and winter. Spring is nearly non-existent and fall lasts a meager few weeks. In the mountains there really isn't anything except a couple months of summer and a looooong winter. Snow can happen anywhere in the state from mid-September to mid-May and that would be a conservative estimation. Visit a few times before you make a decision.

[Idunn]

Your given criteria would more easily be met in New Mexico. Especially if on a somewhat restrained budget.

I'm not as sure about the home schooling or where others favoring this might live. But in New Mexico you might try around Taos, as it has those into the alternative, the arts (big time), and sustainable living and architecture. Schools tend to be questionable in New Mexico, but of course you'll be side stepping that.

Weather-wise I'm more certain. If wanting four seasons but not much snow, there are possible locations in Colorado, but it will still be cold. Although, for that matter, Taos does see some snow (and cold), so from just that standpoint you might prefer to locate further south. Otherwise the upper Rio Grande valley might suite many of your criteria.

[Littlekw]

^ Idunn, New Mexico is a great suggestion. Taos is still high altitude and has limited seasons but a bit south is a good idea. Madrid, NM might be a good place to look into. Cute, quaint, very artsy and close to Santa Fe and Albuquerque with milder weather than the Taos area.

Albuquerque itself meets more of the OP's criteria than does most of Colorado. Not too expensive, the Sandia Mountains are right there and there is a large art community as well as longer seasons. I don't mean to chase the OP away from Colorado but NM may very well be a better fit.

[NW Crow]

Music scene can be locals who play and are pretty good to a focus on touring artists, minor to major. If you want year around touring artists, then you need to look in Denver metro. If you are satisfied with local players and a few summer music festivals, a mountain town might be alright.

Salida is on the modest side of music scene but there are signs the summer festival scene may grow in coming years. Its weather and overall attributes generally fit what you asked for.

[DianaRose]

Thank you for the feedback and leads! I am considering New Mexico, too, but love the scenery in Colorado best I'll look more specifically into the NM towns suggested. We are also considering North Carolina which would really have the ideal weather for us, but again, not the Colorado Mountains! Everything is a trade-off, of course and I'm not sure yet which things we'll be willing to trade for which.

I hate to completely forgo a place due to cost when I've often found that deals can be found on land near places that are supposedly cost-prohibitive. That's why I wanted to find the perfect places first and then look around.

[jazzlover]

Once again, an OP has posted a "wish list" that is essentially conflicting and mutually exclusive in Colorado. How many times do we have to go through this?

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Once again, an OP has posted a "wish list" that is essentially conflicting and mutually exclusive in Colorado. How many times do we have to go through this?

As many times as people ask.

[davebarnes]

Nashville, TN

[DianaRose]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Once again, an OP has posted a "wish list" that is essentially conflicting and mutually exclusive in Colorado. How many times do we have to go through this?

I'm looking at a lot of places just because it's difficult to find everything on a wish list in one place. I think most people have to compromise on something and that's what we're on city-data trying to figure out. Other than the four seasons, does my list have problems? I appreciate the feedback!