Young family in Denver or Boulder? (Colorado Springs, Aurora: relocate, foreclosure, job)

[kayakera]

Hi There All,

My husband and I are planning a move in the next 2 years. I am 25, he is 33, and we have a 2 year old son. We currently live in a TINY town in NC, and I'm ready for a little (or a lot!) more. We are currently thinking about Bend, OR, Missoula, MO, or Denver or Boulder. Here's what we need:

1. Good schools
2. Decent job market. My husband's in construction, and I currently manage a whitewater rafting company.
3. Outdoor activites: whitewater kayaking, hiking, nice places to run, walk with our son, etc.
4. Friendly, young families/couples/people to hang out with (lacking that big time here in NC)
5. Conveniences: Coffee shops, movie theaters, etc.
6. Beauty
7. Decent housing prices. A good home for around $160,000

I think that's it for now. Any thoughts? Short list, huh?

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by kayakera

Hi There All,

My husband and I are planning a move in the next 2 years. I am 25, he is 33, and we have a 2 year old son. We currently live in a TINY town in NC, and I'm ready for a little (or a lot!) more. We are currently thinking about Bend, OR, Missoula, MO, or Denver or Boulder. Here's what we need:

7. Decent housing prices. A good home for around $160,000

Not possible in Boulder unles you qualify for their Affordable Housing program . Boulder is a great place to live, but VERY expensive.

[Micktooth]

My family and I live in Louisville near Boulder. Best Places to Live: Top 100 - Louisville, Colo. (3) - Money Magazine We have made so many friends. It is a great place to raise a family. We are happy with the Boulder Valley Schools. My 14yo son in at Monarch and my 12yo daughter is in Special Ed at Louisville Middle. Obviously there are a ton of outdoor activities year round. And the natural beauty is spectacular. Can't help you much on the job market end though. Housing can be expensive. Search online for the 80027 zip code for Louisville and Superior. You will love it here!

[tfox]

You won't find anything near Boulder for $160k. In Metro Denver, you might find a foreclosure in that range; if you're handy you can do paint and carpet and hopefully have a nice place; but you have to be careful. Some of the foreclosure prone neighborhoods are unsafe. The southern part of Aurora (in the cherry creek school district) is probably a place to start looking in that price range. Also parts of Westminster, Arvada, Thornton, Northglenn.

[dj32]

Maybe you should consider Co Springs? Given your field, that would be closer to some rapids? I think there is a wealth of info about that area on that forum. May fit your home range better. I think 160K will be very hard in Denver or in Bend, OR. Maybe Missoula? I'm not familiar with that area.

[Mike from back east]

Canon City sounds like a possibility. Look up the threads in the INDEX or search on CANON.

Housing at $160k is hard to find in Denver metro. Consider Pueblo, Canon City, parts of COL SGPS, rural areas.

Lots of rafting west of Canon City on the Arkansas River. Not sure about construction, maybe closer to COL SPGS or Pueblo.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by dj32

Maybe you should consider Co Springs? Given your field, that would be closer to some rapids? I think there is a wealth of info about that area on that forum. May fit your home range better. I think 160K will be very hard in Denver or in Bend, OR. Maybe Missoula? I'm not familiar with that area.

not to mention that construction in boulder has pretty much stalled for the time being as fears of boulders control over the size of buildngs and new code stuff are keeping builders at bay.

Colorado springs still has some good sized construction going on as well.

[SheridanL]

Hi,

I am from Canon City. I am moving back there in 30 days, can't wait!!

The whitewater rafting companies are plentiful there!! It is a huge part of the area!! Construction is also doing well in Canon! There are new developments and new restauraunts, etc. going in all of the time!

The price you are looking at for a home is doable. Tons of outdoor activities, it is the "Climate Capital" of Colorado. Considered a banana belt.

The schools are great and they just added on to the high school.
It really is my favorite spot in Colorado. I grew up in Denver and raised my oldest in the Cherry Creek School District.
My youngest, now a cryptologist, graduated from Canon City HS.

The Arkansas River, the most rafted, is in your back yard and beautiful!!
The rafting companies go under the Royal Gorge Bridge.....a MUST do!!

It is a very mild and mountainous region. You can get acreage also.
Check it out!!

It is 40 miles south of Colorado Springs and 35 miles west of Pueblo.

[delta07]

I would have to agree with SheridanL about Canon City. If you are looking for serious Whitewater, there is nothing better in Colorado, IMO. You could also look further upsteam on Arkansas at Salida. Very neat town, which may fit the bill for you. It is a small town, but has a lot of charm and character. I'm sure you and your husband could find work there. Rafting companies are plentiful along the Arkansas, and the area is experiencing considerable growth. In the winter you could work and ski at Monarch ski area as well!! I would relocate to Salida in a heartbeat if my husband and I could find work.

The Denver metro area is very large, urban, and busy. If you are looking at smaller towns (I read your other posts about Missoula, MT and Bend, OR) you will probably not be to happy with Denver. Canon City, Salida, possibly Pueblo, may be a better choice for you.

[juniorG]

Originally Posted by kayakera

Hi There All,

My husband and I are planning a move in the next 2 years. I am 25, he is 33, and we have a 2 year old son. We currently live in a TINY town in NC, and I'm ready for a little (or a lot!) more. We are currently thinking about Bend, OR, Missoula, MO, or Denver or Boulder. Here's what we need:

1. Good schools
2. Decent job market. My husband's in construction, and I currently manage a whitewater rafting company.
3. Outdoor activites: whitewater kayaking, hiking, nice places to run, walk with our son, etc.
4. Friendly, young families/couples/people to hang out with (lacking that big time here in NC)
5. Conveniences: Coffee shops, movie theaters, etc.
6. Beauty
7. Decent housing prices. A good home for around $160,000

I think that's it for now. Any thoughts? Short list, huh?

It is my opinion that a family such as yours would want to choose Boulder over Denver. Denver has a high crime rate and IMHO, not a very pleasant city. Boulder is a lot more laid back, safer and aesthetically pleasing. I have only lived in CO under a year, and we are getting out asap, it has been our experience that the people are, well, a bit odd and hard to get to know..of course, are in Estes Park, a tourist town which dies in the winter. It has been a negative experience, the best i can say about CO is that it is one of the most beautiful places in the U.S. and the wildlife is plentiful and really cool to see everywhere!
But, what do I know...hope your experience is all you hope it will be!!