Moving to Durango or Bayfield? (Colorado Springs, Cortez: best cities, real estate, apartments)

[dizzyb]

Why would I want to live in the Durgano area? I thought Bayfield was more me. I'd like to finish my degree in a smaller town. Is the weather as brutal (cold) as I've heard? Any suggestions? Would like to hear from anyone in that area.

[jbob]

I live in Durango and would never move to Bayfield. I know lots of people in Bayfield that have to drive to Durango everyday anyway. There is very limited stores and resturants in bayfield. Someday Bayfield maybe more of a town, but right now it seems like a support town for Durango. Its true that Bayfield doesn't get as many tourists- so if you want to avoid that Bayfield may be for you.

Cold is realitive. If you are from Southern California, it will be cold. The good thing is that it is sunny ALOT, so the snow melts fairly quickly. Roads are rarely icy and because of the sun you can bike/ hike/ walk even in winter. There is really no humidity so the cold is different than the coast.

If you can afford the realestate- go for Durango. Very few places offer good weather, diverse outdoor activities, and a vibrant atmosphere in such a small town. Good paying jobs are hard to find- so make sure you have that set up before you come.

[Crackerjack]

I know both areas very well and I have to say Durango is much better unless you like a bedroom community which is what Bayfield is and you have to commute which in Durango, is not a good thing. Many live close to Durango to ride their bikes to work. It is a really nice cultured city. Museums, a fantastic library, a real community atmosphere and a brand new state of the art hospital. Yes my vote would be Durango. The weather isn't bad and is considered a "banana belt" for Colorado.

[leavinglasvegas]

Durango frickin rules, I would love to move back if I could find a job.

[Crackerjack]

Hi LeavingLasVegas! I know Durango can be hard to make a living in but they are really growing and new jobs are needed especially if you are in the medical field and they can't get enough workers for construction since so much is going on. They have more banks now so banking type people are needed and retail is growing. They plan on building a new light industrial park near the airport and they have recently built all sorts of office buildings up at the tech center. They are starting to build the city of Three Springs right by Durango and will build some 2700 homes or so. Then they want to build up at Ewing Mesa with another 2500 plus homes. They are building apartments like crazy as well as condos and are building large condo-office buildings in the downtown right now. They just opened a large medical complex and also just built one of the largest high tech hospitals in Colorado. I really think jobs will only increase here so keep checking the online Durango Herald. And like jbob and you said as well, Durango is, I think, one of the best cities in America to live in.

[higgins11]

I'm looking at a job in Ignacio

it's only 23 miles from Durango what info can you tell me about ignacio

can i commute there in the winter time?

are there homes between durango and ignacio

how are the schools in ignacio and durango?

how are real estate prices. small house 20+ acres

thanks
Higgins

[Crackerjack]

Ignacio is mostly a Ute town with Native Americans. There is a casino there. Out from there is mostly ranch country to Durango. Lots of space out that way with large ranches and smaller ones too. The main airport is between Durango and Ignacio. There are smaller airports around Durango too. The land out that way is green rolling hills. It sort of reminds me of the rolling prairies of the central plains. There are many subdivisions out that way too. The weather from Durango to Ignacio is good and mild. Any snow melts off really quick but usually not much snow out that way. For 20 acres with a small home, I am guessing at least 600,000; more for a larger home. Just a guess though. I don't know about the schools in Ignacio but the schools in Durango are really good plus some excellent private schools like Colorado Timberline Academy and there is a great college, Fort Lewis.

[higgins11]

600,000 dollars???

i'll stay in NC and keep getting paid lower than any other teacher in the USA

[Crackerjack]

Actually my brother who lives in Durango, saw my post and called me and told me I was too low on the figure! He said 600,000 was for areas like around Cortez or south of Ignacio but around Durango, expect 20 acres with a small house to be around 1 million dollars or more. My job has taken me to hot Phoenix, but I am from New Mexico (wish I was back there or in cooler Durango) so that sounds high but land is high there, not only in altitude! It is beautiful though if you can afford it. Someone from California would probably think that is a great buy! My cousin, who was in the military, just sold a tiny 1200 square foot house in San Diego, CA with NO acres just on a city block for 650,000!

[Curious in CT]

Never thought of Durango until I read this thread. Sounds wonderful!! How expensive is it really? I'm talkin' about buying a house in a development if need be. Doesn't have to have a whole lot of land, but no postage stamp lot please...... What could I buy for say $300,000? Nothing???? Anything??? My husband was actually looking into law enforcement in Durango when he saw they were hiring. Now we're half way into going to Colorado Springs. Durango certainly sounds more of a place for me, but I don't want to go broke either. My background is in interior design and am an artist on the side.......Lately doing kids murals and kids personalized name plaques and letters. Any hope for us out there? Is the weather similar to the springs? Answers to these many questions would be great...Thanks!