Best mountain town to raise a family year round? (boat)

[vunderbar]

Define "good schools"?

#1 Colorado's education is underfunded (research TABOR aka "Tax Payers' Bill of Rights".)

#2. Mountain communities generally have two types of families: wealthy and working/service class. The former often opt for private schools (for example, Vail Mountain School.) The latter are often Latino who move about quite a bit, something often reflected in their children's test scores.

#3. If by "good schools" you mean test scores, here's a comparison between the best public elementary school in Breckenridge (a ski town that meets many of your criteria) Steamboat Springs (more remote/father from a major airport) and one of the higher ranked Denver public schools

https://www.greatschools.org/colorad...entary-School/
https://www.greatschools.org/colorad...entary-School/
https://www.greatschools.org/colorad...entary-School/

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by HTY483

Within ~60-90min to an airport.=Unreasonable expectation.

My vote would be for the Glenwood, Carbondale, Basalt area.

Yes, for a true regional airport (direct flights) afraid SLC (park City), Reno,(Tahoe), or Portland (Mt Hood) gets you 1 hr to the flight gate and the downhill starting gate.

For CO, and generally good and accessible Mt town I would look to Carbondale. (I prefer college towns for varied activities and economy).

Schools... Consider the freedom of 'unschooling' while in a desirable mtn town. Our kids loved having everyday free while living in a Swiss ski town, and they were employed at ski areas while in Jr high (unschooled) and during high school age (free college, night shift, so they could ski all day). No sense burning precious daylight sitting in a classroom, when you could be getting paid to ski!

Ours graduated Magna in STEM (pre age 20), so skiing instead of attending School didn't seem to hurt them too bad academically. Several peers did likewise. They had a blast and became very good skiers and boarders. And all paid 100% for their college and housing and cars and insurance and skiing. No complaints. (That's nice to be able to say about your teenagers!)

[interloper1138]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Schools... Consider the freedom of 'unschooling' while in a desirable mtn town. Our kids loved having everyday free while living in a Swiss ski town, and they were employed at ski areas while in Jr high (unschooled) and during high school age (free college, night shift, so they could ski all day). No sense burning precious daylight sitting in a classroom, when you could be getting paid to ski!

That's great advice for anyone looking to raise a family in a Swiss ski town in 1974.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by interloper1138

That's great advice for anyone looking to raise a family in a Swiss ski town in 1974.

There’s the box.

There’s outside the box.

Then there’s stealth, with an airplane and a time machine.

[HTY483]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

For CO, and generally good and accessible Mt town I would look to Carbondale. (I prefer college towns for varied activities and economy).

Yeah, and that view of Mt. Sopris isnt so bad either.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by interloper1138

That's great advice for anyone looking to raise a family in a Swiss ski town in 1974.

Plenty (in fact millions) more unschooling today than 1974. (When I was still burning daylight in a rotten Colorado High School myself). Certainly the worst use of my time was spent (briefly) in Colorado Jr and High schools.

So many great learning options today, that I would not let traditional USA style school get in the way of effective learning, or limit my desired living options, or how or where I would choose to raise my family.

Go find a village that best fits your family and values. There are plenty.

Switzerland, France, Andorra, Spain, Canada were all great for skiing and our kids learned a lot while unschooling there. I offered Colorado to them too... But they declined. (We had arrangements made to move to Winter Park).

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

There’s the box.

There’s outside the box.

Then there’s stealth, with an airplane and a time machine.

And a magic bus.

[snowave]

if you move to a mountain town, you will change your attitude quickly about not wanting quiet shoulder seasons.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherUserHere

I’m kicking off research for where to move my family. Growing up in Denver, but not in the mountains, my dream was to live full-time in a mountain town. I’m now at a point where this can be a reality, but I need your help finding the right place. ..... Here’s my general criteria

• A town that feels alive year around. I realize most places have seasonal spikes but I don’t want to live somewhere that is a ghost town on the shoulder months. Amazing winter AND summer vibe is a must. Skiing, snowboarding, biking, hiking.
  
• Great place to raise a family (kids 13 & younger) which means good public schools, family friendly neighborhoods, and plenty of families who live year round.
  
• Within ~60-90min to an airport.
  
• My housing budget is <1.25M for 4-5 bd house with some room to go higher for a perfect house.
  
• Responsible growth. ...
  
• Middle of the road politics. ...

Best mountain town to raise a family year round?

Well.... we could just tell the OP, - not possible (as has been said many times)

or... we could offer 'out-of-the-('normal')box' solutions. Which are highly disdained in this forum due to the OP remark. Growing up in Denver, but not in the mountains,

BTW, there happen to be 'Other Mtn towns' in the world... and even nearby Colorado. Some with good schools and even airports!

Amazing

[Melanzana92]

Originally Posted by snowave

if you move to a mountain town, you will change your attitude quickly about not wanting quiet shoulder seasons.

So dang true, and that's not a thing anymore in Breckenridge.