Where on the front range? (Denver, Colorado Springs: crime, how much, home)

[Us2]

We plan to move to Colorado later in 2008, but have not decided on an exact location. We like the Front Range communities. Our preference is Denver but would welcome all opinions also on Boulder and Colorado Springs.

We are open to city living, but prefer the small-town or semi-rural atmosphere. Additionally, we have skills in several areas so employment opportunities are important, but not our top concern.

Here are a few questions we have:

What recommendations or tips would be helpful in finding a home or hometown community?

Are their areas in which we should be aware relative to higher crime or economic difficulties?

What are the less obvious challenges of living in rural ares or communities?

How much snow falls and how cold are the winter temperatures, on average.

What are the hidden costs of living?

Thank you for your response!

[Sockeye]

I would recommend reading the "6 things people should know about rural Colorado" located on pg. 2 of these threads.
Good luck!

[suzco]

There are index threads for all of the Colorado forums. You might want to start browsing each of those threads to get some background information. Many of your questions have been discussed in these forums. Here are links to the index threads:

Colorado Index thread
Denver Index thread
Boulder Index thread
Fort Collins Index thread
Colorado Springs Index thread

[SheridanL]

Canon City is a fantastic alternative! You would be 35 miles from Pueblo and 40 miles (or less) from Colorado Springs. It is the most fantastic oasis of Colorado (considered the banana belt and the "climate capital" of Colorado.)
I would suggest googling the area and map quest it too!!

[onthamove]

well us2 i cant answer all your questions but unlike everyone else i will not tell you to go search it haha some people could type the answers but choose to type how to find them, makes you wonder dont it?? lol anyway climate along the front range is mild and sunny snow never sticks around more than a few days some winters are colder and snowier than others but they are plenty tolerable

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Us2

We plan to move to Colorado later in 2008, but have not decided on an exact location. We like the Front Range communities. Our preference is Denver but would welcome all opinions also on Boulder and Colorado Springs.

We are open to city living, but prefer the small-town or semi-rural atmosphere. Additionally, we have skills in several areas so employment opportunities are important, but not our top concern.

Here are a few questions we have:

What recommendations or tips would be helpful in finding a home or hometown community?
As suzco says, do a search on this forum

Are their areas in which we should be aware relative to higher crime or economic difficulties?
I think you will find some answers to that if you do the above search.

What are the less obvious challenges of living in rural ares or communities?
I lived in a semi-rural area of Illinois for some years. I would say not having the choices one has in a larger area. It was like Christmas for me when we moved to Denver; there was so much choice in the stores, things didn't have to be special-ordered all the time (and I'm talking about little things, trust me, I am no fashionista and I wear uniforms/scrubs to work). Health care: if you need a specialist, you will probably have to go to the "big city". If you have kids, there will not be as many organized activities (this can be either good or bad, depending on you POV). Fewer entertainment opportunities, e.g. movies, plays, major-league sports.

How much snow falls and how cold are the winter temperatures, on average.
It's different all over the state, you can search this forum. There are links to weather websites.

What are the hidden costs of living?
??? None in particular that I have found.

Thank you for your response!

You're welcome.