Best place for young family in Rifle/Silt/New Castle (neighborhoods, schools)

[GinaLou]

Hello!
My family and I are planning to move to the Rifle area this summer. We have three young kids and I'm interested in any insights anyone may have into the best place for a young family in that area.

From research I have done online, it looks like the schools in Rifle are worse than those in Silt and New Castle. Is that accurate? If so, do you have any idea why that would be?

I'm interested in a neighborhood with lots of kids for my kids to play with. I'm thinking Castle Valley Ranch in New Castle looks like it might be a good fit. Does anyone have any experience with that neighborhood and what it's like to live there?

Are the parks/youth programs/soccer leagues/etc significantly better or worse in any of the communities?

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have!

[gonbop]

All the communities are nice, I live in Rifle and the Schools are not bad here, though some believe NC has better schools. Rifle has more to offer with regards to activities and all 3 have very nice neighborhoods. NC is close to Glenwood so that is a plus. [mod cut]

[Playhard]

Hello, I live in Castle Valley Ranch (New Castle) and have also lived in Rifle. I believe I can also comment a bit on Silt. Rifle is a nice town, biggest of the three, and has undergone significant changes in the last few years due to the Gas industry. It has a lot of trucks on the roads at all times, dust, other ills associated with the industry. This may change back a bit if the gas industry does as they promise they MUST do and scales back some... heres hoping. Silt is an odd town. Think a little bit of Northern Exposure... IMO people here think differently from the other two towns. Do a Google search for Silt Colorado (including news) and I think you will see what I mean. Silt is also overrun by gas trucks and guys. If that doesnt bother you, and eccentricity is something you enjoy... give it a shot. New Castle does not have the Gas industry issues that the other two have due to the Grand Hogback. A geologic structure that runs for hundreds of miles and basically pushed the nat gas to the South and West... so gas reserves are not viable on the north/east side of the Hogback. What this means is no gas wells, fewer trucks etc. NC also has made a big push for parks (has several) and the people living here have been very supportive of taxes and initiatives that improve the quality of the town (parks, new water treatment plant, bus service upvalley, etc). Again, Google the towns and news associated with them... Im biased as I live in NC. But I also love it here. GREAT town for kids and families... but I suggest visiting all three towns... in their own ways they each have charm. But if I were to rank where I would want to live it would be this order New Castle Rifle Silt Keep us posted on your decision.

[GinaLou]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! Playhard, maybe we'll be neighbors in a few months...