Been here in Delta two months, here's the update (Superior: relocating, real estate)

[bettytheatre]

The people in Delta CO and surrounding areas are wonderful people...warm, open, helpful and very proud of their communities. The weather is great, I'm so happy to be away from the continuous snowfall in Wisconsin. The only snag that I've run into and I wish I had been more prepared for this...extremely low wages...employers say that it feels like a low wage because of the high cost of living here. I'm not experiencing that, I think it's quite reasonable to live here and you know what? A happy meal at McDonald's costs the same as Wisconsin! The Wal-mart trip costs just about the same. I applied for a job with a personal care/homemaker service, just as a bridge until I found something else. $7.00/hr, no benefits! These employees have a big responsibility for the older folks in town, I give them alot of credit for taking that responsibility. Many of their clients are elderly, quite frail. I didn't think I wanted to take on that responsibility. For $7.00/hr, the most important question I would want to ask is "Paper or Plastic?" So, I guess my best advice that before you move here, understand that high end jobs are few, but not unachievable. Put just alittle more money away before the move so you don't have to take anything in desperation. I'm glad we made the move and I can't wait for the fun summertimes to begin!

[jazzlover]

I know the Delta area very well and still have family there. It has suffered from low wages and incomes forever, and probably will continue to do so. About the only decent paying jobs are in the coal mines, the gas fields (a relatively new phenomenon in the Delta area), if you're a doctor or lawyer, or if you get a decent job in government. That used to be tolerable when housing was much more reasonably priced, but the "affordability index" for Delta and the surrounding area is continually worsening, just like it is on the entire Western Slope. A lot of that can be attributed to semi-wealthy and wealthy retirees relocating to the area. They have bid up the real estate market wildly in the last 15 years or so. Delta may look more affordable than other more "resort" Western Slope towns, but only in comparison to them.

I'm glad you like it there, just know that the wage situation is unlikely to improve. And, contrary to your post, most things (gasoline, utilities, food, etc.) cost more there than they do on the Front Range. Services are about the only thing that tend to be cheaper. The area has changed a lot in the 30+ years that I have been familiar with it--in most ways for the worse. Too bad.

[bettytheatre]

I guess at one point in my life I'll have to decide what will make me the happiest. A big ol' job with high wage and benefits, or going after what will make me happy. Alot of people here seem to be self-employed, work extrememly hard at it and are very happy. Maybe that's the road to go, with all the newcomers (myself included) there has got to be an opportunity.

[scrapper]

What are some other differences you've noticed between WI and CO?

[bettytheatre]

Wi is much greener, but the countryside here is beautiful. People seem pretty genuine. The city pretty much shuts down by 9 or 10 pm on weeknights, I'm sure that's the way of a smaller city anywhere. We live just a block off of main street and it's cool that everything is within walking distance...I mean everything! I certainly don't use my car as much as I did in Wisconsin. Saves a ton of money on gas! The weather of course is entirely different, I've used more moisturizer that I ever have before! The tap water tastes better in Wisconsin. But the temperature here is much nicer. Other than that, I haven't missed much from back home.

[Sheepkeeper]

Where in Wisconsin. We have a home in Poplar (outside Superior), but we live in Santa Cruz, CA. I have a job offer in Delta--thinking about it.

[angie.timm]

Delta is a cool town. Nice downtown and real nice people. Housing is very inexpensive compared to any place else on the western slope. It is a very normal town. Poor people, rich people and in-between people. Lots of agriculture. Decient schools and a movie theater, plus a drive-in. A wal-mart, a City Market, a bigger hospital, and a somwhat growing economy. Check out the Chamber of Commerce.

[jazzlover]

I'm glad you like Delta. I've had family there for many years, so I know it well. I would say this, though--it is no paradise. Wages are lousy, as I posted earlier, and likely to stay that way. Unfortunately, the area has bigger crime problems than one would expect to find in that size of communities. In the last several years, gang activity has increased significantly, and tagging and other gang-related activity is becoming more common. Much of the community is in denial about it--maybe because a lot of the residents haven't been there long enough to remember how it was. For years, the family I have there didn't have to lock their doors or vehicles. Those days are long gone.

Delta County has also been a center for marijuana growing and other drug trafficking for years. It's proximity to both Aspen and Telluride (where folks have plenty of $$ to buy drugs) probably has caused some of that.

I would dispute the "lots of agriculture" comment. Agriculture is really on the ropes in that area, compared to just a few years ago. Development pressures are really eating in to alot of the prime farm ground and orchard lands. That's too bad--it was the calling card for the area for years. It's unbelievable to me how much of that area has "surburbanized" in the last 15 years or so.

Delta County is by no means a horrible place to live or anything close to it, but it would not be my top pick for a place to be.