How would you describe the different areas around Denver?

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by emilybelle

So, based on your feedback, if you could move to another area of Denver, where would you go? Louisville?

Louisville is a great place to live; I've lived there almost 30 years. However, I am very glad we lived in the city of Denver itself for two years to get a feel for the whole metro area. Louisville is ~25 miles from downtown; you need to find a place to live close to your job. If you have no job when you come here, I'd suggest somewhere central, either in Denver or a close-in suburb, so you're close to whatever jobs you find. Then you can move somewhere else when you get settled and oriented.

[Autodidact]

Capitol Hill: Urban, gay, close to downtown.
LoDo: Hip, urban, gay, chic, practically downtown.
Highlands: Transitioning to hip, trendy, etc., but still old homes with yards. Still close to downtown.
Park Hill: Liberal, pleasant tree lined neighborhood. Lots of nice older homes with decent yards.
Cherry Creek proper (not to be confused with Cherry Hills etc.): Crowded, upscale shopping, overpriced.
Five Points: Gentrification in progress. Still some crime. Fantastic old houses practically downtown.
Broadway Terrace: Also gay, urban, etc. A bit noisy and well, urban.
Bonnie Brae: Quiet, well established trees, family oriented neighborhood, not as Democratic as Park Hill.
Wheat Ridge: Very nice for a suburb. Rural feeling, still pretty close to downtown.
Arvada: A bit further out than Wheat Ridge, newer and more suburban.
Boulder: A world unto itself.
Aurora: Ultra-suburb, big cheap houses and very boring.
Centennial: Like Aurora but even bigger houses and further out.
Littleton: Pleasant, on the line between small town and suburb, older homes, etc.
Montbello, Green Valley Ranch and the like. Horrible older ultra-suburbs way out near airport. You can get a huge house cheap, if you can stand to live there.

[Katarina Witt]

http://www.city-data.com/city/Arvada-Colorado.html
Incorporated on 8/24/1904

Wheat Ridge, Colorado Information /Welcome
The City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado is a community of 30,000 people in Jefferson County, just west of Denver. The city is served by Interstate highway I-70, as it curves toward the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Primarily a residential city, Wheat Ridge also has five retail centers, several unique small industries, an Enterprise Zone and more than 20 parks, equestrian trails and open space public land. Incorporated as a city in 1970, its pioneer history stretches back to the early farmers and miners of the 1840's.

Both have a long history as farming communities. Arvada is much larger, and north of Wheat Ridge.

[emilybelle]

Originally Posted by Autodidact

Capitol Hill: Urban, gay, close to downtown.
LoDo: Hip, urban, gay, chic, practically downtown.
Highlands: Transitioning to hip, trendy, etc., but still old homes with yards. Still close to downtown.
Park Hill: Liberal, pleasant tree lined neighborhood. Lots of nice older homes with decent yards.
Cherry Creek proper (not to be confused with Cherry Hills etc.): Crowded, upscale shopping, overpriced.
Five Points: Gentrification in progress. Still some crime. Fantastic old houses practically downtown.
Broadway Terrace: Also gay, urban, etc. A bit noisy and well, urban.
Bonnie Brae: Quiet, well established trees, family oriented neighborhood, not as Democratic as Park Hill.
Wheat Ridge: Very nice for a suburb. Rural feeling, still pretty close to downtown.
Arvada: A bit further out than Wheat Ridge, newer and more suburban.
Boulder: A world unto itself.
Aurora: Ultra-suburb, big cheap houses and very boring.
Centennial: Like Aurora but even bigger houses and further out.
Littleton: Pleasant, on the line between small town and suburb, older homes, etc.
Montbello, Green Valley Ranch and the like. Horrible older ultra-suburbs way out near airport. You can get a huge house cheap, if you can stand to live there.

Fantastic!

[sleepaholic]

Originally Posted by emilybelle

Fantastic!

any opinions on Golden?

[Count David]

Originally Posted by Cupcake77

I won't bother to explain. I'm sure you'll be fine if you move there.

I'm dying for you to explain. In multiple paragraphs if possible.

Is it the stigma attached to the name "Aurora"?
Is it the sprawl?
Is it the not-so-expensive housing?
Is it because it's on the east side of town?
Is it because it's boring?
Is it because of crime (which is generally associated with the north side of town)?
Is it because it's not wholly upper-middle class?
Is it the demographics?

I just don't get why you recommend staying completely out of Aurora. I know it's no GV or Castle Pines, but most of it is a fairly fine/simple place to live.

[ArcherD]

Originally Posted by Autodidact

Capitol Hill: Urban, gay, close to downtown.
LoDo: Hip, urban, gay, chic, practically downtown.
Highlands: Transitioning to hip, trendy, etc., but still old homes with yards. Still close to downtown.
Park Hill: Liberal, pleasant tree lined neighborhood. Lots of nice older homes with decent yards.
Cherry Creek proper (not to be confused with Cherry Hills etc.): Crowded, upscale shopping, overpriced.
Five Points: Gentrification in progress. Still some crime. Fantastic old houses practically downtown.
Broadway Terrace: Also gay, urban, etc. A bit noisy and well, urban.
Bonnie Brae: Quiet, well established trees, family oriented neighborhood, not as Democratic as Park Hill.
Wheat Ridge: Very nice for a suburb. Rural feeling, still pretty close to downtown.
Arvada: A bit further out than Wheat Ridge, newer and more suburban.
Boulder: A world unto itself.
Aurora: Ultra-suburb, big cheap houses and very boring.
Centennial: Like Aurora but even bigger houses and further out.
Littleton: Pleasant, on the line between small town and suburb, older homes, etc.
Montbello, Green Valley Ranch and the like. Horrible older ultra-suburbs way out near airport. You can get a huge house cheap, if you can stand to live there.

That's a fairly accurate break down
But I wouldn't say LoDo was gay. I know Denver has like the 3rd largest gay population in the country- so I guess it fits in a way- but LoDo always feels like drunken frat boy land.

So where will you go emilybelle?

[emilybelle]

Originally Posted by ArcherD

That's a fairly accurate break down
But I wouldn't say LoDo was gay. I know Denver has like the 3rd largest gay population in the country- so I guess it fits in a way- but LoDo always feels like drunken frat boy land.

So where will you go emilybelle?

Well, I guess we will be in drunken frat boy land next weekend when we visit! We are staying in LoDo . Coming to see the area, and have some fun to help make our decision.

It's hard to narrow it down from here, but so far, we like Castle Rock, Parker, Centenial, Lakewood, Greenwood Village and ...oh several more! Denver is beautiful, I don't know how we'll ever decide. Wish I could find a house in Bow Mar to see. Can't wait to visit your city!

[zenkonami]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

I'm dying for you to explain. In multiple paragraphs if possible.

Is it the stigma attached to the name "Aurora"?
Is it the sprawl?
Is it the not-so-expensive housing?
Is it because it's on the east side of town?
Is it because it's boring?
Is it because of crime (which is generally associated with the north side of town)?
Is it because it's not wholly upper-middle class?
Is it the demographics?

I just don't get why you recommend staying completely out of Aurora. I know it's no GV or Castle Pines, but most of it is a fairly fine/simple place to live.

Personally I don't like Aurora's politics, plan for growth (or so called "plan") or their inability to improve specific areas of their city. Their solution is to keep growing out, and eventually that infrastructure cost is going to catch up to all Aurora residents (both new construction and maintenance.) I consider it boring. They have great views of the Rockies, though.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by emilybelle

Wish I could find a house in Bow Mar to see. Can't wait to visit your city!

Bow Mar is awesome. If I lived closer and could afford it, I would buy there yesterday.

Originally Posted by zenkonami

Personally I don't like Aurora's politics, plan for growth (or so called "plan") or their inability to improve specific areas of their city. Their solution is to keep growing out, and eventually that infrastructure cost is going to catch up to all Aurora residents (both new construction and maintenance.) I consider it boring. They have great views of the Rockies, though.

I can't say I disagree. Even so, I'd have a hard time telling somebody (or myself) to stay completely out of it.