Broomfield or Highlands Ranch? (Denver, Colorado Springs: sales, crime, houses)

[sunnyc]

If you were moving to CO and had to choose between these two areas, which would it be and why?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Both are nice areas. I'd live closer to work.

[Snikt]

I would personally choose Highlands Ranch because everything is newer and seems nicer, also it's farther away from Boulder

Would also depend on where my job was to be closer, those areas are pretty far apart

[sunnyc]

Is Boulder not that nice of area?

[Snikt]

Depends on what you like, it's nice as in like clean. It's very expensive and a big hippy area, like a mini San Francisco

[chilicheesefries]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Both are nice areas. I'd live closer to work.

That's the best advice - if you work in Broomfield don't live in Highlands Ranch and vice versa.

If you worked equidistant from both, I prefer Highlands Ranch - not a big Broomfield fan.

[Idlewile]

You are going to get replies based on where people live and based on that alone, that feedback is incredibly subjective and not input I would take seriously. If you tell us more detailed information about what you and your family are seeking that would be helpful.

Yes, it should be based on where work is. If work is at home and everything is equal, I, personally, would choose Broomfield hands down as it's closer to the mountains with incredible views, very close to Boulder -- which in my book is worth A LOT as Boulder terrific and considerably more unique than Denver -- and quicker to downtown Denver than HR -- and I have commuted from both.

Also, HR isn't ANY newer than Broomfield; if 'new' is important, Broomfield has dozens of new communities that are being built currently and new retail and parks going in constantly.

Again, more info on what you are looking for would help us better determine what could suit you best.

[Kibbiekat]

Originally Posted by Snikt

I would personally choose Highlands Ranch because everything is newer and seems nicer, also it's farther away from Boulder

Would also depend on where my job was to be closer, those areas are pretty far apart

[chilicheesefries]

Originally Posted by Idlewile

You are going to get replies based on where people live and based on that alone, that feedback is incredibly subjective and not input I would take seriously. If you tell us more detailed information about what you and your family are seeking that would be helpful.

Yes, it should be based on where work is. If work is at home and everything is equal, I, personally, would choose Broomfield hands down as it's closer to the mountains with incredible views, very close to Boulder -- which in my book is worth A LOT as Boulder terrific and considerably more unique than Denver -- and quicker to downtown Denver than HR -- and I have commuted from both.

Also, HR isn't ANY newer than Broomfield; if 'new' is important, Broomfield has dozens of new communities that are being built currently and new retail and parks going in constantly.

Again, more info on what you are looking for would help us better determine what could suit you best.

That is a very good point - it is incredibly subjective and most posts here are very subjective. Even yours tilts towards Broomfield because of your criteria. I would hands down chose Highlands Ranch if I worked from home. With that in mind it would be quite helpful to know what you are looking for. I provide some objective points to that effect:

1)Drive to downtown - depends on where you live. There are places in Broomfield closer/quicker than in HR and there are places in HR closer/quicker than Broomfield. Broomfield probably has the overall advantage if you're commuting but if you're making the occasional night out HR has light rail access and the driving time isn't enough to make a big difference.

2)Drive to Boulder - Broomfield is much closer so those who live in HR probably don't consider this important. Likewise HR is closer to Colorado Springs and other places south.

3)Drive to mountains - to get from Broomfield to mountains is closer but to get from Broomfield or Highlands Ranch to the I-70 corridor is about equal.

4)Schools - hard to generalize because Broomfield is in several districts.

5)Shopping - both are quite close to the 2 premier shopping centers in the area. Sales tax is cheaper in HR and at Park Meadows than in Broomfield and at Flatiron Crossing. Also Broomfield seems to have a sales tax on food while HR doesn't.

6)Entertainment - Broomfield has the events center so it wins this one

7)Recreation - both have great outdoor recreation opportunities. HR is closer Chatfield.

8)Libraries - Douglas County libraries is bigger and has larger collection. Broomfield is part of Prospector so it has access through this service to a larger collection.

9)Property taxes - ?

10)Age of houses - Broomfield has an established core while HR doesn't. Both have new housing still going up.

11)Crime - pretty non-existant in either.

That my attempt to be objective. Overall they're similar and could be maybe as close to mirror images (one on north side and one on south side) as you will find. I admit to being a bit biased as a south sider but I've been to Broomfield many times and I always get more of a busier/congested feel there and find it's harder to get around. Again it depends on what you are looking for.

[bhcompy]

Originally Posted by chilicheesefries

10)Age of houses - Broomfield has an established core while HR doesn't. Both have new housing still going up.

How long does housing have to be around for it to be established? Parts of HR have been around for nearly 30 years.