Where to start? (Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins: apartments, job market, buying)

[hoosierteacher]

My wife an I have decided we want to move out of Indiana. I've been wanting to move to Colorado for the last few years, although I've never been out west. She has before, when she was very young but remembers how nice it was. Sometine after the holidays we are going to take a trip out there. We would like to move around July-August of next year. I have narrowed it down to the Denver area but also have heard that Ft. Collins is nice. We lived in Bloomington, In for awhile and like the college town atmosphere, theres always plenty to do.

I am lost on where to start! I've tried looking online for resources about relocating out there and have come up empty. I want to plan a trip that we would take after the holidays to figure out what would be the best fit for us. This seemed like really good place to get some help. We both grew up in a small rural town but loved Bloomington, pop. of about 60,000. We would like to live somewhere thats got great views with plenty to do, but with a small town feel.

I'm a high school science teacher and she is a manager with Walgreen's. She can be relocated very easily but I am curious about the job market for teachers.

Any suggestions?

[Kerianne1176]

Hey,
Congrats on your decision to move. I am running into the same thing. My fiance and I are buckling under the outrageous cost of living here in Massachusetts. We both grew up in NE and were looking for a place to go where we might build a little wealth and then head wherever we want.
So I pulled up some info online. There are some great pages:
[url=http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html?step=form&x=44&y=13]Cost of Living - Cost of Living Calculator from CNNMoney.com[/url]
The one above takes you to a calulator that will tell you what the equivelant salary in your new location will be and the percentages more or less your primary expenses will be with the new state's cost of living.

[url=http://www.apartmentsearch.com/moving-help/]Apartment Search: Moving Center[/url]
this one gives you a checklist and timeline for what "chores" have to be done and when

[url=http://www.missourieconomy.org/indicators/cost_of_living/index.stm]Cost of Living 1st Quarter 2008[/url]
This one is posted by the state of missouri but it has statistics about all the states that I found really interesting.

As far as where to start....I agree...the web is not offering much. I want specifics on first moves like job search, housing search, what pitfalls to watch for when relocating. Not seeing anything...just a lot on moving companies.
I wish you luck. I would love to live in CO myself. Someday!
take care

[Mike from back east]

Much of the data you guys seek is HERE on city-data.

Hard data is on the data side. Opinions and textual matter is here on the Forum side.

Use the index of threads as a starting point. Then use the search tool, it is VERY good.

Things are tough all over, but Colorado is getting by fairly well, it seems.

Walgreen's are all over the state. Views of mountains are great all along the Front Range, from Fort Collins to Pueblo. Colorado Springs is very affordable, is located right at the base of the mountains, has Colorado College right in town, and has a ton of good schools too. Don't rule us out. Yes, Fort Collins has a bigger college presence. Come see both.

Rent a year before buying. Try to have at least one job lined up when you arrive, or bring 3-6 months income if no jobs.

s/mike

[Katarina Witt]

There is more of a market for science teachers than for teachers in other areas. That said, teaching jobs are competitive here.