Denver or Austin? (Aurora, Parker: apartment, rentals, to buy)

[Karrah]

How does the S Denver suburb areas compare to Austin? Can you get around town without a car in Aurora, Centennial or Parker? I will be leaving my bf of almost 7yrs and won't have a car for about 1yr til I can afford one. (dont want to buy used) How do the two areas compare in relation to things to do? I am originally from the DC area. I lived in Austin from 2007-2009. I now live in boring Kansas. I am 40yrs old, not into the bar scene, drinking or parties. No kids here, but love going to good restaurants and sports events. I have a dog who is sensitive to the cold & heat. Her max is about 65 degrees without getting affected. Are there walking trails around town? If so, are they located in Aurora, Centennial or Parker areas? I won't be taking her to dog parks as she doesn't get along with other dogs well. We rescued her from an abusive home....we are her 3rd owner. Her 1st owner passed away and also abused and neglected her. Ok, those are my questions.

Karrah

[Mike from back east]

Denver has all five pro sports. IIRC there are no pro teams in Austin.

Colorado is very dog friendly, and walking trails abound in the region.

I suspect it's quite humid in Austin, not so here in COLO, the dry may prove quite refreshing to you.

Nothing boring here; lots to do, only constant with the weather is its changeability.

It does get cold in the winter, sometimes in the zero range or below, but the sun is rather nice and with the dry air it can feel okay, not the bone chilling cold of back east, BTDT for 57 years in the DC-Baltimore area.

Would help a lot if you can visit and get the vibe.

Look at padmapper.com for what's available in the rental market, prices here have gone up a lot.

[woob]

Originally Posted by Karrah

How does the S Denver suburb areas compare to Austin? Can you get around town without a car in Aurora, Centennial or Parker? I will be leaving my bf of almost 7yrs and won't have a car for about 1yr til I can afford one. (dont want to buy used) How do the two areas compare in relation to things to do? I am originally from the DC area. I lived in Austin from 2007-2009. I now live in boring Kansas. I am 40yrs old, not into the bar scene, drinking or parties. No kids here, but love going to good restaurants and sports events. I have a dog who is sensitive to the cold & heat. Her max is about 65 degrees without getting affected. Are there walking trails around town? If so, are they located in Aurora, Centennial or Parker areas? I won't be taking her to dog parks as she doesn't get along with other dogs well. We rescued her from an abusive home....we are her 3rd owner. Her 1st owner passed away and also abused and neglected her. Ok, those are my questions.

I don't think denver sounds like a good fit for you. The suburbs are very car dependent and hardly any interesting restaurants. Summer can be brutally hot (we've had 50 days over 90 degrees this year). Cost of living is also on the rise.

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by woob

I don't think denver sounds like a good fit for you. The suburbs are very car dependent and hardly any interesting restaurants. Summer can be brutally hot (we've had 50 days over 90 degrees this year). Cost of living is also on the rise.

Summers in Austin are hotter and considerably more humid. Between June 1st and today in Austin the daytime high temperature was below 90 a whopping three times. It was 90 or above 100 times. It was 100 or above 42 times. Additionally the overnight low was 70 degrees or higher on 96/103 days - meaning you can't leave your windows open at night.

Summers here are mild by comparison.

[Willy702]

If your dog wants around 65 degrees this is definitely not the place. Besides is a moving decision really made around a dog these days???

[Karrah]

Thanks for the info! I am still conflicted...seems as though I will need to live in Denver...we will see...I will be swimming in Aurora...I will have to do some research. During this very humid summer here in Kansas City, I have found a way to keep my dog cool. Also, are there a y walking trails where there are sprinklers where I ca run my dog through? We have one here in KS and it is a life saver!

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Karrah

Thanks for the info! I am still conflicted...seems as though I will need to live in Denver...we will see...I will be swimming in Aurora...I will have to do some research. During this very humid summer here in Kansas City, I have found a way to keep my dog cool. Also, are there a y walking trails where there are sprinklers where I ca run my dog through? We have one here in KS and it is a life saver!

I spent several summers in Lawrence, KS. Denver is much more pleasant both summer and winter. If you leave your dog inside during the day (which I hope you do), the nights are much cooler here because of the low humidity. That said, if you want 65 degrees all the time and a walkable city you need to go to San Francisco.

[davebarnes]

1. Where is your anchor point? Work address?
2. What breed is your dog?
3. Why did you start off with "S[outh] Denver suburb areas"? Are you looking for something similar to Caldwell (south of Austin)?
4. What is your rental budget?

[Idlewile]

(Lived in Denver for 13 years, now in Austin.)

Those areas you mention are car-dependent.

Considering your dog's temp issues, I'm surprised you'd considered either honestly. Having lived in Austin, you know that temps are 98+ roughly 4-5 months of the year. Rents in walkable areas have risen dramatically in the past two years and finding a decent apartment/house to rent here is not for the faint of heart with people bidding on rentals these days. In the walkable areas, Austin rentals are just as expense as Denver.

All in all, there are more recreational activities is Denver.

Are you a Longhorn fan? If so, great, few states/cities in this country can compare when it comes to sheer mass of loyalty, support and presence. Not a Longhorn fan? Hmm. No other sports to speak of. Huge contrast professional sports-wise between the two cities -- Denver has it all, Austin has nothing. Cowboys or Texans are always guaranteed programming on Sundays so if you care about a team elsewhere, less of a chance for you to see them play without Sunday Ticket.

How are you with cold? Are you okay with a long winter, temp-wise? As someone pointed out in another thread, count on Halloween-Cinco De Mayo for generally cold temps with a handful of beautiful but unexpected mild days in between in Denver.

The restaurant scene is about equal which says a lot about Austin considering Austin is a lot smaller than Denver.

I would take a hard look at your job opportunities and budget before you decide on either of these cities.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Idlewile

(Lived in Denver for 13 years, now in Austin.)


The restaurant scene is about equal which says a lot about Austin considering Austin is a lot smaller than Denver.

Not even close to accurate. I love Austin. It has a better music scene than Denver, but dining? Not near the same.