Colorado winters, among other things.. (Denver, Westminster: apartments, to rent, home)

[MrsWade]

My husband and I are considering moving to the Denver area in spring or summer or next year so I study architecture in Boulder. I have a few questions that I'm hoping you can help me with..

1) For anyone who has every spent winters in Boise, ID, how do these compare to Denver? I have a compact car (Chevy Cobalt), would it be able to make the commute from Denver to Boulder in the winter? (If so, would I need snow tires or chains?)

2) Neither of us have visited Colorado yet, but we're assuming that being young (21 and 22) and needing to make about 68k annually between us, Denver will be the best place to live. He hasn't started college yet, and I have a bachelor's in drafting. Best case scenario, I would like to work 3 or 4 ten hr. days at a job and go to school full-time on 1 or 2 days. He would like something in the corporate enviroment (we both currently work for AT&T), I would be fine with something similar or something like a bank. Is it reasonable to live and work in Denver, and commute to Boulder once or twice a week? Do you have any suggestions for jobs in the area? Also, on a side-note, is anyone aware of jobs I could get working at an architectural firm (possibly as a receptionist or something similar?) while going to school?

3) Can you recommend any reasonably priced areas to rent in or around Denver? My husband and I currently rent a 1 br. apartment with a washer and dryer, fireplace, one covered parking spot and water included for $595 a month. (We're also allowed to have our very small indoor dog here). The only utilities we pay are power and internet which come out to roughly $100 combined. We'd like to rent another apartment (or most preferably, a house) where our rent and utilities wouldn't average more than $800-$900.

I'll try to stick with those questions for now, although I'm sure many more will arise. Thank-you in advance for any help you can provide!

[zionvier]

I've never been to Idaho in the winter, but Denver is technically a high desert area. Yes we get snow, but it's not to the extent of what I've found people believe. I'm originally from the east coast, so my friends in NJ and NC tend to think that Denver is covered in snow all winter long, which is far from the truth. Everyone knows Colorado for the mountains and the amount of snow they get, but Denver isn't the mountains.

As for your car, there will be days like I'm sure you have in Idaho where you want to take it slow because there will be snow on the roads. But, with 300+ days of sunshine, the snow tends to melt pretty quickly. I've found that you might have a snowy commute occasionally in one direction (like in the morning going to work), but then by the time you get off work the roads are just wet and the snow has melted. Or vice versa... dry on the way to work and snowing on the way home.

snow tires or chains aren't a bad idea, but I think chains would be overkill and not worth it down here in the flatlands. Snow tires will give you that added safety for those days I mentioned, but many people get by without them.

Just for the record, last year I rode my motorcycle 12,000 miles and my Jeep Cherokee about 4000 miles. I was on the motorcycle some days in December and January while there was snow on the side of the road.

[Pilot1]

I'm from the northeast/mid-atlantic (PA) and I've found the Denver winters to be in general more mild. You get sunshine and temps in the 50's in mid winter. Yes it get cold sometimes and we get a dump of snow, but it always melst quickly.

[Nav]

In the Denver/Boulder Area, you wont need chains to get around. If you venture back in the mountains in the winter, there are times quite frequently where chains are required. The cities keep the roads pretty well free of snow so mostly so its not like treking through the tundra. Snow tires are nice, but not a necessity. This is assuming you stay in the Denver area. Your car is front wheel drive. That will get you through almost everyting except blizzards. When they hit, you just simply stay home

For your living arrangements, I would stick to the northern denver burbs sich as Thornton or Brighton. They are an easy commute to both places and are pretty reasonable in price. If you try to get a place in Boulder, you will fine that 1k rent a month wont get anything. Look around, there are plenty of places that are affordable.

Nav

[charygart]

Hi, I've never been to Boise so don't know about the comparison between the two. But this i can tell. I have a honda accord, and I used to commute to Boulder from North of Denver (Thornton/Northglenn area) with just regular tires. Of course there were some days where i was worried that i would get stuck, but only like once a year. I was working at an architectural company, so I took a couple of the full size stone veneer samples, to help weigh my car down, and use it under my tires when i got stuck. It worked well.

Since u will be going back and forth between boulder and denver, i was thinking that you should look on the areas along the 36 corridor. I'm sure u will find plenty of apartments in your range. Denver-boulder is about 40-45 minute drive one way. And there are buses conviniently going between Downtown Denver and Boulder (CU too) with stops a long the 36 corridor.

For jobs. I'm working as an architect intern right now. When i was working in Boulder. We had a few people who were still at school working part time at our office. We also had a receptionist who was a part time interior designer at another company. Knowing that u hav a degree in drafting, you might want to find a job as a part time drafter/intern. But it might be kinda tough, because a lot of people kinda prefer to have full time drafters, so they don't have to play catch up with you, since u only have like 3-4 days a week. But there are people who are looking for something like that. Can also be a receptionist. But i think for that to look at smaller companies. Since the don't have much for you to do compared to a big company that would require you to pretty much be a full time employee with the work load that they have.

Hope this helps

[tfox]

There's no need to go as far away as Denver to find reasonably priced rent. Somewhere right off 36 in Westminster will get you an easy commute to either, plus be quite affordable as well.

Ideally, try to get somewhere where you can take the bus. They have Denver-Boulder buses running along 36 on intervals up to every 15 minutes -- it's a very convenient option.

As for chains/snow tires, they're absolutely not needed in town. Having some chains in your trunk is not a bad idea however if you go up to the mountains a lot. Snow tires are not a bad idea, certainly couldn't hurt if you're so motivated, but I don't personally know anyone who actually uses them.

[ryanek9freak]

I have to disagree somewhat. Snow tires are a VERY good idea in the winter. Not only do they help you get going easier, they also help immensly with braking and cornering.

And although your car is only front wheel drive, you need snow tires on ALL 4 wheels. Only putting them on the front causes dangerous handling.

[Noahma]

I am not sure if you are going to be looking for a job in the Architecture field, but at the moment there is very slim pickings as far as that goes.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by MrsWade

For anyone who has every spent winters in Boise, ID, how do these compare to Denver?

This URL looks bad but if doesnt work go to

http://outflux.net/weather/noaa/

and use the drop down boxes to compare Boise and Denver.

http://outflux.net/weather/noaa/index.php?cities[]=BOISE%2CID&cities[]=DENVER%2CCO&compare[]=2&compare[]=3&compare[]=4&compare[]=5&compare[]=6&compare[]=7&compare[]=8&q=%22BOISE%2C+ID%22+%22DENVER%2C+CO%22+&sa=Goog le+Search&client=pub-0271172053863578&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%230066CC%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23999999% 3BVLC%3A336633%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC %3AFF9900%3BALC%3A0066CC%3BLC%3A0066CC%3BT%3A00000 0%3BGFNT%3A666666%3BGIMP%3A666666%3BFORID%3A11&hl= en


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[springbean]

Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

I have to disagree somewhat. Snow tires are a VERY good idea in the winter. Not only do they help you get going easier, they also help immensly with braking and cornering.

And although your car is only front wheel drive, you need snow tires on ALL 4 wheels. Only putting them on the front causes dangerous handling.

ITA. Especially with such small, lightweight car. I would recommend studded tires.