Commute time from Broomfield to Highlands Ranch (Denver, Colorado Springs: houses, neighborhoods)

[Teana]

What's the average commute time to and from Broomfield to Highlands Ranch? I'm looking to buy a home and we kind of liked Highlands Ranch area. I'm trying to check the possibility of living in Highlands Ranch and commuting to Broomfield for work.

[Katiana]

At least an hour, in good weather, and good traffic.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Of course it'll depend on the exact locations, but here's a data point:

I25/470 intersection to I25/Baseline Rd (CO-7) is about 40-45 minutes on a Saturday afternoon. I don't think I'd want that commute during rush hour or worse, during snow. I've looked at houses all over the Denver area and found plenty of nice neighborhoods in the Broomfield/Westminster area. HR is nice but there's plenty of nice areas closer to work.

[2bindenver]

Try the Broadlands instead. There are plenty of nice subdivisions in Broomfield.

[rkb0305]

I wouldn't choose to live that far from work if I were you.

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by Teana

What's the average commute time to and from Broomfield to Highlands Ranch? I'm looking to buy a home and we kind of liked Highlands Ranch area. I'm trying to check the possibility of living in Highlands Ranch and commuting to Broomfield for work.

WHY!?!?

Don't do it.

[CMartel2]

I'm envious. I'd love to live in the Broomfield area. Alas, I'm stuck working in northern Aurora. Long commutes just aren't worth it. Besides, you've got great schools, great neighborhoods, and all sorts of amenities in Broomfield. Plus you're closer to the foothills and the Rockies, as well.

What's not to love?

I'd stay local.

[vegaspilgrim]

Not to beat a dead horse here, but the other posters here are right. I don't have anything against HR, but there is NOTHING so special about Highlands Ranch that can't equally be found somewhere in the NW metro area either in or very close to Broomfield. People can and do make such commutes, but it just doesn't seem smart to set yourself up for that-- unless if you only see the Broomfield job as a temporary gig and plan on working predominately in the south metro. I would spend some time really investigating the NW metro area.

[Teana]

Thank you for all your replies. I really appreciate it. As always, this board has been very helpful to me.

I was planning on doing it for my kiddos schooling. From what I heard and read, the Douglas county school district seems to be pretty good. I like Broadlands area in Broomfield but I'm not sure how the Adams county school district compares to the Douglas county schools. By living in Broadlands I'm not sure if I will qualify for enrolling my kids to Boulder county schools. Are there any good charter schools in Broomfield?

Sorry….if its many questions in one post.

[Katiana]

There are many good schools in the metro area. Here is a list from Newsweek of American's top high schools.

Originally Posted by Katiana

As for school districts, I am not a big fan of such lists myself, but I looked up the Newsweek list for 2008 and here is what I found.
Here is the Colorado list:
Peak to Peak Charter, Lafayette
Lakewoood High School
Fairview High School, Boulder
East High School, Denver
Niwot High School
Cherry Creek High School, Greenwood Village
Evergreen High School
Smoky Hill HS, Aurora
Grandview HS, Aurora
Poudre High School, Ft. Collins
Cheyenne Mountain HS, Colorado Springs
George Washington HS, Denver
D'Evelyn HS, Denver (Jefferson Co)
Legacy HS, Broomfield
Eaglecrest HS, Aurora
Liberty HS, Colorado Springs
Heritage HS, Littleton
Aspen HS
Littleton HS
Air Academy HS, Colorado Springs
Monarch HS, Louisville (My kids' alma mater)
Overland HS, Aurora
Palmer HS, Colorado Springs
Thunderridge HS, Highlands Ranch
Pine Creek HS, Colorado Springs
Chaparral HS, Parker
Ft. Collins HS
Boulder HS
Thompson Valley HS, Loveland

Please note there are many ways of calculating the "best" schools. This list should reassure you (and others) that it is not necessary to live in Douglas County for your kids to get a good education. Schools in bold are in Boulder/Broomfield Counties.

Take our advice. Find yourself a nice home in the NW suburbs. Your kids' education will be enhanced if you can actually attend their concerts, plays, athletic events, etc. If you live in HR, you'll be lucky to be able to attend a parent-teacher conference.