Johnstown? (Denver, Fort Collins, Loveland: house, schools, utilities)

[IsThisOneTaken?]

Tell me a little bit about Johnstown. I looked at the NoCo area for jobs before, primarily at Loveland and Windsor. I spent time in both those cities looking at housing and other things, and liked what I saw there, but didn't make the move.

I had an opportunity in Johnstown present itself, but I know very little about it. Just looking at a map, it looks very strange how the city limits zig and zag everywhere, and it is located in two counties. Apparently annexing housing developments? Apparently the south side of Highway 34 at Centerra is even a part of Johnstown?

So, what is Johnstown like, especially compared to Loveland or Windsor?

[Mike Weber]

Johnstown is primarily a bedroom community for the Loveland / Fort Collins area. The boundaries grew several years ago when many communities were annexing land in order to grab spots thought to be attractive for business, and therefore tax revenue. Johnstown proper is still a small town with farming roots. It has a downtown main street and some newer shopping in the form of a grocery store and surrounding shopping center. For entertainment, many will make the relatively quick drive up I-25 to Loveland or Fort Collins. Denver and Denver International Airport are a reasonably close distance. It has a feel like Windsor did 15-20 years ago.

[IsThisOneTaken?]

Thanks Mike. I appreciate the answer!

Anybody else?

[StealthRabbit]

I haven't been there for many yrs, but yes, they do annex and provide utilities to new subdivisions (in return for revenue). There was always strife and racial issues in the schools yrs ago, but that may have completely changed. Agrarian roots, but lately transformed by bunches of 'bedroom' subdivisions. I would suspect growing pains, with some older stability in Johnstown central (and the struggle ensues).

For Quality of life and community identity / support, I would look to nearby Berthoud, or Loveland.

[whirnot]

Mike is pretty accurate. For a small town it is pretty nice. It has been growing and updating a lot in the last few years. I think you will find it less expensive then Loveland, and a lot less expensive than Berthoud. It's actually a pretty nice little place.

[xeric]

I don't know much about the town, but I do know that the bedroom communities to Ft. Collins, Loveland tend to offer cheaper housing at the price of a longer travel time to the relative cultural meccas of the cities in Larimer county. It all depend on your priorities - I wouldn't move to an outlying area to get a bigger house or more land for the same price as in Fort Collins/Loveland, but a lot of people feel differently (witness the recent growth of Windsor).