Town similar to Fort Collins but close to Denver?? (Boulder: house, school)

[Marce970]

We need to move close to Denver, my husband got a job there, but I love Fort Collins, we are looking for something VERY similar to Fort Collins, we lived in a 3 year old house that we need to sell, I don't want to, but the commuting is probably 1.5 hours each way. How different is Brighton??

[Katiana]

Very different. There is no university in Brighton. Brighton is a very diverse city, in the true meaning of the word, ie, lots of minorities and whites, all income levels, etc. I think that is a good thing, but it's not the college town atmosphere, where the waitstaff have PhDs, but don't want to leave. Golden has Colo. School of Mines, which may offer more of the college town atmosphere, and of course, there's Boulder. You get the "vibe" from CU even if you live in Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, etc.

[RangerDuke08]

Marce, you'll have to define what you like about Fort Collins? The small town feel with the convenience of a small city? The college town atmosphere? The overall homogenous and safe, quite feel of the town nestled in the foothills? Also why Brighton? Perhaps I can narrow it down a bit.

[vimabasu]

I think you might like living in Golden. I have found it small town but educated and interested in environment. Small cafe's, not pretentous as you might think of Boulder. Interesting places to live. Simple people.
Very close to Denver. You could bike there.

[Nysee53]

I think Loveland is similar, but that is not cutting down on your commute time by much. Why not just live in Fort Collins and tough it out?

[Spincycle]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Very different. There is no university in Brighton. Brighton is a very diverse city, in the true meaning of the word, ie, lots of minorities and whites, all income levels, etc. I think that is a good thing, but it's not the college town atmosphere, where the waitstaff have PhDs, but don't want to leave. Golden has Colo. School of Mines, which may offer more of the college town atmosphere, and of course, there's Boulder. You get the "vibe" from CU even if you live in Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, etc.

Yeah but the CU vibe is weak and watered down IMO in Longmont, Louisville, and Lafayette but strong at Horizons at RC (Superior). Is that really true about PhD's working in restuarants in Boulder. I never met a PhD waiting tables. I have met grad students working in restuarants while earning masters degree. What is the truth or fluff about the PhD's?
Thanks.....

[jwiley]

I have met PhD's working at pizza delivery and call centers in both Fort Collins and Boulder, and have a friend working at a halfway house part time with her pHD while also waiting tables at banquets for extra money to cover her bills. All will admit that they could find a great job in their career, but have chosen not to leave the area at this point.