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Old 12-15-2017, 10:16 AM
 
155 posts, read 152,713 times
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Hello all, back on the forum after moving twice (first to san diego then asheville, now back home in massachusetts) wanted to share a bit about what I'm looking for and get some general feedback.

I'm 32 year old guy, I'm looking for a warmer (than MA), generally liberal city with a good economy in the western U.S. (no further east than Denver). I liked San Diego, very expensive though and packed with people and too close/similar to LA which is one of the last places I'd want to live. I also liked Asheville, but it was a bit small for how remote it is and the economy sucks and its way more expensive to rent than what it offers IMO.

So, I guess somewhere in between would be nice. My initial thoughts are Denver, which has a great economy right now but is also getting close to San Diego level rent prices. I was looking at a report the other day saying how Austin was the only city where income growth has kept pace with rent prices. The only other two major cities that were close are Phoenix and Las Vegas, summer temps scare me a little bit on those two though. (yes I know i sound like the pickiest person ever just bear with me lol).

As far as work, I have done a lot of different stuff from web design to customer service to finance so I don't really have a niche. Really I don't know how much I want to be sitting in front of a computer all day/life and feel that mixing with people could be better. I'd like to be somewhere fun with stuff going on, sort of a vacation type destination like Vegas is cool and I do love casinos so that could be an option for work. I have visited Phoenix and thought it was nice as well but Colorado was probably the most beautiful state to visit, and I like the Denver/Boulder area and all the cool resort towns like Vail, aspen, black hawk, etc.

Any thoughts or suggestions or just share your experiences if you've lived in any of these. I think Denver would be a done deal if it wasn't for the concern of rise in rent prices, so I am considering some others. Are there cheaper areas outside Denver to rent that are nice as well?

Thanks
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Old 12-15-2017, 12:24 PM
 
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If you like Denver you might look at the Louisville-Lafayette-Longmont area east/northeast of Boulder which is about 40 minutes north of downtown Denver. It features much the same lifestyle, is quite liberal and in close proximity to all kinds of outdoor recreation.
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Old 12-15-2017, 01:41 PM
 
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Colorado Springs is less expensive for now then Denver but does not have as many job openings.
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Old 12-15-2017, 02:17 PM
 
Location: North Shore-->Lakeview
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You could consider a Boise, Salt Lake, or even a Tahoe if you like the Denver area.
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Old 12-15-2017, 02:29 PM
 
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Funny you say that I stayed in tahoe for a week or so on a road trip and loved it.. shoulda stayed and got a job there! Seems like I'd be running into same issue as Asheville though, way smaller area and entirely reliant on the tourism industry.. beautiful place though.

Kyle that area is a lot cheaper I'm assuming? Also, when you start going west of denver does it get more expensive and colder?
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Old 12-15-2017, 02:37 PM
 
Location: North Shore-->Lakeview
9 posts, read 8,459 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by weiwuwei View Post
Funny you say that I stayed in tahoe for a week or so on a road trip and loved it.. shoulda stayed and got a job there! Seems like I'd be running into same issue as Asheville though, way smaller area and entirely reliant on the tourism industry.. beautiful place though.

Kyle that area is a lot cheaper I'm assuming? Also, when you start going west of denver does it get more expensive and colder?
Ah it's delightful. Very small, but delightful nontheless.
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Old 12-15-2017, 08:57 PM
 
Location: I is where I is
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Tahoe doesn’t have any better of an economy than asheville. Tahoe is very seasonal, so unless you’re working from home/remote, probably not a good idea.

Boise or Salt Lake City could work.
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Old 12-16-2017, 08:06 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by weiwuwei View Post
Kyle that area is a lot cheaper I'm assuming? Also, when you start going west of denver does it get more expensive and colder?
It's about 20%-30% cheaper with more square footage typically. The west side of Denver gets considerably expensive thanks to the closer proximity to ski locations. Another area that's considerably less is the south side out near Castle Rock and Parker which could work if you're employment options are in that end of the metro area.
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Old 12-16-2017, 08:53 AM
 
Location: Arvada, CO
13,824 posts, read 29,779,503 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by weiwuwei View Post
Any thoughts or suggestions or just share your experiences if you've lived in any of these. I think Denver would be a done deal if it wasn't for the concern of rise in rent prices, so I am considering some others. Are there cheaper areas outside Denver to rent that are nice as well?

Thanks
You can find relatively cheap rentals in Denver if you dig, and/or accept that you won't be in the hippest area. Finding a job won't be a problem, we're left with what's left after the bottom of the barrel is scraped (whatever that is) right now.

IMO it doesn't get any noticeably cheaper until you get down to Colorado Springs. Pueblo is even cheaper than that, but it would bore you to death. Boulder, Longmont, Loveland, and Fort Collins are all on par with Denver price-wise. Greeley is a college/plains town, that while cheap, should not interest you.

Unless you are especially interested in the outdoors, or living as trendily yuppie or hipster as possible, Denver is no better a substitute for anywhere else, especially after factoring in the cost of living.

I enjoy Phoenix, and think it's a better place for somebody not completely established. Las Vegas is good for certain things, but it is pretty limited economically. Both are cheap enough, and you can work in casinos in either one (the commute to Black Hawk from Denver would get old for me....and I play poker ).

If you haven't been to Seattle or Portland, I would recommend at least visiting. But both have COL problems like San Diego. I don't think any of the smaller western cities would appeal to you enough.

One place not mentioned yet is Sacramento. It's essentially a not as cool Denver, with the mountains further away. And a much milder climate. And marginally cheaper, but not as economically booming.
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Old 12-16-2017, 09:54 AM
 
155 posts, read 152,713 times
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Thanks for the info David

"we're left with what's left after the bottom of the barrel is scraped (whatever that is) right now."

What do you mean by this?

Not being in the hippest area is not an issue for me, so where do all the people live who work in Black Hawk I wonder? Assume its pretty expensive to rent out that way?

I have no complaints about Phoenix other than the scorching summer heat and just not really sure what that would be like to live in.. I guess its the opposite of the northeast where I am where you just dont go outside for 3 months a year bc of the cold lol. The natural beauty and climate of CO appeals to me much more than the desert. I guess I'm thinking Denver/CO would be closest to a large-scale city version of a Lake Tahoe, which probably doesnt make much sense.

I really wanted to visit Seattle and Portland but I dont really have the spare cash to be travelling around and just visiting places to try them out, more of a pick a place and go type budget right now haha..

Thanks for feedback guys much appreciated.
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