Durango Strongest Micropolitan Economy in the Nation

[jchasse]

Not being at all sarcastic, I do consider it a bargain.


I sold a home in the Northeast, bought a comparable home here (in arguably one of the areas higher-end neighborhoods) for a little less money. In the 2 years since moving, my Durango home’s value has fared better than our place in the Northeast, so our place here is now worth more than the house back east.


My property taxes here are less than $1,000 per YEAR vs. $1,300 per MONTH in CT. That alone is a huge cost of living difference.


Beyond the total cost of living, which is absolutely lower here, our quality of life (subjective to be sure) is better here beyond a doubt. People friendlier, outdoor recreation that is simply staggering, we feel better about raising our 2-year old here without question, municipal and community services are definitely better here, the weather is better here. And our bath towels dry in 4 hours instead of 4 days.


Beyond all that, I flew 50,000+ miles for business in the first six months of this year (unusually high for me, but so it goes), and business travel to/from DRO is infinitely more pleasant than my past 15 yrs in and out of JFK and LGA. And it has absolutely proven to be no more expensive to fly out of our regional airport.

I rent a small office overlooking Main Ave. for nominal rent. I ride my bike to work several days per week. I can walk to good, no, great fly fishing water during my lunch break, for cryin' out loud!


We just spent 10 days back east on vacation. And everything we saw drove home the point that this is a much better place to live (for us)…beyond a doubt. And it costs less.


How’s that not a relative bargain?

[CosmicWizard]

VenusAllen wrote:

They chide us for our use of "anecdotal" data, which we use to reinforce our decision to live here, while knowing NOTHING of the conditions from which we came, except what they might have gleaned from the internet. Double standard, anyone?

A high percentage of the population has been programmed from birth to see 'hard evidence' like statistics and scientifically derived numbers to be more valid and meaningful than a persons 'mere' anecdotal real life experience. If a scientific methodology was used to render a certain measure, then it is unquestionably true to those who live within the constraints of their self imposed boxes. To them, how can the words of a common citizen carry as much weight as an official pronouncement. An analyst in Denver or Washington certainly knows sooooooooooo much more about Durango than someone who merely lives there.

[Lugnuts]

Originally Posted by jchasse

Not being at all sarcastic, I do consider it a bargain.


I sold a home in the Northeast, bought a comparable home here (in arguably one of the areas higher-end neighborhoods) for a little less money. In the 2 years since moving, my Durango home’s value has fared better than our place in the Northeast, so our place here is now worth more than the house back east.


My property taxes here are less than $1,000 per YEAR vs. $1,300 per MONTH in CT. That alone is a huge cost of living difference.


Beyond the total cost of living, which is absolutely lower here, our quality of life (subjective to be sure) is better here beyond a doubt. People friendlier, outdoor recreation that is simply staggering, we feel better about raising our 2-year old here without question, municipal and community services are definitely better here, the weather is better here. And our bath towels dry in 4 hours instead of 4 days.


Beyond all that, I flew 50,000+ miles for business in the first six months of this year (unusually high for me, but so it goes), and business travel to/from DRO is infinitely more pleasant than my past 15 yrs in and out of JFK and LGA. And it has absolutely proven to be no more expensive to fly out of our regional airport.

I rent a small office overlooking Main Ave. for nominal rent. I ride my bike to work several days per week. I can walk to good, no, great fly fishing water during my lunch break, for cryin' out loud!


We just spent 10 days back east on vacation. And everything we saw drove home the point that this is a much better place to live (for us)…beyond a doubt. And it costs less.


How’s that not a relative bargain?

I cannot argue with your line of reasoning. You did it right. I've noticed that people who enjoy living in Colorado accumulated their wealth elsewhere and then moved here when they were able.

[jchasse]

Originally Posted by Lugnuts

I cannot argue with your line of reasoning. You did it right. I've noticed that people who enjoy living in Colorado accumulated their wealth elsewhere and then moved here when they were able.

Or haven't accumulated wealth, but can be telecommuting working people like my wife and I.

[Lugnuts]

Originally Posted by jchasse

Or haven't accumulated wealth, but can be telecommuting working people like my wife and I.

I think most people would consider the acquisition of a house that you can trade for a place in one of Durangos better neighborhoods, a form of wealth accumulation. Especially in a market where people are hemmoraging blood over their mortgages. More power to you for doing it right....

[jchasse]

Originally Posted by Lugnuts

I think most people would consider the acquisition of a house that you can trade for a place in one of Durangos better neighborhoods, a form of wealth accumulation. Especially in a market where people are hemmoraging blood over their mortgages. More power to you for doing it right....

We still have a mortgage that my wife and I have to work in order to pay comfortably, but I hear you. The bottom line is this: I can very honestly say that I feel lucky every day that we're able to live here. Never once had the same feeling about anywhere else I've lived.

[kapetrich]

Originally Posted by VenusAllen

I keep hearing about how expensive it is to live here but I just don't see it. For those who espouse this stance is there a particular demographic that you are referring to? Sure, if you're a kid who moved here to be a ski bum you should prepare to struggle but in what part of the country wouldn't they? That's part of life, start slowly and build. I will agree that if one overbought on a house that they face challenges that some of us don't but, again, this is not just a Durango issue. I agree with Jazzlover that the housing bubble is going to burst, but that doesn't affect everyone, the market will take care of those who made poor decisions, as it will across the rest of the U.S. Those from larger areas might even consider Durango a bargain. The townhouse we rent would cost us about $200 less in semi-rural Kentucky...K-E-N-T-U-C-K-Y, people. $2400 per year is not going to break us, and as a matter of fact, we spend double that vacationing here every year so we actually end up "net" winners. I've come to the conclusion that those who poo-poo Durango's cost-of-living have no clue what it's like to live elsewhere. They chide us for our use of "anecdotal" data, which we use to reinforce our decision to live here, while knowing NOTHING of the conditions from which we came, except what they might have gleaned from the internet. Double standard, anyone?

Can you come chime in on some Bend, OR threads and set some of my comrades strait with this perspective?

Many of these issues in these "Mountain Towns" are not as unique as locals tend to over-state.

Now, are there major issues which must be worked on? Of course, but by no means are these types of towns anomalies, especially when considering their size, structure and locations.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Lugnuts

That explains everything.

How does that explain anything?

[VenusAllen]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

VenusAllen wrote:

They chide us for our use of "anecdotal" data, which we use to reinforce our decision to live here, while knowing NOTHING of the conditions from which we came, except what they might have gleaned from the internet. Double standard, anyone?

A high percentage of the population has been programmed from birth to see 'hard evidence' like statistics and scientifically derived numbers to be more valid and meaningful than a persons 'mere' anecdotal real life experience. If a scientific methodology was used to render a certain measure, then it is unquestionably true to those who live within the constraints of their self imposed boxes. To them, how can the words of a common citizen carry as much weight as an official pronouncement. An analyst in Denver or Washington certainly knows sooooooooooo much more about Durango than someone who merely lives there.

Well said.