Reputation of Fort Collins (Denver, Aurora: real estate, to rent, house)

[ckcmom2002]

We are very torn between Denver metro and Fort Collins for a fresh start for our family. We visited both areas 2 years ago, house hunted and everything, and I have been researching ever since. We just can't decide, and I really don't want to rent in one area and live in limbo for 6 months-a year since I have young children and want them to begin activities/preschool/friends, etc right away.

I'm trying to think of original questions since I have read these forums up and down and have gained tons of great information. Basically, I am wondering:
What do the Denver locals think of Fort Collins? Does it have a "reputation" or is it known for anything specific? Maybe there is something that I'm missing that can't be learned from doing research online and from a distance. Does anyone have any ideas on what a young family might find to be different between the 2 places?

Thanks so much for your input

[davebarnes]

Fort Collins is a high-tech, college town (city).
Denver is the capital of the state.

Neither one is anything like Georgia.

[bluescreen73]

Fort Collins is a great city and you'd likely be happy in either place. That being said unless you've already got a job lined up your prospects are likely going to be considerably better in Denver.

[bongo]

When I lived in Ft C. what impressed me were the hardwood tree-lined streets.

[ckcmom2002]

Neither one is anything like Georgia.[/quote]

Not sure if this is a positive or a negative, but regardless -We aren't from Georgia originally and can take it or leave it. Apparently we are leaving it

[ckcmom2002]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

Fort Collins is a great city and you'd likely be happy in either place. That being said unless you've already got a job lined up your prospects are likely going to be considerably better in Denver.

My husband works for a large IT firm and can work/live anywhere as long as he is within a reasonable distance to a major airport (he currently drives 1 hour) for travel about twice a month, and he will not need to find another job. That being said, he would like to keep his options open for future prospects. I am a stay at home mom.

[vegaspilgrim]

Nice, clean town with a lively "Old Town Fort Collins" district. Everybody I have known who went to CSU loved it there. Some of them didn't want to leave after they graduated and found jobs locally.

Personally I think I'd get bored if I lived there and I'd be driving to Denver all the time, which is a long(at least an hour with no traffic), boring drive. While Fort Collins does have Poudre Canyon nearby, which is nice, it's a long ways away from the high country and skiing. It's a very flat city with shallow mountain views-- it looks like a Midwestern city. You'd have to drive the 1+ hr down to Denver first, then west into the mountains.

Since being close to the airport is a consideration, I'd go with the Denver area, and consider areas such as southeast Aurora, east Centennial, and Parker-- newer suburban areas reasonably close to DIA (via E-470) with good schools and tons of families with young children. Or Stapleton, if you specifically want to be "in the city."

[maciesmom]

What types of activities are you looking for? How do you envision your life over the next years?

For me? I'd choose Ft. Collins. Denver is accessible but it is a bit of a drive. But that wouldn't bother me too much as we didn't spent lots of time going downtown when the kids were little anyway. Ft Collins has a lot to offer families. Plus, with the university there it can offer a lot of cultural enhancements. However, if you really anticipate going to Denver regularly, you might want to rethink that. Neither is better or worse. Just different.

[ckcmom2002]

I am a bit concerned with becoming bored in FC and wanting to drive to Denver, maybe a few times a month or so. We will want to visit the zoo, children's museum and other similar things that Denver has to offer, and as far as I can tell FC has little in that area. But I also liked that it seemed more laid back compared to the Denver suburbs (where we would live, not in the city of Denver) with less traffic and friendly locals. When we were in FC visiting we had wonderful conversations with about 8 different strangers; in Littleton, Golden, Centennial and Highlands Ranch we can't remember having spoken with anyone except the real estate agent.

Hopefully we will be taking on more and more outdoor activities over the next few years so the closer the better but I think we can manage in either location to find plenty.

I always hear about FC being labeled as a "college town" which obviously I know it is but what does that mean exactly? Does the city cater more to the young single students than it does to families or is that just a small part of the town atmosphere?

[ckcmom2002]

And the reason I'm asking in the Denver forum is because I'm looking for an impartial answer everyone in Fort Collins seems to have nothing bad to say about it. I figure it's close enough to Denver for you all to have an opinion