Wanting a change for our family (Denver, Pueblo: new house, buy, schools)

[Mike from back east]

In the way of smallish towns, I recommend Durango for the OP.

It's a small town full of nice, mostly retired folks who possess good educations and positive attitudes they brought with them from the coasts, and the town has a college to meet the OP's educational needs.

If Durango is too pricey, there's always Bayfield, Mancos and Cortez.

The Denver metro area is still the best choice to meet most of the OPs requirements. Few newcomers can get everything on their list met right off the bat, especially younger folks on a budget. IMO the school requirements and museum employment desires dictate being in a larger metro area, anywhere in the country. Mayberry is a state of mind, can be found outside most big cities.

[mic111]

The people I know (admittedly very limited in number) who've gone off to Colorado small towns have come dashing back as they find as outsiders they aren't included or welcome. Jobs go to relatives or friends.

I think the OPs budget, if it really includes all their bills, is going to be too restricted for the metro area. I'd be interested to understand their rent budget in order to provide concrete suggestions. But Mayberry or Leave it to Beaver is pretty much a myth as far as I know. In fact the OP probably comes from an area that is alot closer to that than anything else they will find considering that they have tons of relatives and friends in their current area.

[davebarnes]

According to 2010 Census data
Durango (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
1. The black population of Durango is 96 people.
2. All of Clear Creek County (home of small town Idaho Springs) is 72 people.
3. Salida is 10.

Think long and hard if you want to live in these and similar locations.

If you are set on Colorado, then consider the Front Range where there are:
1. jobs
2. some people other than Anglos

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

The OP said that she is tired of friends and family dropping in on them all the time. That's EXACTLY what would happen in a small town! I would second (or third, or fourth) the suggestion to look for work somewhere along the Front Range, then find a community or neighborhood that still has a friendly small-town feel. Those exist all over the place, even in the sprawling Denver suburbs. Meeting friendly people is more about how you put yourself out there than what kind of place you live in.

[Mike from back east]

Tash, take a look at UC-Pueblo to see if they have your school subjects.

Then look at Pueblo, Pueblo West and Canon City for rentals.

Then look at the 11 prisons in the area of Canon City and Florence for potential work in the area of criminal justice. Also look for museums in Canon City, Pueblo and Colo Spgs.

[tash61603]

Thank you, that sounds like a good plan, I'll look into those areas as well. Thank you for all the help.

[davidv]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Tash, take a look at UC-Pueblo to see if they have your school subjects.

Then look at Pueblo, Pueblo West and Canon City for rentals.

Then look at the 11 prisons in the area of Canon City and Florence for potential work in the area of criminal justice. Also look for museums in Canon City, Pueblo and Colo Spgs.

Quick correction, it's CSU-Pueblo. It is part of the Colorado State system, not the University of Colorado system.

CU's campuses are in Boulder, Denver, Aurora (the med school), and Colorado Springs.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by davidv

Quick correction, it's CSU-Pueblo. It is part of the Colorado State system, not the University of Colorado system.

CU's campuses are in Boulder, Denver, Aurora (the med school), and Colorado Springs.

David, thanks.

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by davidv

it's CSU-Pueblo. It is part of the Colorado State system

Go Aggies.
And, they will teach how to howl at the moon for free.

[denverbytrain]

I would check out some of the towns that surround Denver that are suburbs that still have a small town feel with an old town downtown. I would check out the city of Littleton(old part), Olde town Arvada, Golden. Those towns even have their own small museums.