Middle class shrinking in Denver metro (Aurora, Lakewood: apartment complex, renters, car registration)

[Count David]

If you don't want to be a serf or a fief, be a lord, noble, or king.

Because:

'MURICA

[BornintheSprings]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

If you don't want to be a serf or a fief, be a lord, noble, or king.

Because:

'MURICA

I want to be a duke of Arvada

[Count David]

Originally Posted by BornintheSprings

I want to be a duke of Arvada

Done.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by BornintheSprings

I want to be a duke of Arvada

Duck I says.

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

is Prescott Valley, AZ bucking the trend?

America's middle class is shrinking almost everywhere - May. 11, 2016

My folks just moved there. Hmmm...

[headingtoDenver]

Originally Posted by Hschlick84

'In the Denver metro area, the middle class shrank by 5 percentage points between 2000 and 2014, while the upper class increased 1 point and lower class increased 4 points, according to Pew.' - DP

Not really a significant change, but it's noticable.

The American middle class: Who is in it, and who is not, in U.S. Metropolitan Areas | Pew Research Center

Middle class shrinks in Colorado, across U.S. as incomes fall - The Denver Post

Cracks me up how someone can post so many negative threads about the Denver area. When are you moving again? Are you going to litter the AZ forum with negative posts like you do here?

[Tex?Il?]

The reasons are stated in the article posted:

Rising income inequality, driven by factors including globalization, the decline of unions, the outsourcing of jobs and advancements in technology.

Technology is a huge one. The 2000s really saw the technological advances that really did make a lot of jobs obsolete, and there are no real easy solutions. Socialism might have to actually be something everyone might have to consider once we have self driving trucks, online education, and 3D printers building things dominate our world.

As far as the globalization and related outsourcing, well its just reality. we are in a process of sharing prosperity with the rest of the world, and we have to give up a little. The golden age of the middle class in the US, was only possible when much of the rest of the world was rebuilding their basics infrastructure after WWII, embracing totalitarian communist regimes, and embroiled in civil wars. The world overall will be more stable, now that the rest of the world (Asia, Latin America, Africa less so, but even they are having signs of economic advancement) is catching up.

The unions thing is the only of the four factors that we have more control of through the political process. That can certainly make a big difference for the middle class, but even if that were to happen, I don't think one would see the middle class of the 50s and 60s make a total comeback.

[dan7819]

Originally Posted by Hschlick84

'In the Denver metro area, the middle class shrank by 5 percentage points between 2000 and 2014, while the upper class increased 1 point and lower class increased 4 points, according to Pew.' - DP

Not really a significant change, but it's noticable.

The American middle class: Who is in it, and who is not, in U.S. Metropolitan Areas | Pew Research Center

Middle class shrinks in Colorado, across U.S. as incomes fall - The Denver Post

They seem to be downplaying it, most jobs here (Colorado) are low-paying jobs in the $10-13/hour range. Most people from out of town fail to take this into account, they seem to have "tunnel vision" over the prospect of smoking weed without getting in trouble. The problem is they think "oh hey, weed is legal in Colorado, i think i'll move there!" and that's where their thought process ends..... no consideration on whether or not they have a job lined up, whether they have a place to stay, etc.

Meanwhile average rents keep going up and up (thanks pot-heads from out of town!), Average 1 bedroom is like $850/month or more (up from $500/month in 2007). "Luxury" apartments that are nice have gone all the way up to an insane $2000/month (up from $1100/month in 2010).

Too many people, that's the main problem with this place now. It's "no fun anymore" due to the huge spike in cost-of-living. The greedy landlords and 1%ers are having a field-day with this state of affairs, they keep raising and raising rents simply cause they can (simple greed).

I've lived in and around the greater Denver area for over 20 years, and my observation is that most of the "middle class" folk with GOOD jobs tend to live in Cherry Creek, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, and some wealthier areas up in northern side of town. The rest of the population is mostly lower middle-class to poor (Colfax, Federal, Sheridan, Aurora, "outer rim" of the state, etc).

The numbers quoted by the OP are not far off in my experience, probably worse actually. I see more homeless people these days compared to ten years ago. Homeless bums used to be confined to the downtown area...... but now they are showing up in suburbs and busy intersections, yikes!

Within walking distance of my suburban apartment, next to a very busy highway, there are on average 4-5 homeless guys standing under the bridge underpass on any given day. I remember 10 years ago it was just 1 guy, and only on some days. Now it's like 4-5 homeless dudes at least 4 days a week!

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by dan7819

They seem to be downplaying it, most jobs here (Colorado) are low-paying jobs in the $10-13/hour range. Most people from out of town fail to take this into account, they seem to have "tunnel vision" over the prospect of smoking weed without getting in trouble. The problem is they think "oh hey, weed is legal in Colorado, i think i'll move there!" and that's where their thought process ends..... no consideration on whether or not they have a job lined up, whether they have a place to stay, etc.

Meanwhile average rents keep going up and up (thanks pot-heads from out of town!), Average 1 bedroom is like $850/month or more (up from $500/month in 2007). "Luxury" apartments that are nice have gone all the way up to an insane $2000/month (up from $1100/month in 2010).

Too many people, that's the main problem with this place. It's "no fun anymore" due to the huge spike in cost-of-living.

I lived in and around the greater Denver area for over 20 years, and my observation is most of the "middle class" folk tend to live in Cherry Creek, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, and some wealthier areas up north. The rest is mostly lower middle-class to poor (Colfax, Federal, Sheridan, etc).

The numbers quoted by the OP are not far off in my experience, probably worse actually. I see more homeless people these days compared to ten years ago. Homeless bums used to be confined to the downtown area...... but now they are showing up in suburbs and busy intersections, yikes!

The pot industry has little to do with the rising property values and rentals. I think if you were to do a survey on why people are moving here pot would barely be a blip on the radar.

[MN_Ski]

100% of the people I have met here have moved specifically for a job. Sure, they may have gone out of their way to apply for a job in Colorado, but its not like there are still a huge influx of people moving here without a job.

If you want to blame anything, blame all of the new job growth. But before you do, make sure you take a look at your own job and ask yourself if it would still exist if the economy stops growing.