Possible move to Denver from NYC with 2 toddlers (Aurora, Golden: apartment, rentals)

[NorthDenverGirl]

Better or no winters (for toddlers to enjoy outdoors all year round) - We moved here from the midwest 6 years ago and definitely spend way more time outside in the winter months. We do have cold snaps that can last a week but we are lucky that usually when it snows it melts the next day. We can have 60 degree days in winter which are wonderful.

Smaller city - Compared to the NYC area I am sure Denver will feel smaller but it is not the small town people imagine it to be. You would have to live outside of the downtown area in a suburb to maybe get that feel.

Lower humidity - YEP but that means not as much green.

Lower cost of living - Denver is catching up with other cities on the cost of living scale. Your $2500 will get you a lot more than a 2 bed with shared laundry and small kitchen though, if you live outside of the downtown Denver area.

Slower Pace - I visited NYC with my Aussie sister 2 years ago. She definitely felt Denver was slower paced then NYC the pace of NYC wore her out.

Some culture

Leafy outdoors with nature easily accessible - The mountains are easily accessible but we are not a humid climate so it is not as green as people moving here would think. Winters are pretty brown and dry.

Mellow people without status obsessions - Depens which neighborhoods you move into! For the most part yes, but there are certain areas and neighborhoods where status obsession exists. Get in contact with a good realtor and they should be able to help you with this part!

Would you say that Denver meets most of the criteria?

[N610DL]

FYI I grew up in the NYC area and lived in Denver for 2 years:

Better or no winters (for toddlers to enjoy outdoors all year round)
A: Winters are way less significant than the NYC area. Plenty of mild days, a handful of bitterly cold days, and I wanna say about 3-4 weeks of total snow related days at most over a year. But to say "no winter" in Denver is incorrect.

Smaller city
A: Good and Bad. At first you'll like the more suburban feel but being isolated will get to you I'm sure.

Lower humidity
A: Fine but that's like the whole West in general.

Lower cost of living
A: Definitely over NYC but cost is rising.

Slower pace
A: I didn't like this but good for some.


Leafy outdoors with nature easily accessible
A: Depends on your schedule - people have complained about crowding. I personally didn't try that hard to beat the crowds to get up there when I lived there.

Mellow people without status obsessions:
A: Much like the slower pace, this ticked me off as well. Lot's of people with minimum wage jobs, no ambition or drive, some sanctimonious and always looking for a handout. Either way, people aren't as friendly out there as bragged about on this forum.

"Would you say that Denver meets most of the criteria?" Not really to be honest with you. Denver culturally will probably come off as a Cow Town to you as it did to me. As a matter of fact, it came off as way more insular than I expected being bi-coastal before that. That's where the culture shock occurred. Not that it wasn't cool or hip or anything, it just wasn't my speed overall.

I also complained about "fitting in" straight up to people out there after I left and I kept getting these weird responses like "it's hard to fit in, in Denver" and "you have to really make it work." To me that was just backwards because that's something you say to people who wanna make it in Hollywood or Manhattan.

It sounds like you'd be more into the Central Coast of CA, San Diego, Santa Barbara, various parts of Orange County, CA and Los Angeles County, CA.

[Moonwalkr]

If by no winter you don't want sub-freezing temperatures, then Denver is not for you. Look into West Coast and Florida, though you will run into problems in other areas like traffic/walkability/humidity.

[emm74]

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

Stapleton

Originally Posted by woob

Is the job at Anschutz? If so, I would look at Park Hill, City Park and Congress Park neighborhoods. Expect a bit of a culture shock, especially how quiet the streets are here, even compared to Queens.

If agree that if the job is at Anschutz, I would say Stapleton, Lowry or Park Hill are your best bets. Park Hill is an older street car neighborhood and Stapleton and Lowry are new planned urban communities.

Walkability in these neighborhoods in terms of shopping is a little tricky - the residential neighborhoods of Denver are a bit less urbanized than Queens so while there will be some accessible shopping, it's walkable only if you happen to find something located nearby to the shopping areas, but otherwise, there are large swaths of these neighborhoods that aren't really near that much. But they are still walkable in the sense of having lots of parks and playgrounds and other families with young kids out and about and playing together.

And you can get groceries delivered if you want. We even have a couple of milk delivery services.

As for budget, if you are ok with sticking around that same $2500 budget, you would be able to rent a small single family home or a townhouse/duplex like one of these

https://denver.craigslist.org/apa/d/...672165687.html

or

https://denver.craigslist.org/apa/d/...657206288.html

And I'm going to quote N610DL and say that's an accurate statement about winters here. Yes, there are some days where you need to stay indoors, but you can get some outside time on most days. And there are plenty of other options to keep kids entertained when the weather doesn't cooperate.

A: Winters are way less significant than the NYC area. Plenty of mild days, a handful of bitterly cold days, and I wanna say about 3-4 weeks of total snow related days at most over a year. But to say "no winter" in Denver is incorrect.

However, I disagree with him regarding culture and things to do - I'm from NY and then lived in Boston for almost 25 years before moving here. Yes, there's less than in NY. But for most people, esp. a family with young kids, there's more than enough to keep you busy.

And a nice thing about Park Hill/Stapleton/Lowry is the close proximity to the Zoo and the Museum of Nature and Science and other places you can happily visit on a regular basis with little ones.

If the job isn't at Anschutz, we'll need to know a better idea of the location to give some other suggestions, as Aurora is HUGE, about 1.5 times the size of Queens.

[Mike from back east]

Coming from the DC area where winters are comparable to NYC, my advice is to not worry, AT ALL, about temperatures.

It's going to be a big change, FOR THE BETTER.

Come on out, you're going to LOVE it.

[Thoreau424]

Originally Posted by Entangled

Our ideal place with have the following features:

Better or no winters (for toddlers to enjoy outdoors all year round)
Smaller city
Lower humidity
Lower cost of living
Slower pace
Some culture
Leafy outdoors with nature easily accessible
Mellow people without status obsessions

Would you say that Denver meets most of the criteria?

Probably the first four criteria, but not the last two or three.

It was interesting in one work situation to see the mismatch between a guy from NY and his mostly CO coworkers. Lots of frustrations between them due to cultural differences.

[10-23]

Originally Posted by N610DL

I just would not want the OP to move out here and hate it like some people do.

I was born and raised in NYC and lived in metro Denver for eight years and I LOVED it! I only moved because of a job transfer.

Weather - great!, COL - MUCH lower than NYC, pace is slower, but I like it.

I'd move back in a NY minute - pun intended.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Thoreau424

Probably the first four criteria, but not the last two or three. As far as culture goes, what culture exists here is nothing like NY.

It was interesting in one work situation to see the mismatch between a guy from NY and his mostly CO coworkers. Lots of frustrations between them due to cultural differences.

Yeah, I'd say not the last two.
"Leafy outdoors with nature easily accessible
Mellow people without status obsessions"

We've already discussed "leafy outdoors". As far as people w/o status obsessions, that's everywhere. Here, even if you do meet some people who aren't obsessed with houses, cars, etc. like one sees in some eastern/midwestern cities, you'll meet people obsessed with their mountain bikes, other sports equipment, how many 14ers they've climbed, etc.

[Thoreau424]

Directness or not is a big distinguisher. Some prefer directness, clarity, and being understood, while others think they can only reveal so much, and must maintain composure and civil happy faces, no matter what gets left out of the communication experience. The two approaches mix as poorly as water and oil.

[Mike from back east]

NO MORE DISCUSSION OF CULTURE IN THIS THREAD

Denver has plenty of it. NYC has tons of it.

The culture discussion has been moved to City vs City forum. Go there.