Chicago transplants advice (Denver: university, move to, suburban)

[boomtown boi]

Originally Posted by marioana

As I see it, I buy a house for at least 20 years, the job I can always change every couple of years. So how the house and neighborhood looks is more important than where the job is.
We drove around Littleton today, the downtown was almost empty although it was afternoon and at that time downtown Naperville would be full of people out for a walk or beer, and I saw a lot of houses unkempt...
I guess I have to keep looking...

As someone who has spent a lot of time in Naperville, I can see some similarities with Littleton. However, IMO, Littleton's downtown can feel a bit one-note and basic (no offense to anyone who lives there). I think a way better comparison is Arvada, which has more convenient train service into Union Station and a much more active, dynamic downtown - called Olde Town. Some historic housing stock within walking distance to downtown, and you can find nice suburban-style homes on larger lots within a short drive. Worth a look anyway to get a feel for it.

Also there's Boulder - yes it's a college town, but these days it's just as much an upscale suburb of Denver with a green/liberal vibe. Fits the vibrant downtown requirement, and in 50 or so years they will have train service into Denver as well! (that's a little RTD joke, a whole bait and switch thing that you could find another thread devoted to)

[Count David]

Originally Posted by boomtown boi

As someone who has spent a lot of time in Naperville, I can see some similarities with Littleton. However, IMO, Littleton's downtown can feel a bit one-note and basic (no offense to anyone who lives there). I think a way better comparison is Arvada, which has more convenient train service into Union Station and a much more active, dynamic downtown - called Olde Town. Some historic housing stock within walking distance to downtown, and you can find nice suburban-style homes on larger lots within a short drive. Worth a look anyway to get a feel for it.

I live in Arvada, and IMO Littleton's downtown is a bit more robust, even though it too is off the beaten path. Arvada's is cute/functional for what it is, I just feel as though Littleton has *a little* more going on. If you didn't have to drive slow to get through Olde Town Arvada, you'd blink and miss it. It's flanked by big-boxes too, which IMO doesn't help its appeal.

The big turnaway for me in recommending Arvada to OP is the demographic. Arvada is older (in people), and has a much larger lower/lower-middle class than the collection of south suburbs I recommended before. The more well-to-do not new tract areas in Arvada are filled with empty nesters; I think of Naperville as being more for the best-to-do families with kids.

Greenwood Village comes the closest demographically IMO.

[boomtown boi]

Originally Posted by Count David

I live in Arvada, and IMO Littleton's downtown is a bit more robust, even though it too is off the beaten path. Arvada's is cute/functional for what it is, I just feel as though Littleton has *a little* more going on. If you didn't have to drive slow to get through Olde Town Arvada, you'd blink and miss it. It's flanked by big-boxes too, which IMO doesn't help its appeal.

The big turnaway for me in recommending Arvada to OP is the demographic. Arvada is older (in people), and has a much larger lower/lower-middle class than the collection of south suburbs I recommended before. The more well-to-do not new tract areas in Arvada are filled with empty nesters; I think of Naperville as being more for the best-to-do families with kids.

Greenwood Village comes the closest demographically IMO.

Maybe what I meant is Olde Town Arvada seems to have more independent shops/restaurants and less chain-y bro-y sports bars, although Littleton has Ned Kelly's which I love. Didn't necessarily get a lower middle class vibe from Arvada, BUT I don't live there so I'll defer to you. With demographics as a primary factor, I'm going to go ahead and double down on Boulder. Definitely upper middle to upper class with a very robust downtown, and it's not any further from Denver than Parker is...

[MissTerri]

Golden’s downtown is pretty vibrant with a lot of people, including tourists walking around. I’ve never been to Naperville but if people are recommending Littleton and Arvada and the OP thinks Littleton is not busy and/or upscale enough, Golden seems like it would be a really good fit.

[Count David]

You know, somebody mentioned Louisville before and it's not a bad recommendation either.

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by Count David

No, your view is not warped. Wash Park would be considered pretty suburban by Chicago or Philadelphia standards.

While Denver does have several great neighborhoods, it is lacking in the overwhelmingly urban department.

I went to Philadelphia for the first time about a month ago and my head nearly exploded (in the good way).

That surprises me. I recently saw a news story about how Philadelphia has turned more lawless than it even was before.🤔

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by DougStark

That surprises me. I recently saw a news story about how Philadelphia has turned more lawless than it even was before.��

Where did you hear that? Looking at the stats, Philly had a declining murder rate from the 80s to 2000, and it's mostly leveled off since then. Most property and violent crime has declined or remained steady since the big plunge 1990s even as the city grows in population. The same generality holds true for most of the US.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Philadelphia
//www.city-data.com/crime/crime...nsylvania.html

[jweb29]

Denver people, DENVER

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Count David

You know, somebody mentioned Louisville before and it's not a bad recommendation either.

Louisville has a "cute" downtown. About the only thing you can buy there is a restaurant meal, though. There are a few other boutique-y places, and some professional offices. I personally think Littleton has a better downtown, but Louisville is a very nice place to live.

[frunchroom]

We are also some middle-age folks from suburban Chicago who are looking to move to Denver next year. Aside from Cherry Creek, which of the Denver proper neighborhoods have a bustling downtown?