Fort Collins Ins & Out's Please? (Boulder, Loveland: job market, public schools, university)

[docmac22]

My family and I are looking to relocate out West and as of right now our options are Minneapolis, Colorado (Fort Collins/Loveland/Boulder), and Salt Lake City Utah (Farmington, Ogden, Provo) areas.
My wife and I are looking to take a trip in a couple months out West and I'm trying to convince her to move to Colorado cause I fell in love with the State a couple years ago. So tell me some good and not so good things about Fort Collins.

i.e.

Job Market?

Cost of living?

Family Environment? (We have 3 girls)

Outdoor Activities for family and kids?

Schools grade schools and Colleges?

Thank you so much for any helpful insight you can give.

[loveautumn]

Minneapolis...out west???

[NBeener]

In all sincerity, you might want to take 30 minutes, and review some of the more recent threads that -- just by the titles -- will likely give you LOTS of good info that you seek.

From there, you may have more specific questions, but ... a lot of what you're looking for ... is very close by, with a few mouse clicks.

Good luck !

[Mike Weber]

Job market is soft right now.

Cost of living is better than many larger east coast and west coast towns, and mountain resort towns, but not as inexpensive as mid-western or southern rural towns. We currently have the lowest gas prices in the nation, per an article in the local paper this morning. (I filled up with 85 octane unleaded at $2.99.9 yesterday.

The town is a family friendly place to be, with many activities for everyone. As the town was developed, the city required parks be built at a minimum of roughly one per square mile in town. The city parks and recreation department has many great programs for kids.

People here spend a lot of time outdoors. For outdoor activities: hiking, biking, playing in the parks, boating, swimming, ice skating, sledding, golf, running, organized sports, etc.

The public schools here are highly rated, as is Colorado State University. Front Range Community College is also located here, and is very popular.

For positives and negatives, scan the discussion threads on this forum. Folks are pretty up front about the things they do and do not like here.

Good luck in your search,
Mike Weber

[docmac22]

Originally Posted by loveautumn

Minneapolis...out west???

so i take it u have no real helpful advice??????

[docmac22]

Originally Posted by Mike Weber

Job market is soft right now.

Cost of living is better than many larger east coast and west coast towns, and mountain resort towns, but not as inexpensive as mid-western or southern rural towns. We currently have the lowest gas prices in the nation, per an article in the local paper this morning. (I filled up with 85 octane unleaded at $2.99.9 yesterday.

The town is a family friendly place to be, with many activities for everyone. As the town was developed, the city required parks be built at a minimum of roughly one per square mile in town. The city parks and recreation department has many great programs for kids.

People here spend a lot of time outdoors. For outdoor activities: hiking, biking, playing in the parks, boating, swimming, ice skating, sledding, golf, running, organized sports, etc.

The public schools here are highly rated, as is Colorado State University. Front Range Community College is also located here, and is very popular.

For positives and negatives, scan the discussion threads on this forum. Folks are pretty up front about the things they do and do not like here.

Good luck in your search,
Mike Weber

Thank you very much for your reply. We are trying to figure out the best time to relocate out that way, what are the Summers like there? And when does Fall begin as far as temps go winter etc?

[Mike Weber]

Originally Posted by docmac22

Thank you very much for your reply. We are trying to figure out the best time to relocate out that way, what are the Summers like there? And when does Fall begin as far as temps go winter etc?

Summers can be hot (low 90's), but its tolerable due to the lack of humidity. Also, it cools down nicely in the evenings.

Mid-late September we get cooler days and crisp, cool nights. Snows can come as early as October and as late as May.

The attached before and after photo was taken on October 25 and 26 of last year. October 25 was in the 60's or low 70's if I remember correctly. We awoke to 10 inches of snow and lots of broken trees the following morning.

[countryway]

Unfortunately, there are no In-N-Outs in Fort Collins. Sorry.