ISO Fort Collins type town (Loveland, Littleton: houses, school, university)

[Jivecat]

Hi everyone,

I apologize if this isn't quite the right forum for this question, but I thought it might do as a place to start -

I lived in FoCo for a few years (graduated from Rocky Mountain High in '09) and absolutely loved it there. Everything about the city was perfect for me. To list a few things in particular; very outdoor friendly, family friendly, good shopping, great food and coffee/beer/wine, amazing old town/historic district, fairly liberal population -

For many reasons, I'm sadly unable to move back. Still, I'm wondering if anyone knows of an equivalent city on the East Coast? Preferably the North East (willing to look as far south as VA, and as far West as PA).

I would love to hear your experiences!
Thank you

[Mike Weber]

Burlington, VT? I'm not very familiar with the NE, but we really liked Burlington on a visit a couple of years back. I'm sure the winters are more difficult in Vermont than we have here in Fort Collins.

[StealthRabbit]

Look for small cities with a university and some high tech.

Manchester NH and Portland, Freeport, ME have a similar FC vibe, + college towns in northern NY, VT, NH.

I grew up in Masonville, CO (worked & schooled in FT C, and Loveland. but spend most fall seasons in New Eng.) Colorado friends who relocated to NE didn't work out so well for them. Very different socially, and long gray winters.

IMHO, both places are better to visit than to live.... but CO would win if I had to live in either.

College towns really help diversify your experience. Socially, economically, job opportunities, variety. (Ways to escape nepotism )

Good luck.

Hopefully you can head west again.
If further west, and for other readers... Look into Columbia Falls, or Bozeman MT, Moscow, ID, Spokane, Bellingham, and Wenatchee, WA, Sheridan, WY. Spearfish, SD, Bend and Hood River, OR, Logan, UT, Davis, SLO, or Arcata CA. Flagstaff, AZ, Las Cruces and Santa Fe NM

[StealthRabbit]

Someone else can add details for FC 'like' cities elsewhere. But WI, MI, TN, NC, SC, GA all have some sweet and desirable comparisons to FT Collins.

Near my Texas home is San Marcos and New Braunfels and Fredericksburg. All are similar to FT Collins... Art, trendy, outdoors, educated, music, beer, wine coffee,... And lots to do.

[NW Crow]

For east coast, look at Lebanon NH, Wolfsboro NH, Saratoga Springs NY, Morgantown WV, Blacksburg VA, State College PA... Bangor / Old Town ME.

Boone NC is modestly outside your boundaries.

Could also ask for help in General US forum.

[awraynor]

We live about 2.5 hrs. from Boone and was there this weekend. About as close to a smaller Colorado mountain town as you'll get here. If larger, consider Asheville.

[brk330]

Another vote for Burlington, VT. Also check out the Mad River Valley.
In NH check out Littleton, Plymouth, Keene, and Portsmouth.
Northampton and Newburyport, MA
Portland, ME

[COcheesehead]

+1 on Portsmouth.

[EastwardBound]

Originally Posted by Jivecat

Hi everyone,

I apologize if this isn't quite the right forum for this question, but I thought it might do as a place to start -

I lived in FoCo for a few years (graduated from Rocky Mountain High in '09) and absolutely loved it there. Everything about the city was perfect for me. To list a few things in particular; very outdoor friendly, family friendly, good shopping, great food and coffee/beer/wine, amazing old town/historic district, fairly liberal population -

For many reasons, I'm sadly unable to move back. Still, I'm wondering if anyone knows of an equivalent city on the East Coast? Preferably the North East (willing to look as far south as VA, and as far West as PA).

I would love to hear your experiences!
Thank you

Towns like that are all over the NE. Burlington, as someone mentioned is nice, as is Amhearst/Northhampton, MA, Portland, ME, and Keene, NH. We just moved to Brattleboro, VT, and absolutely love it here compared to northern Colorado, although may be too small for your likes.

The best thing about towns in NE is the relative lack of sprawl and bland growth that is ruining Colorado.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by EastwardBound

Towns like that are all over the NE. Burlington, as someone mentioned is nice, as is Amhearst/Northhampton, MA, Portland, ME, and Keene, NH. We just moved to Brattleboro, VT, and absolutely love it here compared to northern Colorado, although may be too small for your likes.

The best thing about towns in NE is the relative lack of sprawl and bland growth that is ruining Colorado.

There is not miles and miles of 'privacy fences' in NE, separating identical or mirror image houses?

Risk... when visiting, you would need to ask a neighbor where their bathroom is Instead of it being right where your bathroom is located in your identical Colorado house.