Looking to move to Laramie

[Wyomama2]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

I might add that Laramie is in the "upper plains" and is setting at 7165 ft in elevation.

7220 actually, haven't you ever been to War Memorial?

[Wyomama2]

At the elevation Laramie is the winters start anywhere from Sept to Oct and last through from May to June. One year we lived there it snowed 12 inches in June and was around 30 for a week. People joke about snow on the fourth of July in Wyoming, but this is one place where it has actually happened. Not to say that it's the norm but you have to decide if you want to live somewhere where that is even a slim possibility, lol. Between the extended winter period and the winds it can be a hard place to live. I liked Laramie but I didn't like not being able to leave town quite often in the winter because of the roads being closed and the wind. The summers however are beautiful and the nights cool down a lot for good sleeping in the summers too.
Laramie is known for having good schools, that shouldn't be a concern for you.
As I'm sure others have done I strongly urge you to visit during the harsher winter months from Jan to April.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by Wyomama2

7220 actually, haven't you ever been to War Memorial?

hahaha You made me doubt myself, so I googled "Laramie Wyoming Elevation". The first 6 websites listed have 6 different elevations.

Then I found the official elevation for Laramie. "Something over 7000 feet."

[NW Crow]

Sunspirit, by "The cold can starting returning in late October..." I meant cold for the high temperature (as I did with the spring) and from the perspective of personal comfortable during the day (afternoon to be specific). You are right that cold for the low temperature comes sooner (and lasts later in spring) and that obviously is important for gardening and it can for personal comfort too (in the morning).

I used several weather sites for those brief comments (wrcc.dri.edu climate reports and the accuweather daily records) to give the OP a bit more detail on temperature.

[Rockhound5]

Hello, I saw your message about living in Laramie and wanted to let you know I am moving there in 5 days. Nice houseing is hard to find. We bought in the "Grand View Heights" neighborhood. We were lucky to find a spec home that worked for our family. It is a beautiful neighborhood. I feel that this neighborhood and Indian Paintbrush neighborhood are more uppscale compared to the much older neighborhoods around Laramie. The housing is high compared with most of the country. The economy really never fell here. The property taxes are half of what we payed in Spearfish SD. There is no state income tax. The town I am moving from is very cliquey among women. I pray it is not that way in laramie. I have 3 children. A kindergartener, 4th grader and a 6th grader. We visited the Beitel school and everyone was so nice. 6th grade boys came up to greet my son and took him out to the playground to introduce him to the students. I have been told that enrollment is now full at this school and I will be taking my kids to the Indian Paintbrush school. This school is the newest and looks really nice. I did not have time to visit this school. If you move to Laramie let me know. We could meet for coffee. I am used to harsh winters. I hate them but I am looking forward to all the new outdoor adventures that await us. Also there are a few more options for school. The University has a Lab school. and I have heard great things about this school. Also there is the Snowy Range Academy. It is very nice and runs like a private school. The emphasis is lots and lots of work for the children. They teach a grade above the child's actual grade. Too demanding for my kids. I wish you the best. This will be all new for me too.

[snapperblue]

I lived in Laramie five years and really loved it. The winters were not really severe when I was there. The cold spells were very short and we had moderate weather (40 degrees) in intervals all winter. It was sunny a lot in the winter and I had an attached greenhouse that was bright and warm. Definitely go for a house with good southern exposure.

Laramie has the best summer climate of anywhere I have lived- sunny, slightly breezy, dry, and temperature mostly in the 80s.

Gardening was rough, not because the weather was unpleasant during the day in spring and fall, but because of the nighttime frosts. I had good success covering plants- with blankets- to keep them alive. We got 8 inches of snow during the first week in September one year, and about ten inches in early June in another year. These are definitely outliers but extreme winter cold happens often enough that (though the town is zone 4) the county recommends use use zone 3 for shrubs and zone 2 for trees!

I loved Pole Mountain for dog walking- on trails or the numerous dead-end dirt roads. In summer, you can walk off-trail in the Snowies and see masses of cool wildflowers in all directions- and different species every week! One of my favorite places on earth!