Below you will find all the SperlingViews added about this city.
| Montrose has Been Discovered - 9/4/2022
I've lived in the area for 4 yrs. First 2 in Ridgway. The positive is the City is growing which is bringing interesting development & tax revenue. The Montrose -Telluride Regional Airport expansion is under construction due to Southwest Airlines now flying to area. Two new hotels UC, river trout restoration projects, new Amphitheatre, parks & trails along Uncompaghre River. Housing appreciation has gone crazy in past 2 yrs with endless new residential developments under construction.
It is central to Western Colorado so day trips to Moab, Grand Mesa, Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride are options. Many people relocating here from CA, AZ, NM, TX and Metro Denver areas. Most because location is great for RV trips to Pacific NW & SW. Huge ATV country with endless trails on BLM & State land.
Montrose has definitely been discovered. Locals biggest wish is for a Costco!
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| A Little Bit for Everyone - 9/13/2021
I was born in Montrose about 50 years ago and despite moving to Telluride, Denver, Ann Arbor, San Francisco and Chicago, I can’t find another place that makes me feel the same way that Montrose does. Friday Night High School Football games, going to concerts by the river at the park, Trying out new restaurants downtown, I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. Many people with negative comments don’t understand what I have come to understand about Montrose, there is a little bit for everyone. From Cosmopolitan to Country, From Golf to Wave Surfing, From Big city amenities to small mom and pop shops, I have come to appreciate this even more after I moved back and I am so proud to live in this amazing city!
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| Move her no, visit here no - 8/20/2021
Okay so here’s the end all be all. If I could give this town a zero I would I came to visit my girlfriend from Denver and I considered moving out here despite being a city girl and here’s my two bits on this place. Firstly every job I’ve since applied for has been a part time job and that kinda speaks for how economically depressed and just down right depressed the area is. Secondly, very conservative and anti lgbt. Walked around the “town” with my girlfriend and got some pretty rotten looks and comments, the f slur being one of which. But on the subject of people. This is not the town to move to unless you are 80 or for work and there’s no good jobs anyway. My girlfriends son has a hard time at school and can’t fit in despite being a normal kid yet gets called “weirdo” by other classmates, no place for common sense. And to top everything else off there is nothing to do, hence why I say don’t move here unless your here to work or 80+ you’ll just be wasting gas as you do just driving around in small towns. So to wrap up my review. No, would not recommend. Very conservative and close minded, no jobs, no life, nothing to do.
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| Pretty miserable - 4/6/2021
Title is pretty self explanatory. Just a boring miserable place to live, seems everyone brings others down with them, not a convenient spot for work, no dating scene, impossible to start a family here
I’d say just visit, but to live here that’s a different story
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| Too expensive for common sense - 4/6/2021
Two years of trying to fit in around here, and it's great as long as you know your station in life, I guess. The county and city of Montrose both, are sell outs for special interest. If you want to live in a trailer park or an incredibly overpriced old broken down house that won't meet inspection standards, this is your place. Montrose is the trailer park community on the way to the nice places around here. The snobs from Telluride, Silverton, and Ouray just want your money, not your residency. It's very common for the slum lords of Montrose to live elsewhere like Texas and then want to control this place from afar.
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| Not perfect, but fantastic location. - 1/2/2021
I lived in Montrose for twelve years and moved to Oregon a year ago to be with my children. I still think of Montrose as home. While I agree that jobs are few and some people can be cold, the vast majority are not. It’s not particularly pretty, but the mountain views are spectacular. It’s not filled with fancy restaurants, but has great local spots to eat without spending a fortune. Montrose offers a lot. It is located in the banana belt of Colorado and has relatively mild winters and abundant sunshine year round. What makes it great is it’s access to so much: the hot springs in both Ouray and Ridgway, phenomenal hiking in all directions especially in the nearby mountains, wonderful Jeeping for all levels of drivers, blue river trout fishing on the Gunnison, the Black Canyon, some of the best skiing in Telluride and Crested Butte, tons of wildlife, super safe and beautiful primitive camping both in the mountains and in the desert over the line to Moab and more. Plus the best community center I’ve ever used. Don’t rule it out if you love being active outdoors year round.
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| no life, no jobs for hire, rude people, no fun - 10/6/2020
I remember visiting this town 4 years ago in the summer with a now ex and thinking wow this is a neat little town, maybe it would be nice to live here. Let me tell you my current feelings about this place. been living here about 10 months now (almost a year) and I remember on one occasion my friend was visiting from Las Vegas and we went to the jimmers restaurant here in "town" and immediately peoples eyes were on me, i saw a comment just recently on how this isn't a town to move to if your African and i honestly can agree. i saw a younger mixed African American guy probably in his 20s with tattoos on his face and some piercings get completely stared at by people here as if that's the only interesting thing they've seen all week or maybe even period. in Denver guarantee no one would have batted an eye or at least not the way they do down here. Which brings me to my next issue, there is no life here. the most exciting thing is the Walmart or Jcp which is now closing (probably cause the economy is bad) have not been able to get a job no matter where i apply. third of all if you are a single male i would certainly not recommend Montrose. finding someone down here is difficult, which with that i can only assume trying to start a family here is a no go. so in short i would for sure not recommend Montrose. the positive reviews are from the people who are from small towns or for some reason well respected down here and in Montrose that's hard to find
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| not a place for colored/low employment oppritunity - 9/28/2020
firstly, i never am someone who writes out reviews but in this case id like to make it abundantly clear that this is not somewhere id recommend moving to if you are african american, this town is very judgemental and out of all towns ive lived in this is the most depressing and small minded place i can honestly say. you are much better off in grand junction which is 45 to an hour down the road, there are no jobs here may i add. so thats my take and i wouldnt recommend this place
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| The 13 Best Years Of My Life - 5/13/2020
I've lived in Montrose for 13 years, I could not ask for a better town to live in. Montrose is known widely as the "Hub of Western Colorado" and it is no secret why. Just an hour drive can bring you to some of the best outdoor activities that the southwest has to offer. Hiking, Biking, Fishing, and Skiing, are just a few of the things to do around here! The people are so friendly and the town has a lot to look forward to. While it's true that Western Colorado has seen stagnant economic growth, Montrose is back and better than ever. A new police station, middle school, indoor soccer arena, and an 80,000 square foot recreation center are just a few things Montrose has added recently. We also have three beautiful golf courses in town and a water sports park. Montrose is a great place to raise a family, to retire or to get out of the city. I have had an amazing 13 years here and I am proud to call Montrose my home.
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| Not much to get excited about.... - 6/23/2018
Too many cons, economically depressed area with few good paying jobs and high prices on electric, gas, and water. Home prices, food, gas, services are high as well. People are not particularly friendly and a drug problem is a well known fact. Good place for passing through but not settling down. There are dozens of smal towns in the western US that are so much more liveable.
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| Visit- yes / live in Montrose- NO! - 6/23/2018
Montrose may be surrounded by great outdoor opportunities but that is only the real positive. High utility rates, higher than national average in home prices, gas, and food coupled to a town with very few decent employment possibilities. Climate is definitely on the chilly side for 6 months and access to a wider selection of goods and services unfortunately is 65 miles away in Grand Junction. People here are civil but not overly friendly, and there is a hardcore drug problem that taken root. Spend 2-3 weeks here in September when the weather is warm and dry and the changing colors are at their peak...and then leave. Montrose is mostly sub par.
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| Sad State of Affairs - 2/14/2017
When I moved to Montrose 21 years ago, it was a growing, thriving community. Around 2008 the economy crashed. It's never managed to crawl up from the hole. There's far more people than there are jobs. Last year Russel Stover's ran an ad in the local paper...There would be many part time, seasonal job openings, and on the spot interviews would be available on a certain date, first come, first serve. I went to Russel Stover's on the advertized date. The parking lot was full and automobiles were parked all along both sides of the road. Job seekers were mobbed outside the doors. My estimate was approximately 100. That particular event describes Montrose's dire situation perfectly. The jobs people are able to obtain pay poorly. Few people I know earn more than $10 per hour. Meanwhile, the cost of living has been climbing steadily. A house that would rent for $825 just 5 years ago is now at least $1,200. Utilities are also going through the roof. Some cities combine several utilities into one bill, with one service fee. In Montrose every utility is provided by a separate provider, each with a service fee of their own. One other problem is that Montrose doesn't have enough doctors. When my primary care doctor relocated (due to our languishing local economy) it took a year to finally obtain a new doctor. I called every provider in Montrose, then waited for one to eventually have a new paitent opening. I'm done waiting for Montrose to begin taking a turn for the better. I'm leaving this summer.
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| Here's the low down - 1/8/2017
I've lived here 14 years. Originally from California. I'm 43. I pretty much hate it. But I don't like snow, or cold, (California girl) and I don't have kids to raise. If I liked snow sports, cold or cool weather, and I was independently wealthy I might totally love it. Or if I had a family and was trying to get away from big city crime and traffic I'd love it. I will endeavor to be unbiased here and present the facts.
The GOOD:
It's pretty about 3 or 4 months out of the year. September is pretty and the nicest weather. The mountains are pretty, the Ridgway res looks pretty but it's about 65 degrees in summer so it's nice to look at but don't fall in without a wetsuit. Blue Mesa is lovely. But absolutely frigid year round and there is only or or 2 access ramps. It's also very deep, and if the wind picks up out of nowhere there can be swells up to 3 or 4 feet. Don't take a kayak in there unless you are experienced. Stay closer to shore. The cows and stuff are charming. The hiking is superb (June thru Aug but go very early because by 11 am big monsoons and often lightening will roll in and can be dangerous up there). The old jeep trails up in Ouray (an hour away) are cool. Fishing is good if you know where to go, and again, drive. Biking in Moab (2+ hours) is epic. Glenwood Springs is cool (2+ hours), Telluride (2+ hours) is fun and always has stuff going on. It's 6 hours to St George, 8 hours to Vegas. But here itself, there isn't much. Yeah yeah, the Black Canyon. Whatever. It's only open April thru Oct. That's half the year. But it's nice to ride up there in May, June. We are a hub. A stopping point on the way somewhere else. But we are a mecca for retirees. There are TONS of great amenities for older people! Like home health, hospice, cancer center, memory care, all points transit (a van service) and excellent PT. We are centrally located so that if you're willing to drive, and you have the time you can get to fun stuff.
The BAD:
There just isn't really anything HERE for young people without kids. It's boring and small and isolated in the winter, which is often about 6 months out of the year. Telluride skiing is world class, if you can afford it. Most locals can't. I've been once or twice it's about $500 for the day. One big gripe is we can't get out of here from about end of October to April. Sure, it won't snow all the time. And in town it doesn't accumulate too bad, It's the entire surrounding area you drive through that does. Try spending a few grand on a vacation and hoping to God the weather cooperates with your plans. Or maybe you have to go to Denver for work or medical reasons. Pray you don't die in the attempt. You have to pay a small fortune to fly out of our airport. So again, drive. Maybe 5 hours to Denver if Vail pass is open. Or Monarch Pass is open. If there isn't a blizzard, and hopefully you won't get stuck when they shut down the 70--which happens almost every time it snows. But it if you're willing to drive and you don't mind driving in snow, ice or miserable conditions over half the year then you won't have a problem.
RECREATION:
The town itself it laid out in a ridiculous way. We have a river! We do. No one knows it really. Because there is no development on it and it's difficult and somewhat dangerous to access. Plus there is no signage. But maybe one day it'll be an attraction.
CITY POLITICS:
The city management is a joke. I've never seen such gross misappropriation of funds. They keep raising the sales and property taxes to pay for things they either didn't budget for, somehow over spent and can't afford or just decided they wanted to do without bothering to put it to vote. There is a surplus but they won't touch it because they are quite proud of being "debt free." Seems ironic and almost comical. The same people take turns running the city council. It's like the 5 families of New York, but with corn instead of cash...There are tons of police here. They are very nice and they are everywhere on the roads. Don't drive drunk. Don't speed. I have clients who've had multiple DUIs. I'm not sure how they still drive, but I digress.
ECONOMY:
There are NO jobs here unless you want to work in the medical field, be a CNA, answer phones, real estate, sell cars or maybe work at a bank. And that's IF there is an opening. Jobs are very hard to come by. Wealthy retirees do fine, but working class like those above usually have 2 even 3 jobs to make ends meet. It's a very depressed economy here. There is no industry, wages are about 15% lower than the rest of the country. Even Home Depot, pays at a lower rate than Grand Junction 60 miles away. An average skilled labor position will get $12-15 an hour. That's IF you can get it. Be prepared to be unemployed or overemployed. I own a salon and do well, but my husband is always struggling.
COST OF LIVING:
Groceries are at least 10-15% higher than most areas we've visited. Utilities are not terrible, but a little on the high side. The rates go up every year following a letter of appreciation. lol We have an 1800 sf home. 2 of us, no kids. The bill is $120 a month. no ac and we have gas heat. So that's just lights etc.
DINING & ENTERTAINMENT:
We have more Mexican restaurants per square mile than Mexico. There were 22 at last count. Out of maybe 30 restaurants. So weird. And none of them are particularly good. Dining out is absolutely awful. Aside from the plethora of Mexican fare, there's a KFC, Taco Bell, Taco Johns, Mc Donalds, Burger King, Subway, and 2 "fine dining" places that more or less suck. There is no culture. Hippies will disagree. Sure. There's crappy folk music here and there and open mic night at the Horsefly brewery or Farmer's Market but no concerts, ballet, theatre, etc. The Pavillion has kid's recitals, and craft shows. Periodically someone will tell you it has "world class performers." Um. Yeah, no. I've seen world class. It's not here. Ever. At best we get, cute, charming, and very amateur. Which for some people is just great. There are 2 movie theatres owned by the same guy. One downtown is 50 years old. Charming but uncomfortable with small screen and terrible sound. The other is maybe 20 or 30 years old. Better but still small and lame with 2 screens. Go to Regal Cinemas in Grand junction. It's a Cineplex. 60 miles. Tix online sent to your phone.
SHOPPING:
The only shopping is Target, Pennys, Ross, Maurices, Walmart and several dollar stores. We are getting a Big 5 and I think Marshalls. oh whoopee. Things come in and go out of business within a year or 2 and leave a big empty building for a while. But we do have like 7 mattress stores! lol And we have a Natural Grocer, which is nice. There are 2 or 3 cute stores downtown, but one is very expensive and the other 2 will most likely go out of business and be gone or different by the time you read this. So shopping is non existent. Drive to Junction (60 miles). Junction has a mall, it's old and the nicest store is Herbergers which is almost like Dillards. The Grand Junction downtown is super cute tho, good restaurants and fun shopping. Go there.
NIGHTLIFE:
There is no nightlife. At all. Unless you count Niko's (the local watering hole for the seasoned alcoholic smoker who may or may not start a brawl with his friends) There is RnR a noisy "sports bar" about the size of my living room which is full of kids about 21-24 all hitting on each other and pretending to be grown up. Then there's Horsefly. A brewery which is sort of cute. Again, maybe 1000 square feet. Has an outdoor area though (right on the main road.) Terrible service, fried, greasy food, good hot wings, good beer. Same people every night. Only place for anyone over 20 to go. So you settle for that if you want to "go out." Or go to Junction. The downtown is fun for a pub crawl now and again. Stay overnight tho.
CRIME:
There is a big drug problem here. Mostly meth but heroine is on the rise and there have been at least 5 overdose deaths in the last few months. You won't see it if you're a retiree living in the south end of town, you most likely won't go to areas where those people frequent. But working class will. The pot thing isn't a big deal. It's a fairly Christian community, there's some kind of church on almost every corner. There are city ordinances preventing dispensaries in town. There will also never be porn or strip clubs that sort of thing. Again, long standing ordinances. So that's nice if you have a family, etc. It's fairly safe, but don't do stupid stuff like wander around an alley at night, or leave your car and home unlocked. The new river park is pretty if tiny. But don't go wander off alone on the trails. There have been rapes and various sex crimes out there. Be smart, be safe. Or just be armed. That works too.
CLIMATE:
We have Winter and August. lol
It's usually about 30 or 40 in the winter. December thru April.
maybe 50-60 April and May. May gets up to 60 mph winds
June is nice. 70-80
July is Monsoons so it rains every day. But it gets hot when it isn't stormy
August is typically hot. 80s and 90s
September is pretty. Indian summer. About 70 and mild. The leaves start to turn
October (if it didn't freeze too soon) has beautiful fall color but it's chilly
First snow is usually Halloween
November is hit or miss. Some years its a blizzard on Thanksgiving. others it's sunny and 60. Hard to say.
December. Cold. Count on it. All the way to April and sometimes May.
Bottom line is Montrose is ideal for retirees or upper middle class families with a JOB before they get here. If you're single, no kids, or depending on a wage based job DO NOT MOVE HERE. It'll be so hard to get enough money to leave. You'll be stuck. If you like warm weather, water sports, shopping, movies, dining out, arts, culture, or entertainment, you'll hate it. If you don't want to drive long distances every time you want to recreate, you'll hate it. If you want a small town feel in a relatively friendly place that's kid friendly and safe for your family you'll love it. You'll get bored but you'll have each other. If you are elderly, and need amenities, you'll love it. Active retiree? Maybe. It's cold and the elevation is 6200 feet.
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| May move to Montrose, Colorado - 9/12/2015
I currently live in Denver, Colorado and have lived here all my life with the exception of living in Houston, TX in the early 1970s.
My mother is from Montrose, Colorado - she passed away in 2013 at the age of 100. I miss her.
I have been contemplating moving to Montrose, Colorado. Have no family or close ties in Denver.
I made a trip to Montrose last weekend to scout out the town and look at some homes. The newer homes are gorgeous and so affordable compared to Denver.
Am having a difficult time trying to decide if I should move there.
Can someone shed some light on the living conditions in Montrose. I is a beautiful town, but am really afraid I'd feel isolated there as I'm not used to a small town without all the restaurants, shopping, etc.
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| Best Cities - 7/17/2015
Montrose is a wonderful place to live. The economic downturn has been hard, and this area of the state has been very hard hit. I make 20k less to work here than in the front range but the cost of living is less. I like being able to walk or bike to work. The crime rate is low. The mountains are tremendous. And it's nice to have your choice where to camp. Plus there are miles and miles of trails to bike or motorcross. #lovemontrose.
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| Montrose is set in its ways - 4/23/2014
I've been living in Montrose for a year and am looking for an opportunity to get out. The town's economy is stagnant and it's next to impossible for businesses to grow. Being single and in my mid-twenties, this town has nothing to offer. The nightlife and dating scene are non-existent and housing costs (both to rent and buy) are very inflated. Housing options are limited too. The people of the town seem to be very close-minded and not open to any new ideas or people who could bring new ideas and (heaven forbid) a degree of change to the business community.
The town is very isolated. It's a long drive to and from from the front range and you'll have to mortgage your 3rd born if you want to fly into and out of the local airport. Dining and shopping options are very limited. Sure, Grand Junction is an hour away, but does anyone really want to drive that far just for a decent selection of shopping and restaurants?
I thought Montrose was a more attractive place to live than where I was previously (Durango) so I jumped when presented with the opportunity to move here. Looking back, it wasn't the best move.
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| Dead Town with Dead ideas - 7/4/2013
Montrose is the "Good Old Boys" dying community. Wages are about half of those anywhere else it is more expensive to live here than in Denver. The business community is a joke and most of the businessmen are not honest or truthful (part of the Old Boys Mentality) If you come here have your eyes wide open and be ready for an economic downturn that will take years to recover from.
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| Not for working people - 7/19/2012
Montrose Colorado is not for the working man. We moved here just over two years ago and ready to leave. Horrible water bills, trash bill too high, electrice bills out of the ball park and gas bills continually rise. Sales tax are not used wisely wasted on round a bouts that could have been avoided in exchange for less expensive stop signs. Wasted dollars on projects for downtown that offers only overpriced products and services no one wants to buy.
Rude employees work for the city treat customers as if they were second class citizens. Montrose is not a place for anyone who wants to earn a living and save a dime for old age.
We wish we had never come here. Chalk it up to one bad mistake. Please take time to know that you have more money and do not need a job to live in Montrose Colorado that has absolutely nothing to offer its citizens. Horrible hospital system, and worse leadership.
Heed this warning think twice before moving to Montrose Colorado.
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| Reasonable Economy - 7/27/2009
Montrose, not unlike other small towns of villages, currently embraces the overall affect of the economic downturn. My husband transferred there six months ago, to escape the contstant overload of San Antonio,Tx as city of more than 1.32 million residents (July, 2008) leaving me behind to complete an MBA.
He fell in love with the community, the people, and for once looked forward to going to work everyday. He worries about my being here, because I am blind and alone. We hope that soon work will surface so that I can join him and make Montrose our home as we are apporaching our senior years.
I was convinced after my husband being there for just over six months, is happier, and far less stressed than anywhere we have lived in the past. If one would use a term gate way to heaven, this is how we would describe Montrose, and the friendly people who are native to the area. As for transients, they will find fault with everything, until such time as they find who they are looking for "theirself" to make the journey in life less complicated and stressful.
We keep the faith, soon there will be a job for me in Montrose, I keep seeking and hopefully God will nudge a hiring manager to say here is our prime canditate... Oh well can's blame a lady for dreaming.....
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| Who ever posted the two "Rosey" comments below is - 11/26/2006
A young visitor once asked an old man... "How are the people in this town?" To which the old man replied- "How were they in the town you came from?" "Terrible!" said the young visitor." The old man replied, "well, that's how they are here." The moral of the story is: people are whatever you want them to be... it just depends on your attitude.
I moved to the Montrose area with a very positive attitude. At first glance I thought the people and the place were awesome! I soon changed my mind. Montrose is beautiful and there is lots to do if you love the outdoors, but DON'T MOVE HERE!!! Visit in the summer time, maybe stick around until the end of September to see the Aspens changing color, but then leave!
Whoever posted the two positive comments about Montrose on this website is either a business owner, home builder or real estate agent who stands to gain from your pain of moving to Montrose. I have never lived in a region where people lie so much (it's an epidemic here). Beware!! Also, the natives (locals) in the Delta, Montrose, and Ouray area dislike newcomers, especially Californians and too a lesser degree, Texans.
Jobs are hard to find. Pay is well below average. Many people I came to know had to work two jobs (some three) to make it. If you like living around people who are struggling to make a living, people who like to lie when the truth would do just fine, people who dislike (maybe hate) newcomers, then by all means move here! At least do yourself the favor of getting a job first. When buying stuff, just make sure the price listed on the merchandise matches what's scanned at the checkout counter... my wife and I noticed an unusual amount of discrepency between what's labeled on the package and what's charged at check out (always in favor of the merchant).
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