high taxes? - 9/28/2007

I've read several comments that taxes are high there. Could someone please explain? When I compare to Ohio it looks like the state income tax rate is lower (though it is flat- no exemptions?) compared to our max rate of 6.5%. We also have local income taxes here up to 3% of gross income- right off the top, with no exemptions. Property taxes here are around $4200 for a $240,000 house. Sales tax where I live is 7.5%. Real estate transfer tax is higher. The only tax I see there that we don't have here is the automobile registration fee which amounts to a personal property tax. Also cost of housing seems to be more on par with the east and west coasts than with the midwest (here anywhere from $95 to $125 per square foot and the higher amount would get you a pretty fancy home) even though the housing market doesn't look too good. Am I missing something? Please respond with your comments.

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Colorful Colorado - 8/27/2007

This time of year is my favorite in Colorado. With the passing of the hot summer days into the cool crisp evenings, there is an unbelievable climate balance. Up at the higher altitudes the golden aspen begin to change signifying the slow onset of winter. You if you haven't witnessed the Aspen changing iit is definitely somehthiing you will want to put on the list.

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air quality and water quality because of the blm d - 8/26/2007

In a recent visit to western colo I was shocked at how much drilling was going on there. Researching the affects of drilling to the water and air quality was shocking . Not much is being said about it and I wonder if people are living with blinders on not wanting to deal with this serious problem. worried about the health of innocent people and wildlife-Dee

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Colorado Springs - 8/16/2007

Colorado Springs, Colorado is a great place to live. Hiking, Biking, Rock climbing are a few activities that are dominate in this area. Weather is great, mild winters, cool summers with a nice afternoon shower.

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Expensive - 7/11/2007

I am a native of Colorado and I am sad to say that it is just too expensive here! Its not home anymore with all the growth going on. Eventually, there will be no beautiful land left to enjoy. Companies hardly give much of a pay raise, only to have taxes go up every year.

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Denver Colorado - 6/19/2007

Denverr has a beautiful mountain range to view.

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Climate - 6/11/2007

State has a great climate. Not many annoying pests either.

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Local Media Xenophobia - 4/18/2007

One thing that really annoys me here is how the local media takes any & every global story and tries to connect it to the people in Colorad/Denver. However little there is a connection to Colorado, the local media MAKE a connection. I've never seen anything like it. They tell you about world news, then do a segment on "How this is affecting Colorado/ans". Examples include: the 2004 Asia tsunami (they had to find local Coloradans who went through it, as if the rest of the world wasn't enough); the recent VA Tech shootings (they said "How this is affecting Colorado residents?") and 9/11 (a pilot on one of the planes). I can't remember any more examples, but it was something my husband and I distinctly noticed when we moved here 8 years ago. It very self-centered.

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It's not bad, but I'd move if I could - 4/18/2007

I've read many posts and agree with both sides of the debate on Denver, although I lean toward the negative. I moved here 8 years ago, completely sucked into the idea that Colorado is such a great place to live. I was born in southern CA, went to university back east and lived in NY/NJ afterwards for a couple of years. I thought I would love it here, but the truth is that I would move if the cost of living wasn’t so low. Now, I know a lot of people are going to scoff at that statement. IMHO, the cost of living is very reasonable considering all the “amenities” you get (weather, relative amount of culture and decent restaurants – more later). The problem is the salaries; they still don’t match the cost of living (which isn’t bad in the first place!!!!). Jobs that get you $50k in LA are less than $30k here. Now, people are going to say the cost of living in LA is much greater. It’s all relative, yes, but Denver’s cost of living differential shouldn’t result in a $20k difference in salaries. I’ve read that people think it’s hard to get a job here if you don’t have one lined up before moving here. I agree with this statement. I come from the philosophy that one should get a job based on merit and experience (as I did with my NYC jobs), not b/c of who you know. But when I first moved here, I was told by someone in my industry that I must join some industry networking clubs in order to find a job. My resistance to do so prevented me from finding a job until 2 years after I moved here (keep in mind that I continued to receive calls from NYC headhunters the first year I moved here). And the first Denver job I did get was something I settled for, b/c I couldn’t find anything in my field. Then I went to work for one of the area’s Chamber of Commerces, and it only proved how much the phrase “it’s who you know” applies to Denver. The restaurants are not as bad as everyone makes it to be. I became really spoiled as a result of NYC restaurants, taking advantage of many sales rep calls. Considering how provincial some of its residents can be, there are more gems (Mizuna, Solera, Luca, Café Star) than I thought would be here. I must say that I really appreciate all the different ethnicities that visit the various ethnic restaurants. I'm asian, and this is the only place where I regularly see African Americans and Hispanics at dim sum; sure it happened in NYC, but not at the (relative) level that happens here. And that never happened in LA.

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What it is really like in Colorado - 4/14/2007

Misconception: Denver is not actually in the mountains. We do not get a ton of snow (this winter the exception). If is does snow it is usually melted in a day. I have lived here now 15 yrs. The population is generally well educated and diverse. You maybe hard pressed to find a native coloradoan. Most came here to be educated and stayed or moved here. Denver has gone through a series of bust and booms. Right, now a boom is slowly turing to bust. The mortgage industry in Colorado is not regulated so there are a large number of home foreclosures. There are racial tensions, gang violence and meth in the state. The state does not tolerate violence against GBLT. So in that case we are ahead of some places. Crimes are punished to the full extent of the law. Colorado is home to both Focus on the Family,Tom Tancredo and Supermax Prison (It is out in the middle of nowhere) If you are into professional sports Denver is the place for you. We have seven professional sport teams: Football, baseball, hockey, basketball, in dooor football, lacrosse and soccer. If you are into out door stuff this is the place. The mountains are less than 2 hrs away. If you love animals this is also the place for you. Some animal charites raise more than human charities. Colorado is also the home to NORAD. At one point only Washington DC had more government employees per capita. There is no tax on food. It is better to transfer a job than try to find one. The state wage is higher than the natioal average but housing cost are more. Gas is a little less than $3.00 a/gallon. Charter schools are popular, at least in the Denver Metro Area. If a school does not peform well. DPS usually shuts it down. The high school dropout rate is high. More people are moving back to the city from the suburbs. High density housing is the new norm for the inner city. Traffic can be a real nightmare. There are still some open spaces left in the state but are going fast. Cowboys really do exist here. National Western Stockshow in Jan, is living proof. Keep in mind having a college degree does not mean anything here. You may end up working at Walmart along side a high school drop out.

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Mile Highness stands corrected! - 2/22/2007

I guess no matter what happens in Denver, it will always be the best place to live. Tell that to Denver Broncos Darrent Williams, who was killed by gangbangers in Denver New years Eve. Low crime rate??? Where do you live? Highlands Ranch? I forgot, they found a lady there decapitated after being dragged to death by an illegal immigrant a couple months ago. Speaking of immigration, drive down Federal Blvd. or Colfax,(main arteries) and you'd think you were in Mexico City. The Denverpost just reported how the gang activity is skyrocketing out of control (again), along with graffitti. You call that a nice quality of life? Maybe if your sitting in your SUV every weekend driving to the ski resorts three hours away. Denver has had the worst pollution days this last winter in over ten years. The weatherman reminds everyone to stay indoors, including the healthy folks, due to respiratory issues. Employment, you've got to be kidding me! The jobs still pay is if they were in the haydays of the early 90's while every slum lord is jacking up prices in order to compensate for the exuberant cost of living. The apartment quality themselves around Denver don't come close to any other metro area, UNLESS your paying Los Angeles rent prices. Forget 1st class service. Customer service doesn't exist amongst these mile high bigots. I am so glad that I'm leaving next weekend! You can keep your pothole ridden, overpriced housing, crime ridden, homeless Denver (over 12000)! To everyone saying cost of living is better than New York, it's sad to see you compare this midwestern hillbilly city to a cosmopolitan city such as New york in order to make a point. The weather is soooooo overrated here. Its cold 6 months out of the year, brown landscape, finally it warms up in June, and you have hail and thunderstorms ever day! Last but not least, the number one issue I have with Denver is the attitude of these self-rightious, self-centered, my way or the highway attitudes. I've never encountered so many stupid attitudes in one place. I blame it on the thin air. Nice place to visit, thats about it!

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Transferring to Englewood, CO for work next year - 7/16/2006

It looks like we might be moving to Englewood next year. We like country living, a little space, safe areas, and a little privacy. Average middle class family and can't afford a mansion but would like information of nearby towns and where is the best place within about a one hour commute, considering traffic, etc. Almost empty nester, schools are not a concern.

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Weather here has been wonderful! - 6/25/2006

The climate in Colorado is becoming very warm and even more arid then it has been in the past. The result is nine months of very nice weather with periods of coolness between October and February. However, even if it snows - it does not stay cold or snowy very long anymore. The weather is quite simply "beautiful" even if it is much warmer than it has been in the past!

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Southeast Aurora - 6/11/2006

I live in a golf community called "Murphy Creek" which is located in Southeast Aurora. Aurora is an interesting location because there are parts of Aurora that are pretty "dicey" and other parts (primarily in the Southeastern locales) that are very nice neighborhoods. You will save yourself a lot of money purchasing a home if you do not want "name recognition" locations like "Highlands Ranch", "Lone Tree", "Arvada", etc... There are some locations in Aurora that are within the Cherry Creek School district; and many developments (like Murphy Creek) have their own school within the development. I am a native Denverite (I was actually born in Denver) and I moved from Denver to Aurora approximately 2 years ago.

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Denver vs Albuquerque - 6/5/2006

I have the opportunity to transfer with job from Denver, CO to Albuquerque, NM. Any opinions would be appreciated.

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Great Quality of Life - 5/4/2006

The Boulder-Longmont area has a great quality of life. I grew up in the Midwest and lived in the California Bay area and would not trade what I have now for anything.

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Colorado - 4/17/2006

There are so many things to do in Colorado. The weather is great for all outdoor activities.

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Have to agree it WAS great. - 2/24/2006

Ive been in the Denver area for 6 yrs. Relocated from Los Angeles because of that cities horrible traffic, rediculous home prices and not to mention flaky people. Well all I can say is Denver is begining to look a lot like la la land. Been hearing stories about flippers leaving California and arriving in Denver. Or someones retired parents following their kids here. Its all fine and good but if you dont have half a million to buy a place you'll be forced to buy an overpriced condo, "loft", half duplex or even worse a crappy house in a crappy suburb. None of which are worth a damn because that part of the market is experiencing a glut due to the nonstop building thats happening in Denver. As far as quality of life goes, its a decent place, the people (if you are lucky enough to meet someone actually from Colorado!) are nice. But the job market seems to be tight, I was in high tech and laid off when that all went to hell. Been able to find some work but nothing near what I was making and housing hasnt gotten any cheaper. Maybe the bottom will fall out again like it did in the eighties and housing will become more reasonable. Good place for 20 somethings in school and outdoors enthusiasts. But the traffic, housing and increasing numbers of space cadets running around is starting to make me wonder if its worth it.

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The Best State - 2/21/2006

Beautiful state.....marvelous weather....very conservative

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