Austin, TX or Denver, Co (living, cost, state, better)

[CAMom]

My Husband and I are torn between these two cities. They are very similiar with the only exception being weather. We'd like to know if anyone has comments on which place might be better for our family and why.

We enjoy boating, camping, entertaining, being outdoors, working out, and good food.

Thanks for any and all feedback.

[Trainwreck20]

Wow, got a couple of nice choices! I just spent a week in Summit County, CO, and love it up there.....except it is very difficult to make a living up in the mountains - prices are high and wages are not. I do not know a whole lot about Denver, but the area is wonderful for being outdoors in the summer, and even the winter if cold is okay. Cross country skiing and snow shoeing are a blast, at least off to the West. Btw, there were several inches of snow that fell on 9/16 up in Summit county. It did not 'stick' at city-level, but whitened the mountains completely.

If winter is not your thing (and I believe the wind blows HARD in Denver sometimes), then Austin would probably be a better choice. If summer is not your thing (and it does get hot and humid here), then maybe Denver. I guess you are right, it is the weather, especially if economics are not a factor.

[CAMom]

Thanks for the reply. That's what we're figuring, it's going to come down to what weather do we want to live with.

[deeptrance]

While the weather is vastly different in the 2 cities, there are other major differences AND similarities. They're both rapidly growing and provide lots of opportunities (like long commutes in traffic that isn't moving, in addition to great cultural and employment choices). One is semi-flat with nice subtle topography but you have no access to mountains, only little hills and shallow wooded canyons. The other is table-top flat and then juts up into a paradise of dramatic mountain scenery (can you guess which is which? ) Both have nice areas to live downtown including old hip neighborhoods with funky houses and modern condos close to bustling urban activity. Both have suburban areas that are so generic they might as well be in Wichita. Both have elite enclaves in beautiful areas outside of town.

Spend time in both places. They're both good choices but they've got some major differences you might want to experience. If you like skiing then go with Denver! I know people who moved from Austin to Denver and absolutely love it there. But Austin is a great city too, in harder-to-define ways.

[kaynrich@austin.rr.com]

There is more to living in Denver vs Austin than skiing, mountains and thin air. First, a 2 bedroom 1 bath, 1 car garage is going to cost $250,000. Then remember you have to get up early on those snowy winter mornings to clear the walks (or you get a ticket) and the car, and then leave extra early for work to fight the snow with the other fools to get to work on time. Now in Denver there are only about 3 direct ways to get the mountains. There are tons of folks wanting to go up there every weekend, so you have long lines of cars parked on the highway all the time. It used to be that you couldn't even see the mountains from Denver 'cause of all the smog, but it is improving. As you can see, i'm not a big denver Buff, but I'd recommend that you take some vacation time, in the winter, and go for a month and see what you think. Try it before you buy it is my motto....I grew up in Denver and now live in Austin. I prefer Austin. It is greener, more trees, more water sports, closer to the coast, and.........on secondthought go to denver, we're too crowded here!!! Richard

[deeptrance]

Originally Posted by kaynrich@austin.rr.com

....I grew up in Denver and now live in Austin. I prefer Austin. It is greener, more trees, more water sports, closer to the coast, and.........on secondthought go to denver, we're too crowded here!!! Richard

Great ending to that post.

I have the same personal preferences you do, Richard, but I'm trying to be "objective" because I know people who've lived here and prefer Denver. But your description of it reminds me of why I have absolutely no interest in living there. And you also remind me of a few reasons why I love Austin.

But having said that, Denver is way better, move there, everyone stay away from Austin it's the worst place on earth!!! (ya think they bought it?)

[Spookmeister]

Hehehehehehehe! The two of you sound like some folks on the Florida board! Come on now, you're Texans...Show the spirit of the Great State...Welcome our new additons even if they think they're still 'undecided' at this point...

Why would anyone with an ounce of common sense want to live some place they have to be cold, wet and miserable for months at a time? Southwest will take you to get your Ski fix anytime you want, and you won't have to shovel anything in the process!

[musicman107]

I've lived in Austin area for about 25 years and love it!
Have visited much of Colorado many times, including Denver, but only in the summer...and I loved the summers there.
I couldn't imagine living there in the winters, though.
Main weather factors would be heat and humidity, although I've seen neither deter most folks from being outdoors in the hottest summers.
I guess you either get used to it, or just deal with it.

And then there are the allergies. You might wanna research allergies in Austin area.

[deeptrance]

Originally Posted by Spookmeister

Why would anyone with an ounce of common sense want to live some place they have to be cold, wet and miserable for months at a time?

Everyone in my family, including cousins, in-laws, second cousins thrice removed, etc., lives in a much cooler place than Austin (many are in Alaska!!!), and they all think I'm the one who doesn't have an ounce of common sense for putting up with Texas summers. It's all a matter of what your preferences happen to be. I don't know why I got the mutant "heat-seeking gene" in the family, but I must admit that I've grown really sick of summer here and have spent the last two traveling on the west coast and far north. Which makes me not even worthy of being called a Texan any more. It's like saying you're a fraternity member when you can't even handle the hazing rituals. A true Texan works outdoors at 3 PM in July and August and proudly says "a little sweat never done hurt nobody. Y'all come on outta that there air conditioning!"

[OREGONRAIN]

Hi: I am also narrowing my choice for retirment areas to both Austin and Denver, we all have our reasons for liking one place over another. I like both, but at times lean towards Denver, as much as I want a warmer climate, since I live in Oregon. What makes me lean to Denver is probably because I live in the Portland area, and we take growth and urban sprawl seriously here, hence all the mass transit for some years now, and still expanding. As much as I like Austin, I am very concerned their lack of planning could literally make leaving your driveway a serious burden, the lack of fwys and planning is pretty bad, and Im sorry, but there doesn't seem to be any plan in place to correct it, imagine what each year will bring, I hope that lack does not destroy such a wonderful place. However I am still considering it, and the weather may be the deciding factor