Best Places to Live and Launch 2008: No. 7, Denver
What do you think of Denver, the No. 7 town on our 100 Best Places to Live and Launch list? Do you run a local business? How do you feel about the town’s taxes and regulatory climate? Have you been able to attract good workers? Tell us about it. The best replies will be published here, and possibly in future stories in Fortune Small Business.
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DiggJeez, if you dont like it then move!!! I have lived in denver for over 16 yrs..I moved here from Indiana, now if you want to talk about poverty try visiting there!! I tried to move bck to Indiana but after spending over a year there with out being able to find a job we decided to move back to Denver….go move somewhere else then maybe you will be able to appricate Denver!
I was born in Denver and moved away in 81 and I’m coming back to show my grate state the gratest biz in the world
What???!!! This is just complete nonsense. I don’t think there is anything even remotely accurate in this post.
Please, Denver is known for mental illness and high suicide rates. People are not naturally jovial and optimistic. Medication does assist some individuals having extremely positive outlooks. Considering the high unemployment, foreclosure, and bankruptcy rates one would have to question the financial and mental health of Denverites. Regarding infrastructure, Denver has some decent facilities that are not rated highly according to critics. Please view the Mercer report of the top cities in 2009. Denver is not listed in the top 250 for quality of living.
I have been visiting Denver since 89. I lived permanently in Colorado from 1994 to 2005. The people are very optimistic, and family oriented. They want to enjoy life ‘everyday’, not just have a well paying position. I now live in Massachusetts, and the difference is its hard to accomplish anything in the Northeast due to the bureaucracy. People in the west want to get the project done and move on. The location of Denver makes it very inviting. A person can enjoy a thriving economy and be in the mountains in minutes,or drive to DIA and be on a plane to anywhere in the world. There are many museums that rival Boston and NYC. Coors field, Pepsi Center to name a few venues. The amount of restaurants available will leave one stupified. When my time is up here I will certainly resume my ‘life’ again in Colorado. Unless you have lived there you cannot imagine the lifestyle it offers.
The reason Denver has bad drivers can not be attributed solely to California drivers. You must admit Denver has many bad drivers from Texas, Illinois, California, and other states. It is a mental condition that comes from a heavily medicated Denver populace on psychiatric drugs and a lack of oxygen because of the high altitude. The installation of alternative modes of transportation will not enhance the livability of residing in Denver because you still have the defective people that abandon their home towns because of mental problems and seeking Denver to alleviate their problems. Unfortunately, relocating does not help disturbed mentally ill people. Once Denverites are enrolled in programs for courtesy, kindness, consideration of others, diversity denazification, and mental health composure then Denver will be a city that can be labeled as a respectable city to live in. With confidence I believe Denver will be able to meet those objectives within a century.
The reason some people don’t like Denver is because too many Californians moved here and I attribute the bad drivers to that. It wasn’t always like that. I have lived here all my life and once FastTracks rail system gets installed this city will be better than NY or LA because you can escape to the mountains for a quick ski trip. OK, so there’s no ocean but it is still a great place to live if you like lots of sun and Brothers BBQ!
In reality according to statistics the sun shines over 300 days in Denver, the snow is initially white but eventually turns yellow and brown because of the smoggy environment, grass is naturally sienna brown, the air is fresh on windy days. These commodities are popular in large bustling third world countries near the Sahara desert. For example, Cairo, Egypt. If you like healthy people that are uptight and angry with hate on their minds then Denver is your type of place. Recently, I went to Hamburger Stand to see two Denver females pulling each others hair because they were suffering from low wages, unfriendly customers, and smog enveloping the joint. Please come to Denver if you would like to meet psychotic people that just checked out of the Bates Hotel. Please, someone p disagree with me about Denver. I have lived here most of life and seriously I find Denverites similar to the host of “Who wants to be a millionaire” in the movie “Slumdog millionaire.” Initially smiling and hearty greetings to eventually reveal an evil soul. I wonder if the high altitude has an effect on Denverites?
do not move here!! the sun shines only 230 days out of the year. the snow is white, grass is green, and the air is fresh. these are foreign commodities for most of you, it would be a tough transition. the people here are friendly and healthy. (east coasters beware)so all you people in paradises such as L.A.,and Houston, your much better off where you are.
I rather liked D.C. while being there on a visit last year. However, as a Canadian, I rate a city’s quality on three criteria which are the same as i would rate a Canadian city.
1. If I go to a nightclub where there is live entertainment do I have to pull up at the door and use valet parking(?) because it is unsafe to park nearby and walk over to the club.
2. Is there reliable and useful public transit that is safe to use.
3. Is there anything to do downtown on thurs, fri, and sat. night (ONE OR ALL) in the way of live entertainment– or in other words do other people like coming downtown.(?)
4. Is the health and wealth of the population high enough so that folks do NOT line up late at night at the vet’s office sans pets?
If the prices are right and you can (or don’t see) the above — you have a nice city. Every city has parks, I am assuming.
Please people when judging a city compare it with cities that have been rated wonderful. On a global scale, Denver would be ranked average for its infrastructure, parks, business vibrancy,architecture, restaurants and culture. Regarding the hostile inconsiderate nazi-like people it would be considered inferior in character to cities that train its citizens to be hospitable and have manners. Denver is a city with many psychological defected people who were searching for greener pastures from locations where people found them psychotic and they found Denver.
Denver is as good a place as any to go broke. I’ve been here 45 years and it is now a blue no-growth city. Sorry!
If you read a number of the comments, one truth becomes clear; each person’s peception of Denver is heavily influenced by their past experiences. I’m sure we would find similar commentary among the other cities on the list.
I believe there are generally two camps: 1) those that came from worse conditions than Denver or lived here for several decades, and 2) those that came from a town with more happening or different, better features. So, to anyone thinking of residing in Denver, I believe your appreciation or dislike of this town will depend not only on where you are coming from, but also, what you enjoy out of life.
I moved from Detroit six years ago, and let me tell you, this is like paradise on earth by comparison. For all of the aforementioned reasons: weather, activities, nice people, lack of substantial traffic, reasonable cost of living, and so on. undoubtedly, if you are not into the outdoors, Denver is like an average midwestern city, with a touch of the west coast thrown in from time-to-time.
My wife is from the east coast and loves D.C. She is not a big skier or outdoors person; likes the excitement of the city and having a lot of things going on. So she finds it a bit boring out here. I, on the other hand, enjoy the laid back feel vs. the go-go-go attitude I felt in Detroit for so many years.
Some of the comments need rebuttal even with a bias in one’s perspective. Due to the proximity to the mountains, we do have a smog problem occasionally. It’s nothing outrageous and really depends on which way the wind is blowing or isn’t. If you don’t like it, living 15-20 miles outside of the city takes care of the issue. Traffic: simple not an issue here. Like any metro area, it’s slow at both rush hours, but often times you can move smoothy through even the downtown areas without being bumper-to-bumper. Again, by comparison to Detroit, Denver does not have a traffic problem. The drivers are much more reasonable here than Detroit too, where if you aren’t doing close to 90 mph in the fast lane, a guy in an oversized truck will be on your tail. Th people here are generally very friendly and nice. This is a happy place to live – when the sun shines almost everyday and you don’t have the hustle of a bigger city, moods are tempered and life is a bit slower.
Finally, from a business perspective, I believe it depends what window you view it through. In my business as a personal financial advisor, this city is for the taking if you want to work hard. Lots of entrepreneurs who are open to new ideas and are self-made. One commentor pointed this out, that many people you meet in Denver are here because they chose to be here, and are adventerous and willing to listen. I’ve found that, with a bit of hard work and going the extra mile, Denver is a great place for running a small business. Come see for yourself!
I don’t know about starting a business here, but I can tell you abot what its like to live here. I lived in Denver for a year in 1992 and then moved back for a year in 2006. Then we moved toward the foothills in Golden. Denver is an armpit, and pretty comparable to any other Midwestern City. The people in Denver and the surrounding suburbs (of course not all) we have found to be exclusive and not open to meeting new people. They keep to themselves, and typically are not friendly. We moved to Golden because we wanted to be closer to the mtns and skiing.
The outdoor activities is the only reason to live here. I would not move here if I was a single woman or trying to meet people. Even though I have heard this City is called “Men-ver” b/c of the higher ratio of men to women, I would find it difficult to meet them unless you frequent the bars.
The people here are flaky and arent the type to get things done. If you are from a major US city lie NY or Chicago, you will be incredibly irritated at how laid back people are when it comes to doing business. They dont return calls in a timely manner,etc. The drivers here dont pull out into the intersection at a green or even when its yellow to turn left. ITS SO ANNOYING!!! My husband and I think the people here are weird but not in a cool way.
You cant just meet someone and be their friend here. This is something I hear a lot from others who have moved here. If you dont ski, hike or like the outdoors there is no point in living here. I agree that the cost of groceries here are very high.
It would be more ideal to live as far away from Denver and instead in the mountains. I am from Chicago and Denver by comparison is LAME. Everything else outside of Denver like the mountains and hiking and scenery is amazing.
If you want to start a business please move to Golden where there is nothing much here. Apparently, the light rail will be out here in about 10 years.
As a Denver native, the city was at its best in the 1970s with less traffic and alot less sprawl. It’s challenging to start a business here; lots of bureaucracy. Yes, highly educated, but in talking with young people, it remains hard to meet people (dating) unless you’re into bars and that element of the social scene.
We have a large gang problem, which is mainly under-reported. Alot of dis-enfranchised young people. Bad graduation statistics (lots of drop-outs). Some of the city has been remodeled and updated, other parts are an embarrassment as they are so run-down and slummy. The poster named “Nicole” who wasn’t afraid to walk the streets at night is no less than a fool. I tell young people to “think urban” (hint, hint:crime).
The pollution is a key factor. We’re repeatedly in violation of Fed. standards for clean air. And I laughed at the part of the report about mass transit. The better part of it (like to our far out Denver Internat’l Airport) won’t be finished until 2016-2017 – if the money doesn’t run out.
We do have so very nice cultural institutions, but remain an also ran when it comes to cultural appreciation. This remains a big sports town, so if you’re into that venue, you’ll have many choices.
Denver’s always been a funny town. People come here to get their “rocky mountain high” and then move on.
The state is magnificent – so many natural wonders to look at, explore and enjoy. When I worked in the hospitality industry, people came and spent a day or two here and then headed to the mountains. Sprawl, like Phoenix or LA, remains our biggest challenge and will be for the foreseeable future. The other is water (or the lack thereof). Just last month a major developer withdrew his billion sq.ft mixed-use development because the city could not guarantee enough water. People forget that Denver is on the edge of the “great American desert” and water will be an increasing problem for us in the future no matter how grandiose the project may be.
There are pockets of wealth and of poverty, but no more telling is that Colorado is the #1 state for childhood poverty AND hunger. What people don’t realize as well is that Denver is the de facto 2nd US capitol in the event of the destruction of Wash. D.C. It was set up that way during the Eisenhower administration. Oh, and our roads and bridges are in sorry need of funding. Other than that, it’s an average American city.
I don’t normally comment on these kinds of things, but when I saw this I felt the need to strongly disagree. I was born in Michigan and lived on the west side and in Ann Arbor until a year ago. For the last year I have been living in Littleton, CO and for lack of a better word-hate it. I worked in downtown Denver for a little over 6 months and finally had to quit because of the commute. Now, anyone who compares ‘bad traffic’ in this city to other cities might be talking about saturation (?) however, I have carefully studied and thought about why traffic was so bad here (usually on my 1-1.5 hour commute to and from work (16 miles)). Here’s the reasons: there is a gross lack of major roads and roads that run both directions, there are no express lanes like there are in other major cities, there are hardly any roads without stoplights (left turns are impossible to make because they allow about 3 seconds, which causes a lot of people to run them and a lot of accidents), overall drivers here drive well below the speed limit (even when there isn’t any traffic), finally the drivers in Denver and surrounding suburbs are the absolute worst I have ever encountered (I have driven around the country in addition to multiple countries abroad)-they are completely unaware of their surroundings and get into accidents all the time (which equals more delays). Aside from the traffic, let me hit a couple more quick points:
–I agree with the person who said that started a business here would be tough because of taxes, both businesses and employees are taxed for the ‘privilege’ of working in Denver-it was infuriating to see that extra $5 (which would have been more if I had made more) out of my check every week.
–Rent is outrageous downtown in Denver and if you were going to open any kind of business that counted on the ‘passer-by’ clientele you would have to be downtown. None of the suburbs have any kind of pedestrian shopping areas or business-it’s all the big chains and other destination stores.
–Everything is more expensive here: car insurance (because of the high number of traffic accidents), registration and emissions testing (WOW-if you don’t pass and don’t have the $715 to fix your car you are so screwed), groceries, and rent even in the suburbs is insane.
–Denver is not extremely interesting-there’s not a lot going on and the majority of people I meet are either gross, creepy, or unfriendly.
–Denver is ugly-the new buildings are nice, but there is so much of Denver that has just been left to rot for a long time-it’s dirty and old.
–Where’s the nature? I realize Denver is located in an arid geographic location, but the lack of greenery, trees, and animals is so depressing….
–The suburbs are BORING-like I said, I live in Littleton and it is the definition of ‘bedroom community’. There is no semblance of a town here, there are only parking lots and chain restaurants. It’s incredibly hard to meet people or feel like you have any connection with human life.
–There has no been one day since I moved here that I’ve turned on the news and seen anything other than “poor” as far as air quality. It’s dirty and polluted.
Now, I would like to say that this applies only to Denver and surrounding suburbs. As soon as you get to Boulder or anywhere into the mountains it’s beautiful and peaceful and interesting. Colorado is a beautiful state that has a lot to offer. Denver, unfortunately is a black hole in the dessert that just happens to be next to the beautiful rockies. To each his own I guess, but I would really encourage anyone coming from East of Colorado to stay away from Denver-you have it better where you are.
hehe.. you wish we didnt ruin your precious city with our “yalls” and “thats hott” ????
As a native-born Michiganian,which has its own share of natural and seasonal beauty (despite the fear and blight of Detroit), I find Colorado endlessly fascinating. My first visit was an invitation by my then future (from the U.P.)son-in-law September 2003. Result? Instant love affair! It began with the view from the plane as we banked for landing in Denver! Have done Colorado great justice in 5+ years–every chance we get. My spirit’s restored when I view my problems from somewhere in the Rockies–be it from Rocky Mountain National, Estes Park, Longmont, Fort Collins, Boulder, Buena Vista, St. Elmo, Cortez, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Durango to Silverton, Mesa Verde… Oh, what’s not to love? Would leave too many other loved ones behind to seriously consider moving there, but in my “Walter Mitty” mind, I already have–and do.
i think its a wonderful place to start a business and even a family. with a great taste of the downtown scenery and the rocky mountains just close by it makes you feel like your in winter wonderland. the only thing is this frostbitten weather is driving many people from the streets which many small businesses depend on for income.
I think Denver is a very drab place to live with cold-hearted people. In addition, it pays its employees North Korean wages and is a living nightmare when compared with European, Canadien, and Australian cities.
I’ve lived in downtown Denver for four years now. I’m a 28 year old female and have no fear of walking down the streets of Denver at night. I feel very safe. I ride my bicycle most of the time. Most drivers are considerate, but I often times get honked at. I also take the public transportation which is very convenient and safe. I’m a college student and love the liberal culture in Denver. It’s a great place to live and a very progressive city at that.
born and raised in Denver and now live and work in Colorado Springs. I’m not leaving anytime soon. Few are blessed to live in this great state.
I came to Denver during the 92 recession from the DC area. The vistas and open spaces made me happy. Now they are going fast. I can’t believe how much this area is growing. I use to not be afraid walking downtown at night. Now I keep a sharp eye. Almost time to move again.
Denver is o.k. but not my choice for living in CO. Other areas in the MTS are growing such as Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, etc. The quality of life is much better in those towns.
I came to Denver in 97 to attend university. after graduating I remained until recently. Great opportunity for me to achieve personal goals and obtain career experience. Most places has it’s pluses and minuses. Denver to me has few draw backs, however, Diversity in though and in culture (NOT) and difficulty connecting with people. You get what you get and I’ve reached my end.
I love Denver Colorado. No where esle in America can you recieve all the seasons in one day. Denver COlorado has some of the most humble, honest people you will ever meet. If you have not been to Colorado, you don’t know what you are missing our on.
The roads here in Denver are horrible. Too many pot holes. I know it’s because of the ice expanding then melting then more ice expanding, but it really hurts the vehicles.
I live in Denver and beg all of you not to come here. Back to Texas and Cali with you…back…back
Anyone who thinks Denver sucks should obviously go elsewhere.
Having lived in Detroit, Michigan, Portland, Oregon, Madison, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C., I can say it’s not that expensive, has better weather than any of the others, has better outdoor opportunities, and the traffic is really not that bad at all. Want bad traffic? Try D.C.
All big cities are more expensive to start a business, but they also have more employees to hire, and more customers to sell too.
As a business owner in Denver I can honestly say that I would not consider the city friendly to small business. The taxes and fees are crazy, and there are no incentives to help out the little guys. Their is a privilege tax which basically is $10 per employee per month that you have to pay for the privilege of working in Denver. There are also so many little fees that add up that make it insanely expensive. Sure there is a very educated work force here, but this is about small businesses not starting the next Ball Aerospace or Raytheon. Most of us just want normal people, not PHD’s and the cost of living makes that hard sometimes. I love Denver, and the lifestyle, and the people, but to say that it is a good place to start a business is really misguided.
I passed thru Denver it was crowded, and polluted! You also need a powerful suv to get up those mountains everywhere!
Just visited there and was not impressed. It is in the flat plains, for goodness sake! Went to Boulder next and liked it a lot. Denver seemed to have many sketchy folks in the downtown area where we stayed and though friendly, not that pretty.
Denver is a GREAT place to live!!! It’s like being in a big park where there are so many things to do!! Lots of sunshine, no humidity, mountains, snow, wild-life, and great roads to travel in the mountains!! If we could just get rid of about 85% of the people that live here it would truly be PARADISE!!!!!!!!! Plus, Denver is home of that guy who keeps putting POEMS on the WORLD WIDE WEB!! His face is over at the ‘In Your Face’ section of Businessweek’s Home page after you click on ‘In Your Face’. Go CNNMoney.com!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING… IT IS WAY TO COSTLEY IN DENVER TO START A BUSNIESS. I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD AND I CANT BELEVE YOU WOULD EVEN CONSIDER DENVER ON THIS LIST
Denver certainly bests the first 6 posted. Intelligent workers.
Traffic is not that bad. Whoever said that this is a con is an idiot. This is a big city. You just need to avoid 2 or 3 places. Then the traffic is, in fact, very good.
As a Denver resident since 1979, our housing market stinks – and with very little new job growth outlook, it appears to be slow-bleak for Denver until California goes bankrupt – and they all move here driving up our housing prices again. The high number of foreclosures for the past 4 years is ‘killing’ our real estate business, and it’s just about impossible to buy a house if you’re a first-time home buyer or have a single income. Traffic on the north, east and west sides is really bad, and going up I-70 to the mountains or ski resorts is maddening to virtually insane. Real estate sales statistics are misleading over the Denver Metro area, as the only ones buying and selling homes are people with money – hence a higher average median home price – skewing the true reality of our housing market. I’ve lost 40% of my ’smelling’ ability due to dry air, yet enjoy the very dry humidity.The people in Denver are not very friendly – or outgoing – and I dare you to try to merge into rush hour traffic because the drivers are so inconsiderate and borderline hostile. Denver has always been been run by a bunch of flaming libs who value SOCIALISM more than economics, education and family values; thus leading us into this mired mess we’re stuck with currently. Just look at the LOW school test scores and extremely high drop-out rates at ALL Denver Public Schools (…even elementary schools) that the Teachers Union and Gov’t leaders can’t fix since the 1970’s. I’m moving to Austin or San Antonio in a year, after 29 lovely years here…I’ll sure miss the Broncos and Avalanche (the Rockies and Nuggets stink!) micro-brews, hiking in the mountains and fishing…as Denver Colorado is an outdoorsman’s paradise – for sure.
Can’t think of a better place to raise a family. The Rocky Mountains are a world-wide attraction that we get to enjoy every week of the year.
The only limits I know of in Denver are self imposed. This is true of your impressions of the people as this may reflect the fact that we are a magnet & we draw like people. What do you want to be? My dream is that I’ll always be able to keep a home in Colorado & still be able to visit with our maternal families back in the midwest as often as possible. I’m severely biased towards our ‘hood south of Denver since my wife & I have awesome kids who are very astute (young)professionals with the world to conquere. truely, blessed beyond measure – praise God!
I LOVE Denver and I cannot wait for a career opportunity to relocate back. The people are intelligent, energetic, communial, and just an awesome mix of culture. See you soon Denver!!!
Denver is an amazing city to live in! We are in the process of relocating back to Denver to raise our son and cannot think of a better place to do so. The people, culture, mountains, sports, outdoor activities and weather are unbeatable. My husband and I have moved and lived in 12 states between the two of us and Colorado is by far our favorite
Denver is a like a lot of America – it’s on a path that it can’t sustain.
The #1 problem with Denver is water. There is not enough of it and they have done pretty much nothing to prevent the coming crisis. Sure they might be fine for a few years, but what about 10 or 15 years from now if Denver and the surrounding area keeps growing. How much will your house be worth if you have to pay an outrageous amount for water. It’s typical American short sightedness. The writing is on the wall, but no one is reading it.
I’ve lived in New York, Boston, Providence and Denver; all interesting, wonderful cities and I wouldn’t compare one with the other. However, when I wake up in the morning, grab a coffee and see those mountains, drive through the foothills and watch the bison grazing, find a soak in the hot springs, then come down to the city to the Denver Art Museum (DAM), then go home at night and glory in the “city lights”, all in one day;I feel it’s heaven. The people are friendly, smart and generally open. It’s sunny, dry (so the cold isn’t bone chilling during winter) It snows then melts in one day . You can drive to Sante Fe, NM for a very long week-end..what else could one want? Come on! What do you think “purple mountains majesty above the fruited plains was written about?
Hilarious that the commenter from Austin called Denver a “hick town.” Denver’s no New York or San Francisco, but Austin’s not even close.
Aside from outdoor recreation, no aspect of Denver is truly world-class. But the city is progressive and smart, and it fosters creativity among the small business community.
I think the mass migration of midwesterners and californians to the state over the past two decades, as well as the hoardes of texas tourists, speaks to the quality of life.
Denver is an amazing city to live in! We are in the process of relocating back to Denver to raise our son and cannot think of a better place to do so. The people, culture, mountains, sports, outdoor activities and weather are unbeatable. My husband and I have moved and lived in 12 states between the two of us and Colorado is by far our favorite. The traffic is nothing compared to big cities on the coasts and Denver is proactive in finding solutions to the problem. Denver is environmentally conscientious and awareness is high among the residents. Denver loves both large and small businesses alike. Basically, you gotta love Denver and the Rocky Mountains! We can’t wait to be back living in Denver!
Denver WAS a great place to live. Now it has too much traffic, too many lines, too many people, smog and huge computes. The only people who like Denver are those who have live in terrible places before. By the way, I lived in Denver for 20+ years, but not any more.
Denver is a hick down which equals boring. Add in the snobby people and the wintry weather and u get something like living in hell. No nightlife no nothing there. Sorry folks. Not 4 me. Try Vegas, San Diego, LA or San Fran, they’re way better cities then boring ole Denver.
Denver is a very nice place. People will actually ask you if they can help you. I consulted in Denver and plan on opening a buisiness in Greenwood Village. Traffic is not that bad. Has anyone heard of the Palmetto Expressway in Miami? I’m originally from the Northeast and know what cold and glooooomy weather is. CO is a dream in comparison.
Denver is an excellent city, with an educated workforce and a climate that cannot be beat. This “up and coming” city has a lot to offer is is poised for healthy growth. There is a reason why most people who live in Denver are originally from somewhere else…
Don’t live in Denver but have lived in the metro area for 10 years. Our small business is growing. Music scene is great – between June and mid September there is at least one major music event every single weekend! The traffic isn’t bad compared to Dallas (50 miles in 60 minutes vs 7 miles in 2 hours). Many companies are willing to consider flex time and telecommuting to combat the traffic. I-70 west of the city always has been and always will be a problem due to the entire state plus tourists traveling it on weekends. Weather is variable and generally great, but don’t move here if you don’t like cold from time to time. Yes you can have all four seasons in the same day. Yes it’s dry – thin air doesn’t hold humidity well, but the cold doesn’t feel as cold either. Housing prices are high but not horrible (less than Austin and San Fran, more than Dallas and Memphis). Tons to do – outdoors and in. Lots of parks and open space. A team or three to follow for nearly every sport. Some folks have attitude, most do not – old timers miss the good old days before the development boom; some transplants bring attitude from large cities. Not as pretentious as other places we’ve lived. Lack of ethnic diversity is the only down side to me.
360 days of sunshine a year? Ha! Does that include the daily thunder/lighting storms in the summer? I have been developing theories about Denver and two of them are 1) that it is full of hypocrites and 2) it is full of bad parents with screaming children. I am trying hard to get out of Denver. It’s full of high prices, outrageously high real estate, ridiculous bogus “fees” on everything because they are too cheap to raise the taxes, crummy city schools, air pollution, incredibly horribly unhealthy dry air, searing high altitude sun that gives us a high incidence of skin cancer, no road services in the winter, police sirens blasting everywhere, no local produce, many screaming children in the stores, and big, aggressive egos.Because of the high prices of EVERYTHING we haven’t even been skiing once, but I’m not looking forward to driving an extra three hours just to get to an overcrowded, over priced ski resort. I would gladly move back to the beautiful lush Midwest where we may pay higher taxes, but actually get services that help us, food that is not overpriced, better schools, and workers who actually want to work. Plus, there’s are lakes that everyone can enjoy for free! You can have Denver. I’d take my years of living in the San Fernando Valley over this place.
I lived in Denver for two years before moving to Chicago. Almost all of what has been said on this board is true (except T-storms, there really aren’t THAT many). Of course there are drawbacks (housing prices are high) but it’s still a fantastic city. Instead of citing a laundry list of reasons why you’d want to live here, just look at the picture accompanying the article on Denver. It gave me goosebumps, and that type of sunset is a fairly common occurenct there. I’d love to go back and raise a family in Denver.
Fisher Price “My First Big City”
-Denver Resident from 1995 to 2005.
I’m an entrepreneur that has been working in Denver for a few years now. I find the density of the city to be beneficial for my business, but some of the costs here are quite high. Denver actually has what they call the employment privilege tax. You’re taxed just for working in the city of Denver! Some other negatives: If you’re on a budget starting a new business, housing costs are so high, expect to deal with crime and graffiti in most “affordable” parts of the city. There’s a big gang culture here, along with illegal immigration issues. If you need high speed Internet, forget about competition for price. Qwest pretty owns the road when it comes to Internet connectivity. Comcast cable is about the only other real competitor. Both charge too much in my opinion.
What Denver has is access to the Rocky Mountians, and a whole lot of south west towns with in a days drive,like Santa Fe.The draw backs are over building and traffic. You can drive into the mountians for the weekend, but I70 is bumber to bumber with two hour delays in travel time. The cost of housing is dropping,which was very over priced. The illegal workers are using this town as a drop off point, which is straining health care system, hospital closures.
I moved to Denver in 81 then tried DC but had to come back to Denver. Actually, I would never live in Denver or anywhere along the Boulder Turnpike and especially not Boulder. But that just goes to show that there is quite a lot of diversity along the Front Range.
As for the weather: Colorado is actually in the sun belt. Dryer south of Denver, wetter and green if you go north. Pick your preference.
As for work: hmmm, age discrimination is a problem but I don’t suppose that is unusual. Lots of low paying work coming in so it is not what it used to be. But it could be worse.
Housing is good if you stay away from unreasonable areas such as Denver and Boulder. Move 5 miles and you get back to sane housing costs. I live in a 2500 sqft house that costs less than the national average.
All told, I have not been able to find a better location to raise my family.
I’m glad to see someone from Texas hates the place. Maybe you should tell all of your friends how horrible it is and tell them to stop moving here. That’s one way to cut down on the traffic.
Denver is completely overrated. The people that move here are usually from Califas, who sell their shacks and buy mansions out here. The same goes for the East Coast folks. Otherwise, Denver is still a hick town, crumbling roads, closed minded people, Stupid weather (thunderstorms everyday in the Spring and Summer with hail damage) 300 days of sunshine is a blod face lie. Take a look at the actual stats. Its’ closer to 230 days, and factor in the constant thuderstorms. No humidity for sure, with cracked skin and lips, bloody noses, dry eyes, constant dust, etc. The biggest issue here are the snobs. People are very uninviting, rude and snobby. I would live in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins anyday over Denver. Downtown is nice, but don’t forget all the bums on every corner and hoodlums running around. as far as traffic, the frustation lies with the stupid drivers. Constant accidents and slow pokes. No common sense whatsoever. I think it’s the altitude. Glad to be gone! FYI, single men, it’s named Menver for a reason. economy is terrible because you have all the college educated following the same marketing scheme and moving out here so competition is high for work. Housing costs are out of control, so are foreclosures. (Denver has been one of the top 5 cities, with Las Vegas and Miami.) Please do a google and research this stuff folks, I’m not making it up.
Denver is a great place to live. A good balance of Urban, Rural, Recreation, Family, etc. etc. living. I’ve been to the east and west coast and the scene was more of the usual. Simply the best place to raise kids.
Denver is amazing…I moved to Chicago about a year ago…and miss it dearly. I want to go back! Mountains+Sunshine=Heaven
I have lived in many international cities (2yrs or more) and I surprised myself to be living and loving Denver. I still travel often, but call Denver home.
The reason? Opportunities! The quality business opportunities and living conditions that Denver and the front range offer far outweighs the over established markets of East/West Coast, and major international cities.
I moved to Denver from Houston 3 years ago. It’s night and day as far as the traffic, but it does depend on where you live in Denver. If you live south of the Metro Area traffic is hardly a problem because of the new Light Rail system if you’re driving downtown. If you live North of downtown or travel outside the city it’s not as good. I’ve never seen a city where the traffic coming into town at rush hour is worse than the traffic going out. So if you move to Denver and work downtown, move to South Denver – I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get downtown. As for the area, no humidity, amazing views – and 30 minutes from the best outdoor region on earth – can’t beat it. As for the post about the snow – If it snows it’s gone within a day or two and it’s ALWAYS sunny here. You can wear shorts and a t-shirt when it’s 45 degrees. The people are nice and very outdoorsman friendly, but overall they aren’t as friendly as the midwest.
no thanks. It’s 70 and sunny one day and 31 and snowing the next. The snow is always a slushy mess. The place is riddled with bible belt reactionaries and refugees from God knows where. Just another megalopolis.
Boulder, yes, or Fort Collins or Colo. Springs, but not the D. I lived there and hated the place.
I moved to Denver early last year after living in Massachusetts my entire life. The weather is absolutely gorgeous here in comparison to the northeast (no long, gray winter), outdoor activities are much closer to the city, but I must say, I agree with the traffic statement. It’s much different from East Coast traffic – most people commute OUT of the city each day to work – but it is still a huge hassle, even in comparison to Boston’s traffic.
Anyone who thinks a con to Denver is the traffic should try to live somewhere like Philadelphia or anywhere between Washington DC & Boston. Traffic is not an issue here! Having lived in Philly, I know of the 2 hour 16 mile commutes. Denver is investing heavily in mass-transit (light-rail) and only plans to expand.
Just got back from visiting Denver-bad traffic? It is nothing compared to Cleveland’s traffic-Great city-trying to get my company to transfer me there & out of this cesspool known as Northeastern Ohio.
Pretty much anywhere with sunshine and awesome things to do,beats the hell out of this “Midwestern Ghetto,” I reside in now!
Hard to get good help. Everyone here want’s more than they’re worth. Seems to be a large hispanic workforce that does most of the actual work here. All the greedy municipalities all have to have a hand in everything you do for their revenue. Plan on sharing your profits with the man here.
I’m a longtime resident here 53 years.
Arrived here in 2006 to start a biz and things have only been better. This place has it all… the view, biz incentives, socially and economically. With the housing bust, homes are very affordable around Denver. Now is the time to buy… Invest in Denver.
My family and I have lived in the Denver area for about 6 years now. I cannot imagine living anywhere else. It is an absolutely fabulous place to raise kids, even big ones such as myself. So much to do in the adjacent foothills and mountains. I think the traffic issue is often exaggerated. There is some traffic, but I have experienced much worse in many other cities I visit for work. The region has also stepped up and approved plans for a great public transportation system.
My home town…I didn’t truly appreciate how much I liked living there until I moved away. But I may very well move back after finishing up grad school.
Lived in Colorado Springs for almost 3 years…Denver with it’s outreaching suburbs seemed to be prime family raising territory and the clean young city was always growing. About a 1 hour drive gets you to the first string of resorts up in the mountains which seem to have an activity for everyone everyday of the year. I’m in Denver as soon as my military contract is up.
I’m from MI and I’ve been in Denver for two years. Denver has everything and the job market is great for educated professionals. The down side is definitely the traffic, everywehre you go in the city takes atleast a half hour and unless you are from California, you will feel that housing prices are very high.
I just bought a house in Los Angeles, I would strongly consider relocating to Denver. Right now I’m not in the right cituation to do that.
Lived in Denver for 13 years before moving to CA and I’d go back in a heartbeat. Nowhere else have I found such a great balance of quality-of-life to cost-of-living. Excellent arts, theater, and cultural ammenities for a city its size.
Have you found the town supportive of local businesses?
Have you been able to find good workers here?
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I believe in addressing problems and not running away from the truth. According 2007 US poverty rate statistics, Colorado had an 11.5% poverty rate and Indiana had a 12.3%. Considering the cost of living in Colorado is higher than in Indiana, poverty is a greater struggle in Colorado than in Indiana. Also, if you take in consideration the large mentally ill population,the high suicide rate and extreme drug use. Colorado and Denver are a scenic places suffering from dysfunctional people in need of shock therapy. The temperant and mental health of a population is the deciding factor on whether or not you have a healthy environment. Unfortunately, Colorado and Denver are blessed with natural beauty but stocked with delirious people in rubber rooms. Please express why you think Denver is a great place to live and start a small business.