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Answering Your FAQs about Living in Denver

A year and a half ago I wrote all about my decision to move from New York City to Denver. The response to that post has been incredible! So many of you have contacted me, eager to learn more about how I’ve found life in the Mile High City after living here for some time. Many of you are contemplating a move of your own, others are curious to know if my experience has been the same as their own.

Now that I’m three years into living in Denver, I’m going to give you the lowdown on all the feels about relocating to Colorado – all from my perspective as a former New Yorker.

FYI – I’ve created a private Facebook group “I Moved to Denver” where you can join our community of transplants from major US and international cities to get advice and share stories about moving to Denver. Please join us!

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about living in Denver and my answers:

Is the quality of life better in Denver vs. NYC?

I think so! I feel like my quality of life has drastically improved moving from NYC > DEN.

Housing: Rentals

  • Mainly the housing is more affordable and accessible compared to what it’s like in NYC. The rental market is very plentiful in Denver, there are so many new buildings it’s pretty easy to find one to live in.
  • If you are a working professional and/or have the means, you can simply walk into the leasing office of an apartment building and find an apartment. However, this means on the affordable housing front, there are challenges in Denver.

Housing: Buying

  • If you are looking to buy, the housing market has heated up over the last decade, and to many people it is seen as being expensive. During COVID the market has heated up even more, with many places getting snapped up right away and often going over list price. (Yikes!)
  • People who aren’t from NY or SF will tell you it’s expensive (and they are right, housing prices have skyrocketed over the years), but coming from NYC and our distorted view of how much housing costs, in our eyes you get a lot more for your money.

How different is the lifestyle in Denver compared to New York?

I think NYC and Denver are very different places. I generally don’t even try to make comparisons, that’s how different I think they are. If you are looking for a place that is more laid back than NYC/Brooklyn, then Denver definitely fits the bill.

Down-to-earth

  • The one thing I have noticed recently is whereas in places like NYC and San Francisco there is a major class and status undercurrent, in Denver I feel like that isn’t there. People really don’t seem to care where you live or how much “stuff” you have here. It’s much more down-to-earth, which I like.

Active lifestyle

  • People here love the outdoors here. People are very outdoorsy here and it’s easy to find hiking, rock climbing, cycling, clubs and groups you can join and meet people with similar interests. There’s still a spirit of the West that runs through Denver, so people are also pretty independent – I don’t really feel like people move around in predetermined herds. It’s kinda a do your own thing, drop in and out of groups kind of place. You might also discover your outdoorsy side as a result of living here, just like I did!

How easy is it to make friends in Denver?

In general, I think it’s a lot easier to be a newbie in Denver than in a city like NYC. Since it’s a city of transplants, people are very welcoming.

People seem to be happier

  • Also what I find is that most people move to Denver because they WANT to be here, not because they HAVE to be here and with that brings a freedom to do things not out of obligation, but because you like them and want to do them.
  • NYC can be a very rewarding place to live (and I think everyone who is able to should live there at least once in their life), but it definitely takes a certain level of energy, commitment, and tolerance for pain (seriously). However, NYC can be downright depressing if you don’t want to be there.

Building a network

  • In terms of what it was like to move, it was difficult to move someplace where I didn’t have a large network of friends or family, but I was lucky because I was moving as one part of a married couple (you always have a buddy to hang out with) and we had one relative living in the Denver area already – so that was a start.
  • However, what I think you will find about Denver is that people are very friendly. Lots of people from all over the US (I don’t meet a lot of internationals) move to Denver from places like New York, Texas, California, the Midwest, and since many people don’t have established roots, they are very friendly and welcoming.
  • I recently met a woman who moved here from Florida just a few months ago and she was marveling about how many new friends she had and how much she loved living here.

Do you get homesick? Is it hard being away from your family and friends back home?

Short answer: No, I don’t really get that homesick. As I stated before, Denver is very different than New York, so it’s not like I’m constantly comparing the two. However, I do end up going back to NYC several times a year so I get to see family quite frequently, so I’m able to get my NYC fix every few months and check in with my friends and relatives.

If I didn’t have that, I probably might be slightly homesick, but not enough to want to move back at this point in my life.

What’s the weather like? No, seriously, is it cold all the time?

Without fail, all year long my co-workers back in New York are constantly asking me if it’s cold in Denver. Let’s get this straight: DENVER IS NOT ANTARCTICA.

Denver has temperate weather all year long. It does get colder in the winter – we can have days that are below freezing, but because it’s a semi-arid climate, the humidity is lower so you don’t get that type of cold where the wind just cuts right through you and chills your bones.

We do get snow, but again, because it’s semi-arid, the snow evaporates quickly (no piles of dirt snow hanging around for weeks), and there will be days where it will snow and then the next day is 75 degrees and sunny – even in February!

I’m always running into people who moved here from New York. At times I thought maybe I should start a club for former New Yorkers who now live in Denver. You will find many people who have moved from all over the country coming to Denver. It’s a very vibrant city with lots of younger people and tons of creative energy.

What’s the dating scene like in Denver compared to NYC?

I’m married, so I’m not really the best person to answer this question. Yes, Denver is known as “MENver” but in reality the population is almost evenly split between men and women. Some of my single friends complain about the “quality” of the men (too “bro”-ish, flakey) but I do have to wonder… couldn’t that be said of everywhere?

This topic comes up pretty frequently on the “I Moved to Denver” Facebook Group and on the cons, people say potential partners can be lazy or more frequent last-minute canceling of plans. Others say that the diversity is lacking – which is not surprising given the demographics of the city. (Denver is definitely not as international or ethnically diverse as NYC.)

Additionally, it sounds like it spills over into the types of interests/activities people might want to do, which I can see given that there are so many different industries in NYC, which will attract all sorts of different people.

People say that Denver seems really outdoor-focused, and I think that’s pretty true — access to the outdoors is why a lot of people move here (and I encourage you to try some of these activities), but there are definitely pockets where you can find communities of people who are not only interested in hiking, skiing, climbing, etc. — you just may need to put some additional effort into finding them.

I actually wonder if COVID and the increase in remote working will have a positive effect on diversity in Denver. After all, if you can live and work from anywhere, people might be less dependent on the jobs and industries that are more widely represented here. (If I had to name some of the industries that employ a lot of people here I would say healthcare, oil & gas, aerospace, manufacturing, restaurant & hospitality, tech.) Time will tell!

On the flip side, some people have had a really great experience – saying the people they have met have been really nice and genuine and less prone to dating multiple people at the same time and it’s been a refreshing change from NYC. Others compliment Denver on the vibrancy of the dating scene, which is dominated by younger people. I personally have come across or made friends with really lovely women, men, and non-binary people who I know are single, which means there are quality singles out there — it’s just a matter of finding your person.

To summarize, dating is hard! I don’t know that any one place is better or worse than another for dating. I think a lot has to do with your expectations, timing, and let’s face it…luck!

I’m a New Yorker so I don’t really do the driving thing. Do I need to drive to live in Denver?

Driving is kinda a thing here – most people drive, but increasingly I’m meeting people who don’t own cars.

Living without a car in Denver

  • When we moved from NYC we didn’t have a car, and we have decided not to get one. We crunched the numbers and found that it would probably be cheaper NOT to own a car because we wouldn’t need to pay all the “hidden” costs of owning one (no paying to lease a vehicle, no insurance, no parking to pay for, etc.).
  • How do I get around? Just like any major city, we’ve got ridesharing like Lyft and Uber. We also have e-scooters and e-bikes for point-to-point rental, particularly downtown. We also have public transportation that works really well if the train line or bus route goes to where you are going, but there are definitely limitations.
  • Riding bikes is a great way to get around when it’s not too cold. If you end up getting a job downtown, it will be pretty easy for you to get around and do all your normal things without a car.
  • When we want to get out to the mountains, we’ll rent a Colorado Careshare or Zipcar. If we need to go further than the companies allow in terms of mileage, a traditional car rental place is another option.

I don’t think I can get away with not owning a car. Is traffic bad?

Since I don’t regularly drive, I can’t tell you from first-hand experience, however if you are trying to go anywhere during rush hour, it can be painful. Denver was recently ranked as the 18th most congested city in the US, but cities like LA, Boston, NYC, and San Francisco were worse.

Also if there is a Rockies or Broncos game, traffic can be pretty bad coming into downtown as well. Many people try to avoid traffic by staggering their work hours (coming in early, leaving earlier), or take public transit that can bypass traffic, like the light rail.

What’s the political climate in Denver? Is it liberal or conservative?

Colorado is a purple state.

Pockets of blue

  • Unsurprisingly, the heavily urban areas are pretty blue, where the more rural areas are red (with the exception of Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, and Greeley, which lean conservative).
  • Denver is considered a reliably blue area, as is Boulder, but that doesn’t mean everyone is left-leaning.

No dominant party

  • Colorado’s registered voting blocs are closely split between Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, but Independent voters are the largest bloc. As a result, I think many Coloradans like to think of themselves as independent thinkers.
  • One of the things I have really liked about voting since moving to Denver is that I feel like my vote really “counts” because votes are not guaranteed to sway in the favor of one particular party.

How easy is to access to the outdoors from Denver?

I would say it’s pretty easy to access nature from the city, especially if you have a car. You can find great hiking in nearby Golden or Boulder. When I was training for my NOLS course, we’d drive just 30 minutes to Evergreen and go hiking for a couple hours after work. There are countless county, city, and state parks to explore and hike/mountain bike for free.

Outdoors access without a car

  • It’s definitely a little more challenging to go hiking without a car. However, my husband and I recently experimented taking the FF1 bus to Boulder and getting off within walking distance of some trails in the Green Mountain Memorial Park area, which seemed like a good car-less option for an easy day hike.
  • If you are in to cycling, there are many great cycling trails to take from Denver to other places (which people take advantage of year round). And if you like skiing, but don’t want to drive, Amtrak has a ski train that goes directly from Union Station to Winter Park.

This all sounds great, but I’m still afraid? Any tips on how to figure out if Denver is right for me?

Let’s face it, no amount of imagining or predicting can truly answer that question. Moving to a new city really is one of those things that you won’t know for sure until you’ve tried it. You can always join my Facebook group “I Moved to Denver” to ask additional question from people who were once in your shoes. I also always give the following advice to people thinking of making the leap:

Visit before moving

  • Something we did before moving here was to spend a week in Colorado, test running what it would be like to live here. We stayed a few days in Denver, but then headed out to the mountains and other areas of the state to see how we might spend our weekends.
  • I don’t think I came away convinced either way after our trip, but it definitely made me feel more comfortable with the idea of moving now after I got a little taste of what my life could be like. I would definitely recommend doing something like this so you at least have something “real” to project all your “what if” questions onto.

You can always move back home

  • Also, my husband promised me that if we moved and we didn’t like it, we could always move back. Somehow someone else verbalizing that it was OK to move back “home” if it didn’t work out put my mind at ease.
  • Ultimately, as I mentioned in my original post, I decided that NOT moving because I was afraid would be a bigger regret than having tried. After all, say you move and you don’t like it – at least you’ve learned a bit more about yourself in the process.

Has this post help answer your questions about living in Denver? 

Please leave your story in the comments!

Also, if you’ve just recently moved to Denver (or are looking to visit), check out my city guide to a perfect weekend in Denver. It lists some of my favorite places to visit and eat!

Just moved or are seriously thinking of moving to the Mile High City? I’ve created a private Facebook group “I Moved to Denver” where you can join our community of transplants from major US and international cities to get advice and share stories about moving to Denver. Please join us!

31 replies on “Answering Your FAQs about Living in Denver”

Hi! Loved reading your post. I actually moved from NY to Denver and im not having the same experience 🙁 Primarily, it’s the altitude that’s killing me, everything just seems so much harder to do. I’ve been getting insane headaches, my skin is super dry and generally just feel super uncomfortable. I really want to enjoy CO but it’s the being in the mid west with no surrounding body of water for me. Have you or your husband experienced this or know anyone who has / offer solutions?

Hey there. I would definitely suggest talking with your doctor about your symptoms asap. You may have a very strong reaction to the altitude. Definitely make sure you are staying adequately hydrated. As for the dry skin, people tend to need to moisturize much more here, but you should definitely seek out the recommendation of a dermatologist. (I am not a doctor and none of this should be taken as professional medical advice!)

Thank you for sharing this! I remember reading your first article when I was planning my move but then COVID put a halt to that dream. Fast-forward 1.5 years my job has gone completely remote so I’m planning my move again and will be out there mid-February. This has been an inspiration! Thank you!

Hello Andrew. What a wonderful story. So glad you found this post useful. Please be sure to check out the FB group for people who have moved to Denver. Lots of people on there to answer questions about living in Denver. Congrats on your move!

Nice post. I’m from Port Jefferson Station now living in Thornton. I cannot image what my life would be like if I stayed on Long Island. Moving here worked out for me. I feel Colorado is a lot like Long Island 50 years ago. I go back to Long Island and find it has become quite seedy. The only reason to put up with that place is to collect a city pension. You sacrifice the best years of your life for shit end of a stick lifestyle.

What a great site! Thanks for taking the time and energy to create it. My wife and I moved from NYC to Denver (actually to Louisville, a charming town between Boulder and Denver) in 2013 and have loved our lives here. Like you, we hit a point when NYC no longer made sense. We chose Colorado for a number of reasons, the least of which was our love of the outdoors. Colorado’s robust startup scene was way more of a draw.

Colorado’s Front Range has one of the largest startup ecosystems in the country, at least in terms of the number of startups. Upon arriving, I quickly discovered that the Denver/Boulder innovation community is probably the easiest in the world to plug into. Everyone is more than willing to meet up for a coffee or a beer to help you in your professional search. This goes beyond just networking. Our startup community is incredibly collaborative. Our local tech guru (Brad Feld – https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfeld/) has even written a book (https://amzn.to/3fFQ24p) on why our startup community is so strong. Brad believes the key is the mantra to “Give Before Your Get,” which he describes here: https://bit.ly/2X6i9DC. I can assure you that people really do live by this mantra here.

For those of you who are interested in experiencing Colorado’s startup scene firsthand before moving, participate in Denver Startup Week (https://www.denverstartupweek.org/) each fall and/or Boulder Startup Week (https://boulderstartupweek.com/) each spring, either as a participant or as a volunteer organizer. They are totally free, conference-style events that the community organizes and produces organically. Sessions might cover how to optimize your company’s digital marketing, how to raise venture capital or how to address diversity issues at your company. Denver Startup Week is the largest such event in the country, drawing over 13,000 people from all over the world each year who attend their choice 300+ sessions.

Finally, I see from the timestamp on your comment reply from yesterday that you are also an insomniac (or just a natural night owl).

Hi Chris, thanks for your comment. I second your recommendation on Denver Startup Week. It was one of the first events I volunteered/attended after moving here and I was really impressed by the number of events and the fact that it was all free. There’s definitely something for everyone (you don’t have to be “in tech” to find sessions that are useful)!

I can’t wait to get out of Denver. Having lived in NYC I really wish for one day life would get easy here. People are rude. It’s more expensive than NYC all the snow sport passes are $1,000 and then 4 hours on I-70 in traffic to get to a resort. A 1/1 is 1600 a month w out a dishwasher or w/d. It was such a horrible decision moving here – plus the natives are rude, my packages, bike, everything left out is stolen. Hoards of homeless. If you’re not a trust fund kid from NYC you’re really in danger of losing everything. Oh yes and the Summers are a sauna plus fires, and healthcare is also impossible for self employed. If you’re into the outdoors he don’t have benefits thru a tech company than you can’t afford to get hurt.

I’m so sorry you’ve had a bad experience living here in Denver. I agree that the passes for skiing are expensive and the traffic on I-70 during the winter is bad, but generally skiing is an expensive activity due to lift tickets, accessibility, and equipment necessary. It’s the NY equivalent of saying the Hamptons are expensive and the traffic out there is terrible in the summer. I will say that in the downtown area and civic center there are noticeably more houseless people than you would get downtown in NYC or near City Hall, but I have found far less visible than say San Francisco or Seattle. That said nationwide we have a lot of issues with prioritizing affordable housing – Denver is not unique in this respect. Denver has a drier heat (not as dry as Las Vegas, but it’s a semi-arid climate) as opposed to east coast summers, where it feels more sauna-like due to the high humidity. Fires are unfortunately unavoidable in the West. Obviously Denver is not for everyone. I wish you the best in finding a living situation that best matches your needs.

This post was perfect!! Thank you for taking the time to write this up. My wife and I def. plan on joining your facebook group as we are planning on moving from the NYC/NJ area to Denver next year. We are making a one week trip in 2 weeks to do the same as you and your husband did – kind of scope out the scene. We plan on spending a few days in Denver + a few days in Broomfield. I also have a cousin in the Military that lives in Colorado Springs. He loves it and plans on buying a home and staying there (my family is basically all from Long Island NY)…This really made me feel better about our move. Honestly, my wife is the catalyst behind us moving; but I think in the end it will be a good/much needed change. Thanks again for this great article!

Bit of a rosy take on the city, but glad you like it in Denver. Personally I’ve found that the city isn’t the paradise it’s made out to be. Even though there are a lot of transplants moving here (which comes with it’s own problems), there is a weird passive aggressive hostility from the “natives” that is a thing here towards non coloradans and I think as the city has grown, people have gotten ruder and more stuck up as well. Also is kind of cliquey and people seem to stick to their little circle. Personally I’ve found it difficult to make friends here and know others who’ve told me it took them a very long time to break into a social circle – I think it really helps if you have contacts here already or have a partner like you.
The city seems to be getting worse to with more crime, traffic, homelessness and the housing market is just nuts from what I’ve heard, so I’m actually starting to look at getting out of Denver. I was talking to someone who left Seattle when that city sort of grew itself into oblivion and he said Denver seems like it’s on the same fateful path. I want to love it, but in my experience after living here for years is it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. The mountains on the other hand are phenomenal and I would say if you’re coming out here, come for the outdoors and not the city.

Thanks so much, Laura! Can you speak to the nightlife and how late restaurants/transportation stays open? I’m a late night eater/snacker and absolutely need my fix past midnight. Is that an option here?

Hi Siena! Omg – so I’m old now so I don’t stay out very late, but when I first moved here I definitely did notice there are not as many late-night eating options as there are in NYC, even pre-pandmeic. There used to be a place on Larimer Street that was open late (maybe even 24 hours – it’s so hard to remember now), but they are no longer open! Right now b/c of COVID a lot of places that used to be open late are no longer able to stay open or cannot afford to stay open past midnight anymore so options are going to be VERY limited at the moment (if they even exist at all given the COVID restrictions). However, I hope once things get back to normal, some of these bars and eateries that used to stay open stay in business and are able to re-open with late night hours! In the meantime, you may just need to rely on places like convenience stores or food delivery services. Like I said before though, your options are going to be crazy limited at the moment!

Public transport and car share services are available 24/7, but definitely slower/less frequent in the wee hours!

Hi Laura thank you so much for creating this platform.We are making plans to move to Co. Next year. The only reason is that my son is growing up like weed and looking for bigger house in NYC is just proven to be breaking my back. We have saved enough to downpay at least would opt for a house in Denver than 1 BR tiny condo in NYC. Its crazy.On the top of that i am curious about Job market since I need to start to pay the mortgages as life start to adjust with the new beginning as Coloradian ! I am in a service industry and am anxious about the income and expenses as well.

This has been the most spot-on post on moving to Denver. I’ve been on the fence for four months, having visited every month, but this may have sealed the deal! I worry about missing the hustle of NYC, but if we can make it in NYC , I guess we really can do Denver. Like you mentioned, better to try than regret!

You don’t talk about the theater or museums? Galleries? Boutiques? Art classes? Gyms? pilates/yoga? personal training? Writing groups/critique classes/meetups? open mics? the comedy scene? those are the things I am afraid Denver just won’t have

Hi Donna. I’m a big theater and museum lover. I’ve been pretty satisfied with the theater here in Denver. The Denver Center for Performing Arts does a great job with their original productions (and I’m becoming more and more a fan of their “Off-Center” productions – they will be working with David Byrne on an original production that will debut next year!). We also get national tours of the big musicals coming through Denver as well. I’ve been to the opera a number of times, and the performances have been enjoyable. I don’t think Denver can compete with NYC in terms of art museums (I mean… what city could?), however the Denver Art Museum is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar expansion, so it will be exciting once that opens.

I don’t do a lot of retail shopping, but I have seen a bunch of cute shops in RiNo. There’s the Cherry Creek mall for all your standards and high end retailers.

You will have no shortage of exercise options. Exercising is a state pastime.

There are also a number of comedy clubs, and big acts do come to town (I’ve seen Ali Wong, Hannah Gadsby at the Paramount). Saw Roy Wood Jr. at Comedy Works, and I’ve seen Trevor Noah at Red Rocks.

I really feel like Denver has tons of things to do if you look for them and unlike NY it’s not super overwhelming and you don’t feel constant FOMO b/c the events that appeal to any one person are at a managable pace IMHO.

I currently live on Maui, home of my dreams for 9 years now, and the company that I partner with would like me to move to Denver. There are a whole LOT of unknowns about the job which I’m figuring out, but the idea of moving to Denver, a place that I know so many people love, has really got me spinning. I have heard incredible things about Denver from friends and I like that it’s got a laidback friendly culture that’s outdoorsy and most importantly, the weather isn’t super extreme. As special as Denver sounds, it’s not Maui. I’ve been scouring the internet for Denver lifestyle blogs, and I’m so glad that I found yours! I am foodie as well, so finding someone well traveled (I lived in many countries growing up), who loves food, who made a leap of faith leaving their forever home for Denver is like hitting a goldmine. Thank you for the thoughtful posts on moving to/living in Denver. If everything works out, I can certainly see myself loving living in Denver (also loved your post on wearing Patagonia–I have a feeling that I move out there I’m going to be FREEZING and will have to figure out all my layers).

Hello Paige,

Oh I’m so glad you’ve found my posts useful in your potential move to Denver! Maui would be a hard place to leave – it’s so beautiful. But what I will say is Denver does have a lot more food options than Maui (although we don’t have anything exactly like Star Noodle – possibly my favorite place to eat in all of Hawaii) – there’s even a number of Hawaiian restaurants like Ohana in LoHi (they are mainly known for their poke bowls). We don’t have the ocean, but we do have wonderful outdoor activities like skiing, snowshoeing, and other winter sports you just can’t do in HI! Denver’s not quite AS chill as Maui, but I think it’s a nice balance. If you want the more remote feel, you can get that in areas just outside of town, but if you want a more city vibe (with some traffic, but not the truly horrendous traffic of a place like Honolulu), Denver’s got that. If you need any more info, please drop me a line!

I am a transplant from New York .I go back as well to check in on family. How often do you go back, just curious, and for how long? Right now I’m at three times a year for about a week to two weeks each time . Sometimes I feel like I still don’t get my fix! I do not want to move back to New York either at this point but sometimes I’m having pains of homesickness as all of my friends and family are there. I moved here 2 years ago. Just curious ,because I’ve been reading your blog and I feel like I can really compare stories and it has been giving me very helpful advice.

Thank you for writing this and your original post about your decision. It was like reading my exact thoughts on life in NYC. This has come at the right time for me as I make my final decision about moving. A little bit scarier for me, because I am single but you are right…. Regret is scarier. I think I will take the plunge. One question I did have was about the cost of hauling all your life’s possessions. Was it extremely expensive? What moving company would you recommend in NYC?

Yes, I would highly recommend you start a club for NY transplants. Wish me luck!

Thanks again for the amazing posts on this subject.

Hi Vanessa – Thank you so much for sharing your story. I did use a moving company. (I believe it was called TB Moving.) It was expensive (Maybe around 3k) and I didn’t even have that much stuff and I did almost all my own packing. That said, the company didn’t lose or break anything, so I can’t complain.

My husband and I are in the works of making this leap possibly. The only thing that scares me is the job market in Denver. I work in the fashion industry as a production manager and haven’t seen many opportunities for work. Like you I live I NYC because it felt like the only option for a while and I’m now realizing I love the outdoors and friendly people hahaha

This is so helpful. My husband and I making a decision to move and Denver is on our list. I’m so scared but I know it’s time to leave NY. Any advice Wich neighborhoods are good?

Hi Diana,

My wife and I moved from NYC about 4 months ago and live in Berkeley near Tennyson Street. This is a great neighborhood, as is the Highlands Square area, Sloan Lake, Platt Park, and Washington Park. If you want more of a city vibe, RiNo and LoDo are good, but we love having a yard.

-Mike

Thanks for writing this! I spent 6 months on a contract assignment in Manhattan (for a previous job primarily based in Chicago) and have lived in Denver now for 5 years, and I agree with most of your observations, but as someone with a car who lives in Denver and commutes to Boulder, I can say it’s no worse of a commute than taking the subway in NYC from Brooklyn or Queens to Manhattan unless there’s an accident, but even then it’s a wash. Plus, the cost of maintaining a car is not much more than the cost in public transportation I had in NYC, and the lower tax rate while my wages stay roughly the same ends up being much nicer on the pocket book.

Great post, Laura! I have lived here about the same amount of time and have one item to note. Yes, people are extremely friendly & down to earth in Denver. Denver is also an easy-access portal to the outdoors like you mentioned. What I consistently notice is that with this easy access, the majority of the city disappears for weekend trips, skiing, camping, whatever the outing may be. This can make it a bit harder to meet new people as a transplant, and I noticed this even more so because I moved from a beach location where everyone stayed put on the weekends. It’s the opposite here, where most everyone leaves 🙂

Hi Carla! Good point. Yes, when the weather is good for the outdoor activities of the season the city can definitely feel like a ghost town! I think that’s why a lot of social activities happen during the week. However, people may be able to find Meetups or other social groups that have outdoor gatherings on the weekend!

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