Anyone move to Colorado from California? How is it? Good decision?

Question

We are considering a move. thanks

Answer 1

I have spent alot of time in CA but never lived there, but here's a quick list of pros

CO has great weather, depending on what part of CA it may even be better

CO has better mountains and skiing. Please, the Tahoe area and sierra cement cannot compete with our fluffy powder

Denver has all three sports arenas within walking distance. Cool

New Union Station and Fasttrax transportation system is turing lodo and the Central Platte Valley into the bomb

More bang for your buck on real estate. And of course I recommend the downtown area. Check out my blog for what is going on at http://www.theurbanbrain.com/blog

Nice people who are active

Great spot for singles (Denver always ranks first or in the top few)

CO is one of the healthiest states (hey, we have alot of fun things to do here)

Plus the city is growing, it is an exciting time to live here

Answer 2

I assume you're looking at Denver or Colorado Springs.

PLACES: Colorado Springs is sort of the Bible Belt of Colorado. Very conservative, lots of military economic drive, and home to Focus on the Family. Boulder is the Berkeley of the rockies. College town, some traffic, quite a bit of culture, close to the mountains. Denver is Colorado's big city.

WEATHER: You may not be used to the winters here. They're not as bad as Midwestern winters, but they do get cold. There's plenty of sunshine all year long, and it's not unusual for it to get up into the 60s during winter.

RECREATION: Our mountains are better than yours in California, but we have no beaches. You'll find that almost all outdoor activity is centered around mountains, the state religion is skiing, and physically fit people are everywhere.

DATING: I'm not sure if you have a family. If you don't, Denver is rated by Forbes to be the best place to be single.

DRAWBACKS: You'll probably miss the food, especially if you eat fish. It'll be cold at night and during the winter. Traffic here is worse than you would think, and here's some resentment from some natives against Californians, because they move here in droves.

Answer 3

I'm a transplant. I used to live in the Salinas Valley. Some things are the same and some things are vastly different. As far as comparison, it depends on where in CA you are moving from and where in CO you are moving to. Denver is similar to San Jose, except that people here either drive 80 or 50 mph instead of 80 or 85. It is nothing like LA. You will find even though they have cultural events, you don't have nearly as many choices. In CO most people are VERY VERY into their sports teams.. Kinda Like Oakland.

We don't have as severe gang issues as CA does and the whole world isn't "tagged."

I would say housing is the biggest difference. Again it depends on which part of CA you are coming from, but in Monterey, you can buy a 2 bedroom shack for about $500K, here if you have decent credit and a job you can get a house. Here is a link to check out housing prices in Northern Colorado.You will find they are similar to the Fresno area in prices.

http://www.realtystampede.com/searchcolorado.htm

The snow isn't bad unless you live in the mountains, just like in CA. Although it does snow throughout the state here, it doesn't stay icey for months on end. It warms up and melts. Greeley claims to have about 300 days of sunshine. Then there are the tornados, but they stay in the East. I haven't felt a single earthquake since I got here.

Unless you are coming here with a job in hand, you may be in for a surprise. There are some companies that pay what you are used to ( Like Lockheed Martin) however, many pay much less, and as one of the other people suggested, Californians aren't always made welcome. I remember the first time I drove through Colorado Springs I hadn't changed my license plates and someont put a sign up in their window saying Californian Go Home. But that seems to be more in the southern portion of the state. Here in Northern CO, people are guinuenly nice and friendly.

Best of luck in your move out here... It isn't so bad. Mostly I just get home sick for the ocean and my family. But I like it here too.

Answer 4

I moved from San Diego about 10 years ago. Best move I ever made! You will find the cost of living a lot less in Colorado than anywhere in California. You'll be able to get a lot more house for your money.

Answer 5

Stay where you are, unless you want to come out here and take a few Californians back with you. You're all the same, you sell your overpriced POS house in the valley then come out here and run the real estate prices up. You come in and try to bend Colorado to your will and get pissed off when we tell you where to get off. The WORST thing ever to happen to Colorado was the "California Tech Invasion." You, Sun Microsystems, Brocade Communications and the rest of your ilk should hang your heads in shame.

Please...stay in the land of fruits and vegetables and leave us in peace.

Answer 6

You should know that all the people from California who have invaded Colorado are pretty well resented - not the least of which because Californians are a total menace while driving in snow.

Answer 7

I think it's ok, but expensive. It depends on where you are looking to move in CA, but it is certainly more expensive that CO.

Do a search on the web for comparison sites that give you house prices, cost of living, etc. You can put in where you are moving from City/State and where you are moving to City/State. Lots of good information out there.

Here is one site to get you started:

http://www.homefair.com/find_a_place/cityprofile/index.asp?&cc=1

Good luck!

Cheers!

Answer 8

Well your an adult now - try staying in CA, even if you live with your grandparents. see if you can do it, if you dont make it you have the option to move back close to your parents in a new town and start over.

Answer 9

ya figures you yuppies have raised the rise on everything here in CO!!!!! Well, you'll have no problem buying a house everyone houses are for sale! Not much of a price difference thanks to the yuppies. I hate it here and I moved here from FL. I can't wait until our 3 yrs are up. Back south I go, I love you Palm trees and warm weather, green grass, beach. Less traffic jams in FL AND Chicago!!!!

Answer 10

Please just stay where you are. I am so sick of the bad driving and rude, yuppie mature that all Californians display that I might have to hurt someone soon.