I maybe moving to Colorado anybody have suggestions on towns?

Question

I recently got accepted to Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, CO. They have 3 different sites, though. Lakewood is the main campus which is roughly 10-15 minutes west of Denver, then there is Colorado Springs and Loveland which is 10-15 minutes south of Fort Collins. I need some input on towns because I'm somewhat am going out there blind. My mom has a friend in Loveland but I haven't been able to really talk to her in depth. I will be making a trip out there in May sometime. I've looked at apartments in Colorado Springs online which I'm sure they give you the BEST pictures online, my main concern is my kids, the neighborhood for them, and a school. I did look at District 20 Academy school in Colorado Springs and Glen Ridge Apartments there which both were by the Air Force Academy. Colorado Springs seemed to be a little less expensive than Loveland or Fort Collins. Anyhow, would appreciate some suggestions. Thanks

Answer 1

Fort Collins was voted best place to raise a family several years in a row by readers digest. I lived there for 8 years and absolutely loved it! Loveland is also quite nice. But really you just can't go wrong anywhere in Colorado!

Answer 2

Congrats on your acceptance! Have you decided which campus you'll be going to? All of these are a considerable amount of distance apart.

Colorado Springs is a nice community. It's growing at a wonderful rate. It would be less expensive then the others, however, a distance away too. There are all the typical things to do, and wouldn't need to travel for much, IMO.

Lakewood is considered as part of the Denver Metro area, so living just about anywhere in that area, Denver Metro, would make the Lakewood Campus accessable. Littleton, Westminster, Denver, Golden, ect. Castle Rock isn't even that far from Lakewood.

Adams 12, Douglas County and Cherry Creek Schools in the Denver Metro area are considered a few of the best, and you can find many ranges of housing in those areas. Again, they make up different cities and counties, so lots of options. Fort Collins has one of the best charter schools in Colorado.

Answer 3

Congratulations on getting into CCU. As it happens I live quite literally across street from CCU's main Lakewood campus. My sister even went there for a year. First of all, go there. The main campus has the best opportunities for academics and missions work, churches, etc.

There are plenty of apartments and townhomes nearby the dorms on the main campus are actually really fancy for a university.

Plus, you're in the middle of a major metro area which is always awesome. Pick a place in Lakewood near campus and I think you'll be happy.

The Springs is pretty cool, too. Loveland is nice but it's full of older folks and families--not so many young people.

Denver and Colorado Springs are quite similar. They are both pretty conservative towns with major evangelical populations. You'll find that Colorado values are good ones, Christian ones, and conservative ones. The founder and president of Colorado Christian is Bill Armstrong. Bill is an evangelical and used to be the Senator from Colorado. He stepped down there to found your college and he's done a great job of it.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Not Lakewood. The other two are very equivalent. Colorado Springs is much better than Loveland for various reasons, but Fort Collins is the King of Colorado, so it might be nicer to be closer to that.

Answer 5

Hi, I lived in Estes Park for quite some time & can tell you that Loveland is a wonderful little place. It's growing. The people are friendly. The surrounding area is gorgeous. I loved driving up and down the mountain to Estes Park. Loveland is also a perfect location. Slighly secluded, but in close proximity to fun Fort Collins, Greely, Longmont. I used to live in Boulder too, & Loveland is only about an hour away. Denver is real close also. I recommend the area to anyone. Of Course, it is more expensive, as you say. But it has such a variety about it. And it is safer from tornados, because it is close to the mountains.

Answer 6

Hi-- I live in Colorado Springs-- I'm not a native-- I'm here because the Army brought me here several years ago.
I would MUCH rather be here than in Denver or Loveland.
It is less expensive, It is less congested, and it isn't as uptight and religious a place as it's made out to be, although the conservative Christians are more vocal than the normal people.
We have a philharmonic orchestra;, a wonderful Fine Arts Center w. a new wing opening in August; there are lots of
outdoor festivities and markets in the summer; and we have a 6000 seat World Arena where you can see acts like
Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Sting and the Eagles.
Pikes Peak is right here, and because of the front range being right here, snowstorms do not cripple us the way other parts of Colorado get snowbound. I want to add that the snow
always melts pretty quickly here.
There is a CoS Visitors Bureau, which you probably can access online to get more information pertinent to your needs.
The local paper can be accessed at gazette.com, and the local Independent paper at csindy.com.
Welcome to Colorado !!! We get sunshine and blue skies like you read about!!

Answer 7

Co Spgs, Loveland and Ft Collins are all very nice cities and good places to raise a family. Co Spgs is definitely cheaper but there is nothing really wrong with it. It is growing at a pretty good rate. The only issue, which may not be an issue with you, is that the city has the biggest concentration of churches per capita in country.

Answer 8

I grew up in the North Metro Area, so everything south is a bit hazy... but if you NEED to be near an airport, and don't want to drive all the way to DIA every time (about an hour or more's drive from any of the places you mentioned) then you'll want to stay on the Colorado Springs side to use their airport for convenience. Castle Rock seems like a nice, older town, though, and Monument is a little more ... hmm... old school / ritzy from my own experience.

Answer 9

Rock on congrats! If you need suggestions on church please let me know! I go to an amazing chruch! It's a young one at that! Perfect place to get to know people! Well.. if you pick the one in Lakewood at least it's a good church to go to.. if you end up in Co. Springs or Ft. Collins then it might be too long of a drive! In Lakewood you will have more access to places to go and visit. Co. Springs is beautiful but you can always visit there on your weekends or days off! Please let me know if I can help in any other way!

Answer 10

I work in Lakewood, and live in Castle Rock , It's about a 30 min. Drive. Moved to Castle Rock from Jersey in 1991, Love it here. Great town, people , schools and churches.
http://townofcastlerock.org