Possible relocation to Colorado Springs? (1 Viewer)

[devildogcruiser25]

Good morning everyone.

I am giving some heavy consideration to relocating myself and the fam to the springs. I am looking for some honest feedback about the move, cost of living, places to live etc.

Back ground- my wife and I are from SLC. For the last 8ish years we have lived in San Diego, and are now in San Antonio. I miss the mountains every day. I also miss being cold. I kid you not, I pray for cold weather here. Last year on Christmas day it was 85 degrees. After this summer, my wife is also finally tired of the heat and we are thinking about moving.

Why CO springs? I work for USAA, and we an office up there. I am in a position where I can move up to that office in about a years time (mid way through MBA program), its close(r) to SLC but not tooo close to family.

Reservations? I have heard cost of living is high, I have also heard crime rates are high. I support 2A and want to retain my CHL, not sure of the process in CO.

A friend suggested I look at Monument- close to USAA and a nice part of town.

Any advice anyone can give would be more than welcome!

 

[PWCO70crusier]

I'm down in Pueblo, which had a bad rap in the past, but I love it down here. Its about 45 minutes south of Colorado Springs, but the cost of living is MUCH less than up north. Not as much snow down here, but you don't have to go far to find it. We have pretty much everything you would need down here, and if we don't, Springs isn't far up the road. We have a couple of club members that travel up for meetings and trail runs. There is crime down here, especially east of I-25. But that happens in every city and town it seems any more. Pueblo West, where I live, is more country living. Good land, nice homes and a Walmart! Others will have to speak up about Springs and their thoughts.

 

[devildogcruiser25]

I'm down in Pueblo, which had a bad rap in the past, but I love it down here. Its about 45 minutes south of Colorado Springs, but the cost of living is MUCH less than up north. Not as much snow down here, but you don't have to go far to find it. We have pretty much everything you would need down here, and if we don't, Springs isn't far up the road. We have a couple of club members that travel up for meetings and trail runs. There is crime down here, especially east of I-25. But that happens in every city and town it seems any more. Pueblo West, where I live, is more country living. Good land, nice homes and a Walmart! Others will have to speak up about Springs and their thoughts.

thanks for the feedback! That is probably a bit farther than I would want to commute seeing as USAA campus is on the north side of the springs.

 

[PWCO70crusier]

No problem...lots of people don't think of us down here so thought I'd throw it out there. Yeah, north Springs is a bit of a drive from here to do on a daily basis...

 

[CO_Hunter]

This where you work?

I saw your post the other day, didn't realize my hotel was right next to your building, I am guessing.

Springs is like any other city its size, has its problems. Most crime is generally SE part of town but stuff can happen anywhere. In Monumnet you will be colder and more snow in the winter than in town. I know a few people that live up there and really like it. Generally a farther drive to get to trails.

I am in SA until Friday pm for a water conference. Will be meeting with clients as well but if you want to try and find a few minutes to chat shoot me a pm and maybe we can set something up.

 

[Olorin]

You might get some good info by checking out some of the cost of living calculators and comparing that to where you are now. One of the best is Cost Of Living Comparison. You can also try Cost of living: How far will my salary go in another city? - CNNMoney to see how your salary will need to compare.

Good luck. I'm loving Colorado Springs, it certainly has enough beauty to make a little higher expense worth it. Much cheaper still than Denver, but close enough to Denver to get to when you want without having to deal with the traffic.

 

[Pops]

Colorado Springs has good schools, less crime than big cities, much lower cost of housing than Denver, reasonable property taxes, I can get anywhere in town in 30 minutes or less, very good healthcare, Conceled Carry permits easy to obtain but you ned to take a class and pass background checks. The Springs has a very active hunting and recreational firearms community with plenty of indoor and outdoor gun clubs. Mountains for wheeling, fishing, camping and hunting in your backyard. 4 seasons weather. An active TLCA group with monthly planned events. I moved here in 1989 raised a family and have not regretted it for a moment.

 

[SAS]

I live in north Springs, about 2 miles from the USAA campus. My neighbor works for USAA, and I've been a USAA customer for many years. The area is as described by Pops, Olorin, and CO_Hunter. We live close to Rampart High School. My oldest child graduated there last year, my other two children are currently Junior and Freshman at RHS. We love it here (resident since 2014).

Send me a PM if you have any specific questions or need me to do some reconnaissance for you.

 

[FJ60Cam]

Timely thread! We were just out there last week for a second look at Colorado Springs (were also there this summer). I’m trying to convince my family to move there. I think we’re in if we can sell our house and find employment. (If anyone has any connections to a pharmacy position, please give me a shout!)

Traffic seemed minimal, crime is 1/5 of our current city, prices in the nicer areas are only a little higher, people seemed very friendly, and there were no mosquitoes.

To top it off, views like this are either in the city or 10 minutes away. I’m sold.

 

[devildogcruiser25]

Timely thread! We were just out there last week for a second look at Colorado Springs (were also there this summer). I’m trying to convince my family to move there. I think we’re in if we can sell our house and find employment. (If anyone has any connections to a pharmacy position, please give me a shout!)

Traffic seemed minimal, crime is 1/5 of our current city, prices in the nicer areas are only a little higher, people seemed very friendly, and there were no mosquitoes.

To top it off, views like this are either in the city or 10 minutes away. I’m sold.

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Gah!!!! You are making me want to move NOW! The absolute soonest we can move would be January 2019, but I think it will be safer to move May of 2019. Starting the countdown.

 

[devildogcruiser25]

I live in north Springs, about 2 miles from the USAA campus. My neighbor works for USAA, and I've been a USAA customer for many years. The area is as described by Pops, Olorin, and CO_Hunter. We live close to Rampart High School. My oldest child graduated there last year, my other two children are currently Junior and Freshman at RHS. We love it here (resident since 2014).

Send me a PM if you have any specific questions or need me to do some reconnaissance for you.

Awesome thank you very much! And thank you for your membership!

 

[devildogcruiser25]

So I am going to keep this thread alive.

This seems to slowly be turning into a reality. I have talked to my wife quite a bit about the move and it seems like she is game. Then last week she told me she had started telling her friends etc.

We will be coming up in the summer (June or July?) to spend a week or so. I will work out of the office and she will take the kids around and do kid things. If anyone has a lead on where to stay for a week (friends air b&B) for a family of 4 let me know. I would also love to meet as many cruiser heads as possible.

Also, do you guys salt the roads there?

Jon

 

[1phrogguy]

Winter Maintenance FAQs — info on road chemical application in CO

Keep it clean. I use White Lightning spray Lithium grease all over the undercarriage, reapply as required, about once a year.

 

[1phrogguy]

@devildogcruiser25 Jon, you may want to consider staying in Woodland Park or somewhere up Ute Pass. It is incredibly nice in the Mtns and if you are willing to accept a 35 minute commute to work you'd be able to ditch the city.

 

[devildogcruiser25]

@devildogcruiser25 Jon, you may want to consider staying in Woodland Park or somewhere up Ute Pass. It is incredibly nice in the Mtns and if you are willing to accept a 35 minute commute to work you'd be able to ditch the city.

35 minutes is about what my commute is now without traffic. 45-60 with traffic. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[devildogcruiser25]

Trip up to CO Springs is happening in Mid September.

Could use help with suggestions on a place to stay. Wife, two kids (3&4) and a small Lab somewhere close to USAA campus would be great.

Also looking for a local MTB guy/gal to show me the trails

Thanks!

 

[NateMob]

Trip up to CO Springs is happening in Mid September.

Also looking for a local MTB guy/gal to show me the trails

Thanks!

I can help with MTBing! Let me know what kind of riding you like to do.

 

[devildogcruiser25]

I can help with MTBing! Let me know what kind of riding you like to do.

@NateMob we will arrive in CO on Sep 16. I will work M-W, and might be able to bike Thursday? I am bringing several bikes, I started and run a non profit that introduces veterans to mountain biking and I might have a couple folks interested in coming out. If that doesn't work, maybe I can get some suggestions from you on good trails etc.

 

[1phrogguy]

There's a decent single track around the Catamount reservoirs. Google map search "Catamount Recreation Area" and you'll see the parking area and some info.