From a mountaineering/access to peaks perspective, what is the best place to live in Colorado?

[Jbrow327]

I noticed that homes in western Colorado or anywhere near a ski area are extremely expensive. Does everyone literally come out from the front range whenever they want to get to the western portions of Colorado? How can someone afford to live in these towns? What career field do you have to be in?

[Monte Meals]

^ "What career field do you have to be in?"

philanthropists

[nyker]

Prices out in CO as in many other once quieter western areas have been rising steadily for years, the covid-induced flight from cities only exacerbated and accelerated those price movements.
Good question though, a quick glance at recent listings, or more accurately sales and time on market for listings from mid-late 2020 tells the story of increasing unaffordability for many/most.
Me speculating, but I'd assume for many those now high 6 figure and 7 figure "cabins" are second (or third?) homes. Maybe when the city slickers become bored of mountains, they'll sell and prices will come down, but don't hold your breath.

[CoHi591]

I'm moving into a van.

Seriously, hate to be a millennial cliche but I got a remote job for the sole purpose of being able to live closer to the mountains. I am not "high income" so I accepted a while ago that if I want to live close to the mountains I want to climb, I'd have to bring my home with me.
Now I won't have to decide between Salida, Ridgway, Lake City, Durango, Leadville, Minturn...Pinedale, St George, Bishop... Zero of these places have an abundance of studio apartments for a person on a $1K/month rent budget. I am fortunate in that this hobby is all I care about and therefore don't need to worry about accomodating a partner or pets or a specific career.

The way I've been doing it for the last 6 years though...invest in a good car, a lot of coffee and some good audiobooks and buckle up for a lot of driving.

[Jbrow327]

I'm moving into a van.

Seriously, hate to be a millennial cliche but I got a remote job for the sole purpose of being able to live closer to the mountains. I am not "high income" so I accepted a while ago that if I want to live close to the mountains I want to climb, I'd have to bring my home with me.
Now I won't have to decide between Salida, Ridgway, Lake City, Durango, Leadville, Minturn...Pinedale, St George, Bishop... Zero of these places have an abundance of studio apartments for a person on a $1K/month rent budget. I am fortunate in that this hobby is all I care about and therefore don't need to worry about accomodating a partner or pets or a specific career.

The way I've been doing it for the last 6 years though...invest in a good car, a lot of coffee and some good audiobooks and buckle up for a lot of driving.

Sounds interesting.

[Scott P]

Does everyone literally come out from the front range whenever they want to get to the western portions of Colorado?

Except for the ski resorts and a few other tourist towns, Western Colorado is generally cheaper (sometimes much cheaper) than the Front Range cities.

[Jbrow327]

Does everyone literally come out from the front range whenever they want to get to the western portions of Colorado?

Except for the ski resorts and a few other tourist towns, Western Colorado is generally cheaper (sometimes much cheaper) than the Front Range cities.

Don't the jobs pay a lot less though?

[Scott P]

Don't the jobs pay a lot less though?

Maybe some, but not mine. Like many people on the West Slope, I work for Denver based company.

[specmiata37]

I looked into this for several years. If you don't need city living (front range crowding) I picked the middle of the state in Chaffee county.
Reasonable prices but getting more expensive. Good hospital in Salida, BV pretty cool scene. Plenty of good 13ers. Leadville. And not too far from San Juan or Sangre de Cristo ranges.
Good boondoggle camping in the Nat. forests.

Wound up with property in Nathrop, will build in a couple of years and leave the front range.

[Jbrow327]

Don't the jobs pay a lot less though?

Maybe some, but not mine. Like many people on the West Slope, I work for Denver based company.

What do you do? If you don't mind me asking.

[Scott P]

Don't the jobs pay a lot less though?

Maybe some, but not mine. Like many people on the West Slope, I work for Denver based company.

What do you do? If you don't mind me asking.

Engineering/construction management

[Jbrow327]

Maybe some, but not mine. Like many people on the West Slope, I work for Denver based company.

What do you do? If you don't mind me asking.

Engineering/construction management

I didn't know you can do that remotely. What type of engineer are you?