Looking for experiences with moving from/to these locations...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Golden CO is nice, I have friends who moved there from DC and they are active in the community and are walking distance to the downtown area. It has a small town feel. He commutes to Downtown Denver and she teleworks from home. Golden is nice because it's close to the mountains, most of Denver is easily an hour away. Of course, that also means you're at higher risk for wildfires.

There's also the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind in Colorado Springs. You could probably rent a really affordable home within walking distance People tend to write Colorado Springs off because of all of the military/conservative/religious institutions here, but it's really a great place. It is conservative, but as the local paper said during the 2008 Dem convention in Denver, there is a "chewy liberal center." The west side of town and the town of Manitou Springs are definitely not conservative. There also the Colorado College community. We like it because it's just a more livable size of city, and you're closer to the mountains than you are if you live in most of the Denver area. Great school and plenty of kids' activities. There are actually quite a few people we've met who lived in the DC area previously, many because of military connections, but also lots of doctors, etc. who just wanted the lifestyle change.

OP here. Golden does look nice, and I have a friend who used to live in Denver who says that as well. I don't know why I thought CSDB was in Denver - it is in Colorado Springs. So we're considering Colorado Springs or Manituo Springs as well, depending which school I end up working at (if either). Any more thoughts on Manitou? What is the cost of living like there?

And I wanted to clarify to everyone that I am not necessarily looking for a DC area clone, and do not care about it being an upscale ritzy area that is as nice as [insert DC suburb]. I'm open to all types of places, as long as crime isn't too bad and the cost of living isn't too high. Having some outdoor space (either a backyard, parks, or both) is huge plus. I grew up in the middle of nowhere CT, spent a few years in DC, a few years in different spots in Montgomery County, and now live in Frederick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live on the South Shore of Boston, 3 miles from the beach. I think of framingham as not being as nice as Arlington. I would not live there

OP here. Why not?

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth: Many A-list Boston celebrities live / have lived in the area between Boston and Framingham.

(That type of info seems to matter to many DCUMers.)

[Anonymous]

OP, I think downtown Framingham is what PP is referring to. You want North Framingham, which is at least as nice as Arlington VA.

BTW, Arlington MA is MUCH nicer than Arlington VA, FWIW.

Frankly, there is *NO* comparison between MA and VA. Anyone who has legally resided (owned property, paid taxes, voted, etc.) in both can tell you that.

But, if you are going to MA thinking it is cheaper than here, it is generally not. I have friends with properties in both areas (here and MA). They are likely the 1% we speak of - the rest of the world does not (and should not) live like the friends I mention. I would hope people are smart enough to know this without me spelling it out for them.

[Anonymous]

OP what did you decide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think downtown Framingham is what PP is referring to. You want North Framingham, which is at least as nice as Arlington VA.

BTW, Arlington MA is MUCH nicer than Arlington VA, FWIW.

Frankly, there is *NO* comparison between MA and VA. Anyone who has legally resided (owned property, paid taxes, voted, etc.) in both can tell you that.

But, if you are going to MA thinking it is cheaper than here, it is generally not. I have friends with properties in both areas (here and MA). They are likely the 1% we speak of - the rest of the world does not (and should not) live like the friends I mention. I would hope people are smart enough to know this without me spelling it out for them.

Yep - Arlington, MA is charming, whereas Arlington, VA is just congested and bleah.

Housing is less expensive in Arlington, MA - but schools are comparable, as is the commute/accessibility to the city (Cambridge/Boston in this case).

[Anonymous]

What about Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick or Columbia or Flower Valley Elementary School in Rockville (which I think houses many deaf and hard of hearing students in Montgomery Co, MD).

Or for that matter Galludet in DC.

[Anonymous]

13:46 - is your information from Google?

If so, that is not what OP is asking.

if not, why don't you contribute useful information?