Denver to DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:30% increase isn't enough unless you're already pulling down $120K+ in Denver.

And even then, your standards of living will need some adjustment downward. Quite a bit in fact, because you can't get the kind of home in the DC area you can get in Denver for even 3x the money.

Making 180k base now. What kind of homes are you talking about though?

Well, an equivalent $300,000 home in Denver will cost you more than $900,000 here. And I know what $300k gets you in Denver. Here $300k gets you a townhouse in a sketchy neighborhood in MD or VA, with a one hour+ commute. Or it will get you a one BR condo in a cheaper, older building in the city.

Ignoring the factual inaccuracies of this post, OP, I would like to let you know that most of the suburbs of DC are GREAT and not sketchy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:30% increase isn't enough unless you're already pulling down $120K+ in Denver.

And even then, your standards of living will need some adjustment downward. Quite a bit in fact, because you can't get the kind of home in the DC area you can get in Denver for even 3x the money.

Making 180k base now. What kind of homes are you talking about though?

Well, an equivalent $300,000 home in Denver will cost you more than $900,000 here. And I know what $300k gets you in Denver. Here $300k gets you a townhouse in a sketchy neighborhood in MD or VA, with a one hour+ commute. Or it will get you a one BR condo in a cheaper, older building in the city.

Ignoring the factual inaccuracies of this post, OP, I would like to let you know that most of the suburbs of DC are GREAT and not sketchy.

No they are. It's DC beer goggles preventing you from seeing the truth. Only a few nearby suburbs are nice; most are sketchy.

[Anonymous]

i know DC folks moving to Denver area, not thebother directoon unless just outbof college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:30% increase isn't enough unless you're already pulling down $120K+ in Denver.

And even then, your standards of living will need some adjustment downward. Quite a bit in fact, because you can't get the kind of home in the DC area you can get in Denver for even 3x the money.

Making 180k base now. What kind of homes are you talking about though?

Well, an equivalent $300,000 home in Denver will cost you more than $900,000 here. And I know what $300k gets you in Denver. Here $300k gets you a townhouse in a sketchy neighborhood in MD or VA, with a one hour+ commute. Or it will get you a one BR condo in a cheaper, older building in the city.

Have you been there in this decade? My frirnd just sold his rundown 1000 square foot house in a transitioning part of Englewood with terrible schools for $410k.

OP should be fine. The question is: why would you want to move to DC from Denver?

agree with this.

OP here. Job prospects which comes with more hours of course. Please feel free to talk me out of it!

Haha wellll...at the risk of asking a too vague and open-ended question, what kind of person are you? What / who do you like?

I grew up in DC and lived there after college - my family is all still there and I spend about 4-6 weeks of the year there. I have lived in denver for the past 9 years. I don't hate DC and may even end up back there someday, who knows (to be close to family, to be clear), but I will tell you that there is a definite difference in the type of people and general culture / feel of the two areas. And in the quality of life and work/life balance as well.

I'm not saying you won't find good people you like and get along with, but it may be a lot harder and take longer than you'd think.

[Anonymous]

Don't do it! I'm from Denver and dying to get back. Just waiting until I can retire...

[Anonymous]

My attempt to talk you out of it:

Denver is all about quality of life, and DC is just ... not. It can be a tough/stressful place to live unless everything lines up just right. My low point was flipping off a garbage truck that drove around me while I waited for the light to turn red. I was like, who have I become??? But some people make it work and love being around so much action (money, power, politics, culture). I just prefer a more laid back existence.

I lived in Denver in the early 2000s, and I know it’s changed—higher cost of living, more traffic, etc. Still, when I go back for work I always have such a nice time. I can breathe. People are less tense. I feel like I can freely move around.

[Anonymous]

working for HP?

[Anonymous]

Unless the job, boss, opportunity and compensation is absolutely perfect, no.

The DMV is crazy expensive, busy with traffic, lines everywhere and people come and go in a number of years (and sometimes months). So unless it is perfection and you are an introvert who prefers to spend their time in doors, no.

The culture is not that amazing. Fly in for a long weekend and go to every event possible. The money/power quotient has something to be said for it. You can get your fill during a long weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My attempt to talk you out of it:

Denver is all about quality of life, and DC is just ... not. It can be a tough/stressful place to live unless everything lines up just right. My low point was flipping off a garbage truck that drove around me while I waited for the light to turn red. I was like, who have I become??? But some people make it work and love being around so much action (money, power, politics, culture). I just prefer a more laid back existence.

I lived in Denver in the early 2000s, and I know it’s changed—higher cost of living, more traffic, etc. Still, when I go back for work I always have such a nice time. I can breathe. People are less tense. I feel like I can freely move around.

This this this. It is hard to be in dc and not feel stressed - its palpable. People are just tense...other things too (materialistic, in many cases, for example.), but too tense is the best way to put it. I think the switch from Denver's high quality of life to DC (lack thereof) would be pretty tough. Where are you from originally?

[Anonymous]

Denver to DC? Hell no. This is NOT a great place to live. Yes, you can have a balanced life and enjoy lots of outdoor activities, but you better make a hell of a lot of money to avoid an atrocious commute. Plus, it’s just not a very friendly city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My attempt to talk you out of it:

Denver is all about quality of life, and DC is just ... not. It can be a tough/stressful place to live unless everything lines up just right. My low point was flipping off a garbage truck that drove around me while I waited for the light to turn red. I was like, who have I become??? But some people make it work and love being around so much action (money, power, politics, culture). I just prefer a more laid back existence.

I lived in Denver in the early 2000s, and I know it’s changed—higher cost of living, more traffic, etc. Still, when I go back for work I always have such a nice time. I can breathe. People are less tense. I feel like I can freely move around.

This is true. I agree and am leaving DC for just this reason. However, there are many people (who I know and like) who thrive on this atmosphere. I was one of them for a while, but I'm not anymore. I also know more than a few people who moved back home for their "dream" job and were back in DC within a couple of years. It can get in your blood.

[Anonymous]

Don't do it. I moved from Europe to Denver, loved it so much. Now in DMV for over 6 years, it is not worth it. People are nicer in Denver, better drivers, more relaxed in a good way. Traffic that you complain about in Denver is nothing compared to here. In MoCo almost all receptionists at any Dr's office are nasty. I can't wait till retirement in Denver. Honestly, when DH got this job, if I had known, I would have stayed back with the kids. And CO is right now rated as 51st in overweight rates including DC. I gained weight here, sure just 10lbs, but stress is non stop. Competition is non stop, which school, which APs, which college, how much you earn, I mean everything. Even the things that are small become a competition. If you don't attend every school event for your kid, other parents will comment and to you, like you are some derelict non baking mom, while at the same time criticizing you for not being more successful at your job. I am serious, there are nice people here, but there are so many obsessed with status. If you are like that, status obsessed, this might be the right place for you. If you are like most Coloradans, more relaxed, you will hate it here.
Don't get me wrong, my kids learned to be happy here, and we have many, many great days and things to do here. Unless your 30% is on a salary in million dollar range as it is, it is no worth it. If you hate Denver, only then move.

[Anonymous]

We we the other way within the past two years and have no plans to go back. The quality of life (and year round sunshine- 60’s for next three days!) has changed who I am as a person.

[Anonymous]

A friend did this and seriously regretted it. She’s a very positive person but did not like it here. She lasted about 2 years and is now back in Denver.

[Anonymous]

Don’t do it OP. Even if you buy a 700k house you could still be in a shitty school district. My house is worth 900k and our In bound school is high poverty with less than 20 percent of kids at grade level.