Denver to DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

*1! I am literally a different person, to a noticeable degree. Take that times two and you have a markedly improved marriage - I'm not joking, our whole family has benefitted. I would definitely sorry worry what making the opposite move would do for your happiness and well-being

[Anonymous]

We lived in Denver about a decade ago, and still talk about how great it was and how we'd move back in a second if we could swing jobs. The pros PPs have noted are real. We didn't really have a choice about moving back here (military) at the time, and our job prospects are better here, unfortunately. But for a voluntary move, it would take a significant salary raise, plus a close-in home location, to make it even begin to be worthwhile to move here.

[Anonymous]

OP tell us more details--what city would the job be in, do you have kids?

[Anonymous]

Do you mind a commute? Are schools important?

If you want a short commute with good schools, you're looking at spending $1.2M on a house, minimum. If you don't mind commuting and/or schools aren't important, you should be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Denver about a decade ago, and still talk about how great it was and how we'd move back in a second if we could swing jobs. The pros PPs have noted are real. We didn't really have a choice about moving back here (military) at the time, and our job prospects are better here, unfortunately. But for a voluntary move, it would take a significant salary raise, plus a close-in home location, to make it even begin to be worthwhile to move here.

I really liked Denver but it is very remote, very homogeneous, far from oceans, and you will be driving everywhere. DC is very different but on OP salary I would not move.

[Anonymous]

OP, you have family locally. How important are they to you? Moving away from them may mean only seeing them once or twice a year. Can you put up with that?

I would much rather live in Denver than DC. Sunny days, dry weather, the mountains, what's there not to like? It's not for everyone of course. But the one hesitation would be distance from my family.

[Anonymous]

People are exaggerating a little. My house is worth $750 in a great school district and I cycle to work along the capital crescent trail every day. Beautiful. It is on a busy road though.
People are often very status-focused, but you can find like minded people if you try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Possible relocation from Denver to DC. With 30% salary increase. Is that sufficient raise and what to expect in terms of lifestyle changes?
Thanks!

hell no! we did it and regret it. If we could turn back time, we would have stayed in beautiful Denver where the weather is outstanding, the landscape is breathtaking and people are kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.redfin.com/CO/Denver/1440-S-Gaylord-St-80210/home/34145785?utm_source=myredfin&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ios_share&utm_nooverride=1&utm_content=link


Already pending.

This would be 1.1 or 1.2 in AU Park or Chevy Chase DC.
So it's still about a $300-400K savings.

[Anonymous]

OP here.
The job will be in DC proper. No kids so schools not important.
We are not from Denver originally, so to be honest it's not our favorite place. There are lots of good things here but a few very negative ones:
1) dryness( I know lots of people love it). I have breathing issues here as I grew up on the coast. My skin itches.
2) no diversity. For such a big city there is 0 diversity. It's very white.
3) land locked- see 1) we are very far from coasts and from any normal lake.
4) Less jobs in our industry. Husband is a lawyer and I am in the legal industry as well.

[Anonymous]

I moved from the Denver area to DC 22 years ago. I don't regret it but I miss Denver sometimes -- mostly because of the friends and family I still have there.

The different in cost of living and housing between Denver and DC isn't that big. I've liked discovering the area. I spent my first year or two in DC visiting all the museums and historic places in the area. After that, we've done a fair amount of travel along the east coast, which I've enjoyed. The flowering trees in the spring and the leaves turning in the fall, can be spectacular here. But I miss Denver the most in winter and have yet to get used to he humidity in the summer. I'm happy with the schools for my kids (Montgomery county) but hate my commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
The job will be in DC proper. No kids so schools not important.
We are not from Denver originally, so to be honest it's not our favorite place. There are lots of good things here but a few very negative ones:
1) dryness( I know lots of people love it). I have breathing issues here as I grew up on the coast. My skin itches.
2) no diversity. For such a big city there is 0 diversity. It's very white.
3) land locked- see 1) we are very far from coasts and from any normal lake.
4) Less jobs in our industry. Husband is a lawyer and I am in the legal industry as well.

Well it sounds like you've made your decision then.

I would never do it because I love Denver, even though I am from DC. We lived there for 5 years and came back here for DH's job - 9 years ago. I still regret the decision but it was the right one at that time. We actually plan to purchase a second home in Colorado (not Denver) and hopefully retire there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
The job will be in DC proper. No kids so schools not important.
We are not from Denver originally, so to be honest it's not our favorite place. There are lots of good things here but a few very negative ones:
1) dryness( I know lots of people love it). I have breathing issues here as I grew up on the coast. My skin itches.
2) no diversity. For such a big city there is 0 diversity. It's very white.
3) land locked- see 1) we are very far from coasts and from any normal lake.
4) Less jobs in our industry. Husband is a lawyer and I am in the legal industry as well.

Well it sounds like you've made your decision then.

I would never do it because I love Denver, even though I am from DC. We lived there for 5 years and came back here for DH's job - 9 years ago. I still regret the decision but it was the right one at that time. We actually plan to purchase a second home in Colorado (not Denver) and hopefully retire there.

No I didn't actually. We are still thinking and I really don't know what to do. It's not the best offer in terms of pay or stability, but current work is not stable either and seems like in 2-3 we will need to move anyways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
The job will be in DC proper. No kids so schools not important.
We are not from Denver originally, so to be honest it's not our favorite place. There are lots of good things here but a few very negative ones:
1) dryness( I know lots of people love it). I have breathing issues here as I grew up on the coast. My skin itches.
2) no diversity. For such a big city there is 0 diversity. It's very white.
3) land locked- see 1) we are very far from coasts and from any normal lake.
4) Less jobs in our industry. Husband is a lawyer and I am in the legal industry as well.

Given all of this, you will love it here.

The only thing missing is good skiing, but other than that, there is good biking, water paddling, hiking and coasts.

Diversity, yes, and well, more lawyers and law jobs than you can imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I moved from the Denver area to DC 22 years ago. I don't regret it but I miss Denver sometimes -- mostly because of the friends and family I still have there.

The different in cost of living and housing between Denver and DC isn't that big. I've liked discovering the area. I spent my first year or two in DC visiting all the museums and historic places in the area. After that, we've done a fair amount of travel along the east coast, which I've enjoyed. The flowering trees in the spring and the leaves turning in the fall, can be spectacular here. But I miss Denver the most in winter and have yet to get used to he humidity in the summer. I'm happy with the schools for my kids (Montgomery county) but hate my commute.

very good analysis

Humidity is a pain its much greener and less brown here vs Denver overall, we don't get much snow (most years) or drop below 32 very much in winter (this year is a fluke)
Airport access is better in DC vs Denver
traffic cost and school/commute tradeoffs are worse in DC but Denver is trying hard to catch-up
skiing and outdoors are better in Denver
Denver is more laid back, DC is full of student government types from high school and too many overly Type A types who value their job above everything else it's true that most people will ask what do you do in the first minute of meeting