Denver. The Mile High City, and we don’t just mean the marijuana.
Yes, ha ha, we’ve heard the joke before, too. Most amusing.
In reality, Denver gets called the Mile High City because the city sits at an elevation of 5,280 above sea level. 5,280 feet equals one mile. That’s your math lesson for the day.
About that marijuana thing: yes, it’s legal, but rules do apply and we’ll get to that later. The important thing to keep in mind, though, is that Denver offers so much more than legalized cannabis. It’s a farm-fresh, sports-team-loving, sunny-day-having, wait-we’re-not-actually-in-the-mountains city, and relocating there offers new residents a huge amount of opportunity.
Living in Denver
Moving to Denver requires some time to adjust. While that could be said about any move to a new region, relocating to Denver will likely require a new resident time to catch their breath. Literally.
Being a mile above sea level means adjusting to the thinner air. Being higher in the atmosphere means lower levels of oxygen. That’s one reason the U.S. Olympic Training Center was set up in Colorado Springs; if athletes can endure and thrive in a lower-level oxygen environment, they can excel in their chosen sport.
Anyway, being at t higher elevation means several things. For one thing, climbing the stairs or going for a jog will be more challenging when you first arrive, so don’t be scared if you can’t charge up the stairs or knock out a 5k in under 25 minutes when you get here. For another thing, the lower oxygen levels mean consuming alcohol will have a noticeably stronger effect on your body.
Oh, and water takes longer to boil here too, so that minute rice may take a bit longer.
Also, keep in mind that being higher from sea level puts you at greater risk for sun exposure and skin cancer. It’s tempting to think that, given the surrounding mountains and colder temperatures, exposure and heat exhaustion will no longer present a challenge, but anyone that’s ever been skiing or mountain climbing knows the higher elevation can present health challenges if you’re not careful. Keep sunscreen, water, and chapstick handy.
As with most major U.S. cities, the neighborhood vibes vary. If you want eclectic and lively (though not necessarily hipster), Cap Hill might be the place for you. Uptown has the young people and drinking establishments (better chance to find hipsters there), and Country Club goes for upscale living.
Upscale might be something you’ll have to deal with in Denver, too.
Working in Denver
The Census ACS 1-year survey reported that the median household income for the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield Colorado metro area was $76,643 in 2017. Denver median household income sits at $7,526 higher than the median Colorado household income and $16,307 greater than the US median household income.
In other words, living in Denver isn’t cheap. And by the looks of the reports, the cost of living isn’t going to come down anytime soon. True, the cost of living in Denver doesn’t hit the expensive marks set by San Francisco, Boston, and New York, but it’s still more expensive compared to San Antonio or Tampa. Colorado also sports a flat income tax, although sale taxes tend to wade high while property taxes go low.
Denver Weather
As mentioned before, the sun will be a constant in Denver life. True, the sun tends to be a constant in every city, but it’s more of a thing when you’re physically closer to it.
We’re talking “closer to the sun” like “expect 300-plus days of sunshine,” not “step outside and your ice cream will melt.” Big difference.
It’s been said that San Diego, California, experiences the nicest weather patterns in the U.S. That’s debatable, but Denver weather could give San Diego a run for its money. In addition to the constant sunshine (which might be especially awesome if you’re relocating from the Pacific Northwest), the transition months will be gorgeous and the summers tend to be hot but lacking in humidity, which can make all the difference in terms of comfort.
Few things in life say “discomfort” like stepping outside on a humid day and immediately feeling like you’ve just jumped into a swamp. That won’t be a problem in a Denver summer.
So what’s the catch? Extremely unpredictable weather. Snowfall will be a reality, sometime a 50-inch reality, although the snow tends to occur in large storms and dissipate shortly thereafter. So if you’re moving away from constantly-snowing places, the Denver snow dumps might be a refreshing change of pace. It’s also not uncommon for snow to fall one day, rain the next, and then the sun showing up the day after. What’ll happen next? Only Mother Nature knows for sure, and it’s not uncommon for her to crank up the thermostat 40 degrees in a space of a few hours.
All that being said, the weather in Denver will generally and correctly be classified as “nice.” Unless you define nice weather as “hurricane conditions,” in which case you’ll be sorely disappointed and probably should seek counseling.
And speaking of the weather…
THINGS TO DO when Moving to Denver
What’s the quickest way to get to the bottom of a mountain? Skiing. What’s the longest way to reach the top of a mountain? Waiting in line for the ski lift after braving traffic to get to the ski resort.
The skiing in Denver ranks high in terms of resorts and skiing locations, although the popularity of skiing means your average ski resort can experience as much car and foot traffic as a three-day weekend at Disney, so plan accordingly.
Don’t feel like skiing? Head for downtown Denver and its three major sports stadiums, the nation’s second-largest performing arts center, three colleges, an assortment of art and history museums, a river offering whitewater rafting, a theme and water park, and an aquarium, to say nothing of the restaurants, bars, and general sites on display.
Moving to Denver, the Culture
Bring a bike for the Cherry Creek Bike Path or other bike trails and dress casually but keep the formal wear for special occasions. Keep a water bottle handy, but don’t neglect the various craft beer offerings. And if you need the marijuana, follow the protocols before trying to purchase it.
And stop with the “Mile High” jokes already. They’re practically dad jokes at this point.
Move to Denver with Colonial
Denver sounds awesome, doesn’t it? So what’s stopping you from making the Mile High City your new residency? Not sure where to start? Don’t panic; Colonial Van Lines is here to help.
We get that moving down the street can be stressful, and moving to a new state can be downright horrifying. But Colonial Van Lines has the experience and the expertise to make sure your moving experience will be straight forward and stress free.
Call a Colonial Van Lines professional and find out how to start your journey to Denver.
Long Distance Moving to Denver
February 29, 2020