Help ! Posible move to Denver? Boulder ?
Mar 19th, 2007, 01:52 PM
#21
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We live in northwest Arvada and the schools are very good in this area. Many of the schools that feed into Ralston Valley High School have consistently High CSAP scores. This area is also, close to the foothills/mountains and beautiful views. I work downtown and it is usually around a 30 minute commute. I love this area - we moved from Wash Park about 3 years ago because we had kids and wanted them to have a more kid friendly neighborhood to grow up in. Although I miss the city and the charm of our old neighborhood, it was a great choice for us.
Check out Westwoods and areas near 64th and Highway 93 (just north and slightly east of Golden.
Check out Westwoods and areas near 64th and Highway 93 (just north and slightly east of Golden.
Mar 19th, 2007, 01:55 PM
#22
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wtm003 is right, mjks. Don't confuse the Cherry Creek neighborhood with the Cherry Creek School District.
They are miles apart- in distance as well as residential ambience. The Cherry Creek School District that is important to you is in the South East suburbs, not in Denver proper. The Neighborhood consists of older homes of a more metropolitan architecture. The District consists of more contemporary, and on average, larger "suburban" homes.
You have chosen well if you've decided to focus on Cherry Creek Schools. I would not dispute their standards and achievements, both academically and athletically.
We often compete with them in baseball (son) and cheerleading (daughter). I'm always inmpressed.
As for the foothills scenery that you'd like, it's just a short drive and very visible from Centennial (where I work, by the way) and Greenwood Village. And although nearby, the weather in Centennial is generally calmer than the foothills.
Keep us updated on your research.
They are miles apart- in distance as well as residential ambience. The Cherry Creek School District that is important to you is in the South East suburbs, not in Denver proper. The Neighborhood consists of older homes of a more metropolitan architecture. The District consists of more contemporary, and on average, larger "suburban" homes.
You have chosen well if you've decided to focus on Cherry Creek Schools. I would not dispute their standards and achievements, both academically and athletically.
We often compete with them in baseball (son) and cheerleading (daughter). I'm always inmpressed.
As for the foothills scenery that you'd like, it's just a short drive and very visible from Centennial (where I work, by the way) and Greenwood Village. And although nearby, the weather in Centennial is generally calmer than the foothills.
Keep us updated on your research.
Mar 19th, 2007, 04:43 PM
#23
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How are the schools funded in CO - property taxes, earned income taxes, etc?
Is the tax structure different for each school district?
On average, what are the real estate taxes on a suburban Denver house in the 500K range?
Is the tax structure different for each school district?
On average, what are the real estate taxes on a suburban Denver house in the 500K range?
Mar 19th, 2007, 06:47 PM
#24
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Public schools, K-12, are funded primarily via property tax and a state equalization tax that is supposed to balance rich and poor districts.
Colorado has been a hot bed of tax limitation for the past 15 years or so. As a result the school districts have suffured a declining tax base. However, a recent constitutional amendment passed by the good citizens requires schools to be funded at last year's level plus CPI plus an extra 1 % as catch up. The 1% catch up continues for ten years. Some of our more conservative brothern are very unhappy. Our public universities are no longer directly publicly funded but use a $1200/semester voucher that each local student receives.
Residental roperty taxes have declined rather substantially over the years because of the various tax limitation that have been adopted. I currently about $2,000 on a $400,000 house but that will vary somewhat depending on location. Colorado makes very heavy use of STDs (Special Taxing Districts) I pay taxes to about 15 different, overlaping taxing districts. Very few services are provided by city and county governments. The taxing districts provide the services. It has certain advantages and disadvantages but it works well enough.
The total tax burden in Colorado is below the average for most of the other states.
Colorado has been a hot bed of tax limitation for the past 15 years or so. As a result the school districts have suffured a declining tax base. However, a recent constitutional amendment passed by the good citizens requires schools to be funded at last year's level plus CPI plus an extra 1 % as catch up. The 1% catch up continues for ten years. Some of our more conservative brothern are very unhappy. Our public universities are no longer directly publicly funded but use a $1200/semester voucher that each local student receives.
Residental roperty taxes have declined rather substantially over the years because of the various tax limitation that have been adopted. I currently about $2,000 on a $400,000 house but that will vary somewhat depending on location. Colorado makes very heavy use of STDs (Special Taxing Districts) I pay taxes to about 15 different, overlaping taxing districts. Very few services are provided by city and county governments. The taxing districts provide the services. It has certain advantages and disadvantages but it works well enough.
The total tax burden in Colorado is below the average for most of the other states.
Mar 20th, 2007, 10:34 AM
#25
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I'm in special taxing district in North Jeffco and pay about $3,400 on a 425,000 (county assessment) house. We found our property taxes are double what we'd pay on the same value house in Denver county.
Mar 20th, 2007, 03:36 PM
#27
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Remember to figure the costs for gas and auto maintenence, too, in considering different commutes to work. Contributing to pollution, too, of course is a concern. Light rail has been vastly improved here, so maybe consider being near a train route into downtown.
Please take a close look at Denver schools before you discount them altogether. There are some good ones, and improvements being made in others. Like the 'new' School for the Arts, a public high school built where the Lamont School of Music was. Also a couple of new grade schools/ middle schools in Lowry and Stapleton. (Very good private schools in those neighborhoods, too. Stanley British Primary is one of the best schools anywhere. It's on Lowry now.)
Denver City and County is a very large and diverse area. Many historic neighborhoods in Denver are coming back, with real estate opportunities, if you like that sort of small town-feeling. We like the Denver area we live in, historic Montclair, and the surrounding communities like Mayfair, Crestmoor, Park Hill, Hilltop (very expensive there now), etc. You can find a very eclectic mix of homes, and some decent prices for close-in city homes.
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Please take a close look at Denver schools before you discount them altogether. There are some good ones, and improvements being made in others. Like the 'new' School for the Arts, a public high school built where the Lamont School of Music was. Also a couple of new grade schools/ middle schools in Lowry and Stapleton. (Very good private schools in those neighborhoods, too. Stanley British Primary is one of the best schools anywhere. It's on Lowry now.)
Denver City and County is a very large and diverse area. Many historic neighborhoods in Denver are coming back, with real estate opportunities, if you like that sort of small town-feeling. We like the Denver area we live in, historic Montclair, and the surrounding communities like Mayfair, Crestmoor, Park Hill, Hilltop (very expensive there now), etc. You can find a very eclectic mix of homes, and some decent prices for close-in city homes.
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