Tampa or Denver?
Which city would you live in, if you had to pick one? I'm on my mid 30s, married, looking to start a family. Trying to decide between these two places. My PE fund lets me work remote. Thx!
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Ah, the classic city showdown! Let's break it down based on the WSO content:
Denver: - Family-Friendly: Denver is mentioned as a great value for married professionals looking to raise kids. - Economic Growth: It's a rapidly growing city with a booming economy, which could be beneficial for your remote work in PE. - Work/Life Balance: The city is praised for its fantastic work/life balance. - Culture & Lifestyle: Denver is known for its open, entrepreneurial culture and emphasis on a healthy, active lifestyle. - Networking: People in Denver are described as friendly, which might make it easier for you to network and create opportunities.
Tampa: - Cultural Offerings: While not on the scale of NYC, Tampa has good restaurants, museums, and theater, which you have to seek out. - Theater Scene: As a big theater enthusiast, you might find Tampa's offerings surprisingly good, even if it's not Broadway.
Given that you're in your mid-30s, married, and looking to start a family, Denver might be the more appealing option. It's highlighted for its suitability for raising kids and the overall quality of life. Plus, with your background in PE, Denver's economic growth and networking opportunities could be advantageous.
However, if the arts and a more laid-back discovery of cultural gems appeal to you, Tampa could be a great fit. It's all about what priorities you and your family have for lifestyle, culture, and community.
So, what's it going to be? The Mile High City with its mountainous backdrop and booming economy, or the sunny shores of Tampa with its hidden cultural treasures?
Sources: Why would anyone willingly choose to live in NYC / SF / CHI?, What cities will be the top places to live in the next 5-10 years?, Best cities to start your CRE career, Would you move to a 'tier-2' city?, Which cities do you think provide the most opportunities?
I moved from Chicago to Denver a few years ago and haven't regretted my decision. I think it really will come down to what do you and your family like to do in your free time? What are your hobbies/interests?
If you ski then Denver without a doubt. If not I would go Tampa for lower COL and better weather
Lol calling swamp weather "better" is debatable at best.
I don't think you could pick two cities that are any more different. No one can help make a decision like that without knowing you.
Grew up in Tampa but haven't lived there in almost 15 years (UG + moved away for work). Go back semi frequently and feel like it's continually growing. A lot of my friends who moved to NYC or other large cities after school have moved back and enjoy it. There are great schools (for your kids in the future - e.g., IMG, Berkely, Tampa Prep) and as another user mentioned, COL is very reasonable and you'll live like a king if there is not COL adjustment from your firm. Personally, I'd probably take Tampa over Denver because of the work associated with having snow and lack of golf for ~6 months out of the year. Plus, if your firm is cool with remote, you'll always be able to take ski trips out west when you'd like.
TLDR: Go to Tampa, get a nice spot near the water and travel to ski/board when you feel like it.
Thanks! How is crime in the Tampa/St.Petes/Clearwater area?
I heard mosquitos and red tide are an issue?
Crime wasn't a huge issue when I grew up there. Also, should be better relative to a blue-blood city like Denver for what it's worth so that should be a non-starter. Red tide is going to be something that comes and goes but I'd list that as high as the frequency of blizzards for a reason why I'd pick one over the other. I don't think it's even worth considering.
Crime depends on the specific area. There are some areas of TB that are bad, and others that are quite nice, with no issues at all. Location is critical if concerned about crime.
Even with increase in crime everywhere, South Tampa and Tampa Palms, have remained pretty safe, with no issues. Even some of the suburbs like Brandon and Riverview are fine, as long as you stay away from anything adjacent to bad areas.
Mosquitos are essentially a non-issue, unless you are out near swamps at night, etc.
Red Tide not really an issue; it didn't really impact Tampa, and was more down around Sarasota (and isn't consistent).
I have a second home there, on the water, and no issue; but a friend has a home on the water in Sarasota/Longboat Key (e.g. backyard is Gulf beach) and I remember it was noticeable fish smell, and not able to get in water for a bit, but overall wasn't that bad. At my home (Tampa area, an hour north from Sarasota), it wasn't even noticed.
I have a second home, and second office there (in Tampa Bay area), and so I spend time there periodically.
I would recommend it, but it depends heavily on the area. Also, be sure to line up a finance job beforehand, because the pay will be quite a bit lower if they see you are from the FL market; so try to line up everything in NYC, before shifting down. (I say that because I know that we pay less in FL. Also, I know that with some firms, if you are from FL, they low-ball you; but tends to be higher if from NYC, moving down. If that makes sense).
Denver is ok, but it's a totally different feel, and totally different everything... You mentioned a family, and so Tampa would be the option. I go to Colorado to ski or whatever, but to live there full-time, I'm not sure I would. Just my take.
Do you think Tampa/Sarasota is nicer than West Palm Beach?
West palm beach is kinda like the hood outside of the island, which is probably the wealthiest community in America.
west palm is developing very, very fast so that opinion could change. I just remember driving 5 minutes in west palm and suddenly it felt like North Philly.
You are likely thinking of Palm Beach, which is very different from West Palm Beach.
West Palm is... not ideal... but people tend to assume that PB and WPB are the same, and really not.
On that side, the entire South Florida area (Fort Lauderdale/Boca down to Miami) has a variety of different communities, some are nicer than others, and each can be a totally different feel.
I used to go there (e.g. Palm Beach, and Miami) on a fairly regular basis; some areas and people almost remind me of a Jersey feel in some ways, but not exactly, and the overall mindset/attitude can be very different (and somewhat tiring at times).
Like another person said, two completely different cities with very different vibes. I’ve lived in Denver for 5 years and I am currently working on moving to South Florida. Denver IMO was a great city 5 years ago but it has become a shithole. I started to fall out of love with it for the following:
1. Traffic is terrible. It feels like people are all student drivers on the road. People are stuck to their phones, stop at lights with 50+ft in front of them, left lane campers for days, and roughly 25% of the drivers on the road at night drive without their lights on.
2. Cost of living has gone up (I know it has everywhere) but noticeably more so than other cities.
3. Crime. Denver has become a hotspot for criminals and DPD is entirely useless. If you park somewhere that isn’t a secured garage, it’ll get broken into.
4. Stores. Everything in Denver closes early and will randomly close during normal hours due to staffing issues.
5. Drugs. Denver has a serious drug problem and I’m not talking about the regular rave enthusiasts. I’m talking about the people shooting up heroin on the light rail, smoking crack inside Starbucks, and high schoolers buying snow.
6. Homelessness & the migrant crisis. Not getting political but it is a serious issue. The homeless population here is a different breed and will chase, yell, and throw things at you even at 7am outside your office. The migrant issue has also gotten to the point where you can’t walk downtown without getting haggled for money every 50ft (not exaggerating).
Those are just some of my main reasons why I’m personally moving. If you have the money, I would buy a small house in Aspen as the public school system is phenomenal out there and it’s now a lot more lively now than it was pre COVID. If you don’t have the money to move to Aspen but have your heart on moving to Denver, I would recommend Highlands Ranch or more southeast like Parker.
Nonetheless you should take some PTO to explore both cities to find what you feel is the better fit, we can’t pick for you. Best of luck.
Public school in aspen is not phenomenal. I grew up in aspen and public school was mid then, it is far worse now that the town has become much wealthier and teachers are getting priced out. Family friends just moved away from aspen after 15+ years because the schools have gotten so bad. Not to mention any family home within the town itself will be over 5m more like 10-15m for a nice place.
Tampa for the higher temperatures and shorter flight times to Europe and Africa 🫡
Denver blows. Never been to Tampa, but I would say go there over Denver.
I am getting the vibe that Denver isn't THAT close to skiing (still a 1-2 hour drive) and doesn't have the beauty of the mountains like Salt Lake and apparently has a really dirty, shitty, drug addled downtown that none goes to. Is this accurate?
Seeing some Denver suburbs on the east side looks a lot more like Kansas than "The Rocky Mountains".
solid description yeah
What are your hobbies? Where are you from? You could have some culture shock in either city (left wing tendencies of Denver vs right in Florida) depending on what you're used to. If you like the mountains, then stay away from Florida. If you don't need mountains, then there isn't a better option than Florida.
(I live in Tampa Bay feel free to PM me)
I don't live in either, but another thing I take into account:
- Denver - if you're into outdoors, you have plenty of trips you can do via a car ride. If you aren't, then you're stuck in Denver unless you plan ahead and book flights. You can't take any weekend trips spontaneously to get out of town when you randomly have a weekend free up and are bored of the city. Of course, completely opposite if you love the mountain activities
- Tampa - Not that it's crazy different, but you can easily drive to several other parts of Florida to get away. Miami, Orlando, other beach towns, etc.
Tampa is expensive AF for what it is (just like the rest of Florida). This mainly applies to insurance and housing which both wipe the benefit of no state income tax. Has become a lot more facey/stuck up since the pandemic. Public transit is nonexistent and traffic blows.
On the positive side: warm year-round, decent number of things to do, great sports teams, dream of an airport. Certainly miss aspects of living there but can't see myself back until the COL comes in considerably.
Have you considered North Carolina? Imo a nice blend of the two options you're considering.
Housing is not expensive from the research I have done. On insurance, this seems very heavily dependent on where you live - some places cost 5-10k a year for combined hurricane and flood insurance while others cost 5k PER MONTH.
Yes compared to other parts of the country, but for what you’re getting and where prices were not too long ago, I think it’s pretty inflated.
I would choose Denver for the 420 culture and snowboarding.
The 420 culture seems to be bringing in a significant amount of homeless and drugs
Yeah bro, that's pretty much the state of all blue cities in the US right now. But, don't try and blame it on 420.
Wouldn’t it be cold all year then? May as well be in nyc at that point
I would choose NYC over Denver.
Tampa
FL 100%
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