If you really like Fort Collins, but you’re looking for more affordable surrounding areas to move to, this article is for you!
The cost of living in a bigger city can be a deal breaker for some families, and it’s the same with Fort Collins. While it has that small-town vibe, living in Fort Collins might be expensive for some people, especially when you compare it to some of its surrounding towns.
So if you like the Northern Colorado area and you’re considering moving here, here are the top three surrounding towns to have in mind.
Wellington
Wellington is one of the most beautiful towns in Northern Colorado. It’s family oriented and peaceful, and what more could you want from a town? The best part about it is that Wellington also has that smaller-town vibe, and it’s a safe place with a low crime rate. Another great thing about it is the fact that it’s located in the Poudre School District and contains two elementary and one brand-new middle/high school. It also offers lots of acreage type property.
On the other hand, Wellington has a small population size. Since there are not many stores to offer, locals need to go to Fort Collins for their shopping needs more often than not. But, the commercial options are rapidly growing.
This town loves their animals. Dogs are just as loved here, if not more than in Fort Collins. You’ll have limited parks to choose from, though. Wellington is a wonderful town with vibrant energy and a good living standard.
Windsor
Windsor is another beautiful place to live in that has that irresistible small-town charm. It’s certainly more affordable than Fort Collins (but less affordable than Loveland or Greeley). Nestled between Loveland, Fort Collins, and Greeley, Windsor is only an hour north of Denver and closer to the airport than FC.
It has a few really popular restaurants and lots of craft breweries. As you can imagine, Windsor is quite family-oriented. An interesting fact about Windsor is its outstanding golf scene, with Pelican Lakes Golf Course & Highland Meadows golf Course and the recently opened Raindance National Resort and Golf as its main attractions.
However, there are some downsides to living in Windsor. Just like Wellington, it doesn’t have a lot of grocery shops (two for a town of 35,000), department stores, or hardware stores, so you’d depend on Fort Collins or Loveland for your shopping needs.
While Windsor is rapidly evolving, there are not many job opportunities within Windsor itself, so locals are obliged to commute to nearby towns for work. Schools seem to be filling up rather quickly. Relief is on the horizon with new schools in the development phases, but until they open, the current schools will feel pressure. Windsor is not a big city, but it’s cozy, affordable, and warm.
Loveland
Finally, if you want to live near Fort Collins but want a more affordable town with great mountain views and lower property taxes by way of less mills, Loveland might be the perfect place for you! It’s closer to DIA and has access to Estes Park and Rocky Mtn National Park. Because of its larger retirement community and small-town charm, living in Loveland is peaceful and cozy.
On the other hand, the school system of Thompson Valley School district is not as strong as Poudre School System in Fort Collins.
Be ready for a slower pace of life as the median age in Loveland is almost 40 years old, compared to 30 years old in Fort Collins. One thing’s for sure, Loveland is an adorable place to live with lots of things to offer.
So there you have it! If you’re looking for a town with a smaller-town charm, but Fort Collins is too expensive for you, you’re going to love Wellington, Windsor, and Loveland.
If you need any help with finding a place to live in Northern Colorado, the Soukup Real Estate team is here for you! We’re professional real estate agents with years of experience in helping people start a new life here. Northern Colorado real estate is our passion, and we’d be happy to help you with everything you need.
