Estes Park, CO


10 Reviews



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Estes Park, CO

About Estes Park, CO

Estes Park, CO is a beautiful mountain town nestled in the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park. The town is surrounded by breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks, lush forests, and crystal clear lakes. Residents enjoy a host of outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, biking and camping in the park’s rich surroundings. The quaint downtown area features unique shops and eateries that offer locally sourced and organic cuisine. Additionally, there are many cultural attractions such as art galleries, live music venues, and theater performances throughout the year. Estes Park truly offers something for everyone—it is an idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life where you can relax and enjoy nature’s beauty all around you. Small-town complex/College town - Northern Colorado along the Front Range, 25 miles south of the Wyoming border.

State: Colorado
County: Larimer County
Metro Area: Fort Collins Metro Area
City: Estes Park
Zip Codes: 80517 80515
Cost of Living:
Time zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Elevation: 5004 ft above sea level

Fort Collins is an agricultural and high-tech center and college town at the northern end of Colorado’s Front Range. Colorado State University, a diversified university with an agricultural base, provides some amenities, a nice campus and ethnic diversity, but overall the town is more conservative than nearby Boulder. The downtown is a model college town with well-kept Victorian-era structures, a lively entertainment scene and plenty to do.

A significant high-tech base led by Hewlett-Packard lies mostly east of town, while attractive residential neighborhoods lie mostly west. All have a view of the main Rocky Mountain ridges west, and with the exception of a few winter blasts, the climate goes well with the attractive outdoor setting.

There have been some job dislocations recently with consolidations at HP and Eastman Kodak, but overall the economy is healthy and high paying jobs are numerous. Housing and living costs, while on the rise, are still attractive. The area is increasingly well-rounded, intellectually stimulating, and close enough to Denver that new migrants don’t feel too disconnected from big-city life and services. Currently the area is absorbing considerable growth and, so far, doing it fairly well.

Fort Collins isn’t the whole story -- Loveland to the south is quieter but prosperous and features an excellent downtown area and surrounding inner neighborhoods. The base is also a typical northern Colorado mix of high tech and agriculture. Housing is somewhat less expensive and residents of Loveland have convenient access to Fort Collins 10 miles north. The Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park (a town, not a park) to the west provide ample recreational opportunities. As a whole, the Fort Collins-Loveland area offers a nice package with no strong negatives.

Fort Collins is at the western edge of the high prairie grassland just against the base of the Front Range of the Rockies. The western horizon is spectacular with steep creek and river valleys descending into the area. The climate is continental with four well-defined, typically dry seasons.

Summer days are warm and evenings are cool thanks to the mountain elevation. Southwest winds can bring periods of hot weather. Occasional thunderstorms produce downpours, but these are more likely to the east. Winters can be quite cold, with temperatures well below zero with strong inflows of Canadian air; wind makes the air seem colder. First freeze is early October, last is late May.

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Estes Park Cost of Living

Attractive downtown, nearby mountains, and educated population make Estes Park a great place to live.

$634,200
+46.7% higher than avg
$56,166
-22.9% lower than avg
8.5 / 4.6
Comfort Index
summer/winter
Estes Park Crime
21.4 / 100
Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low) to 100 (high). US average: 35.4
Minimum annual income
To live comfortably in Estes Park, Colorado
$121,680
for a family
$41,200
for a single person
Pros & Cons of Estes Park
   Attractive downtown
Home prices
   Nearby mountains
Economic cycles
   Educated population
Cold winters
Reviews for Estes Park
    See all (10)

I have lived here for 12 years. My spouse and I have been trying to make enough money to get out of here! If you want to live in a place that's more than 25% higher to  More
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Over 12 years ago
like alot of small towns(4500) thers not alot to do especially in the  More
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There isn't a school in Drake, Colorado. They children are either bused to Estes Park or Loveland, Colorado. Drake is a small area, but the area Post Office 80515  More
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