Important And Helpful Information About Estes Park!
Nestled in the mountains of the Front Range in Colorado, just an hour and a half drive Northwest of Denver International Airport lies the town of Estes Park - Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. With its beautiful mountain peaks, wildlife abound (sometimes crossing the roads) and activities for the whole family, it's no wonder Rocky is one of the most popular National Parks in America.
Whether you are planning on retiring in Estes Park or purchasing a second home, the notion of buying property usually triggers questions about the local area. In an effort to answer some of the inquiries, we at Front Range Jim listed a few fun facts to give you a better idea of what you might expect to see and find.
Expenses: Estes Park has a relatively reasonable cost of living when you consider all of the pieces to the puzzle. The average cost of living index score for the United States is 100, and In Estes Park the Cost of Living Index score was 101 in 2019. To give a better idea of how this compares, San Diego, California scored 140 in 2019 - and Chicago, Illinois had a cost of living of 106.5 in 2019.
Rentals: Estes Park rentals are quite a hot item with the area being so popular. As a result, apartments and condos that are for rent go very quickly. Often times it takes dedication and tenacity to find any that are available. One option some consider is to buy a home.
Commute Estes Park is up in the mountains but many folks appreciate it as well for its location. It is a beautiful drive on Hwy 34 or Hwy 36 down to Fort Collins, Boulder, Loveland and Longmont that are all about 45 minutes to an hour. Denver is about 20 to 30 minutes longer depending on exactly where you are going.
Property taxes are also a large part of annual expenses for many. Median property taxes in 2019 were approximately $2,200 - $2,300 in Estes Park, quite reasonable when compared to California or the New York/New Jersey area.
Speaking of large expenses, the estimated median house or condo value in 2019 was $477,000 for detached homes and $294,623 for Condos (in 2000 the combined average was $229,400)
The most commonly used house heating fuel is natural gas (80%), followed by electric at 16%
The Estes Park population in 2017 was 6,426, with the median age being 62 years.
Nearest city with population 50,000+ : Loveland 23 miles (51,000 pop.)
Elevation 7,522 feet
The Crime rate Index in the United States averages 284.7, yet on average from 2018 the crime rate index for Estes Park was 75 - quite low by national standards.
Weather - The Front Range has some of the sunniest weather in the nation and Estes Park is no exception. With an average of 89 days of precipitation per year, that leaves 276 days of beautiful Colorado sunshine. The average annual high is 57 degrees Fahrenheit and average annual low is 30 degrees Fahrenheit. I also happen to love the clean mountain air..
Estes Park Medical Center has served The Area since 1975, With a 24-hour emergency department, 24-hour Advanced Life Support Ambulance Service, medical/surgical services, obstetrics, and home health and hospice services.
Shopping and Restaurants With Estes Park being a tourist town there are quite a few stores for buying family and friends that special birthday or anniversary gift. On the topic of food, there are also many restaurants in town to grab a bite or enjoy fine dining. We also have a major supermarket for grocery shopping as well as smaller convenience stores that carry the necessities.
Library I definitely enjoy relaxing by the fireplace with a good book, so I appreciate the wonderful library we have here in Estes Park. It is actually quite impressive and has an upper level with many computers you can use for free and a pay-to-use printer.
Of course, you may have more questions about our fantastic mountain community. Maybe you have questions about making your new home more energy efficient! Are you looking at houses for sale in Estes Park? Maybe you want to get outdoors and meet people? Rocky Mountain National Park also has an amazing volunteer program that retired folks often enjoy. Feel free to drop us a message or call and we will do our best to get you the answers you need...
Jim Idler - Serving the Estes Valley including Drake, Glen Haven, Allenspark and Lyons.
Call or text: (970) 480-1121
Or you can Contact us at the top of this page.
