If you are planning on moving from San Diego to Denver, there are many things you should know beforehand. While Denver is a wonderful place to live, it is quite different than San Diego both in terms of environment and lifestyle. Here are some of the most important things you should be aware of:
1. State Income Tax Is Generally Much Lower in Colorado, and It Is Flat
California has a progressive state income tax, with rates ranging from 1% all the way up to 13.3%. Single filers earning over $30,000 a year pay at least 6% in state income tax. But Colorado has a flat state income tax, in which all residents pay 4.63% in taxes regardless of how much money they earn.
2. It Is Colder in Denver and Snow Is Not Uncommon
While San Diego has mostly warm weather year-round, it is far colder in Denver during the winter. The January low in San Diego is only 45 degrees, but in Denver, the low in January is 19 degrees. Denver also receives 62 inches of snow per year on average as opposed to 0 inches in San Diego. Keep the the weather variation in mind if you are planning a winter move. While movers in San Diego may be great for moving locally, chances are, they won’t have any experience with moving in winter conditions like snow, sleet, and ice. It may be best to hire a Denver moving company for your relocation.
Though both cities have similar amounts of yearly rainfall and similar amounts of sunny days, and the temperatures in the summer are not much different.
3. Denver Has a Much Higher Altitude
While San Diego is only 62 feet above sea level, Denver is a whopping 5,280 feet above sea level. If you are not used to living in high altitudes, it can take some adjustment. Experts recommend that to avoid altitude sickness you should do the following when you first arrive:
- Drink lots of water.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
- Eat foods rich potassium, such as bananas.
- Limit physical activity a bit.
Also, you should dress in layers, as the altitude can cause temperatures to vary greatly during the course of the day. You should further wear plenty of sunscreens, as the altitude in Denver causes the sun to be very strong there.
4. There Are Lot More Single Men in the City than Single Women
Denver has been nicknamed “Menver,” and for a good reason: there are a lot of single men there. Men that have never been married outnumber women who have never been married in the city by nearly 20,000. Interestingly, though, there are still more women in the city than men.
5. There Is a Lot of Great Skiing Nearby
Those living in San Diego have to travel a great distance to go skiing, but Denver is near some of the best skiing in the world. The following great resorts are located within 60 miles of the city:
- Winter Park Resort
- Loveland Ski Area
- Arapahoe Basin
- Eldora Mountain Resort
There are other great winter activities as well, such as snowboarding, snowshoeing and mountain hiking. But keep in mind that all this winter activity can cause a lot of traffic, too.