Longmont

With its relaxed mountain-town atmosphere and access to hundreds of acres of public outdoor space, Longmont Estates offers Rocky Mountain living while being just 10 minutes from central Longmont. “Longmont has a more relaxed, laid-back atmosphere compared to Boulder,” says Kelly McCallister, a local Realtor with 8z Real Estate. “You don’t have to deal with the city’s active, urban atmosphere, but commuters are still less than a half hour from downtown Boulder. There are also breathtaking sunset views over the mountains from most homes in the area.” Homes in Longmont Estates sell for between $400,000 and $900,000, with listing prices significantly lower than the Boulder average. “You can get more bang for your buck in Longmont,” McCallister says. Brick ranch-style homes, split levels and modern traditional homes are frequently found across the neighborhood’s architectural scene, and Tudor adornments are common. Two-bedroom condos go for $400,000 to $500,000, while five-bedroom, recently renovated homes have price tags between $700,000 and $900,000. Additionally, houses here tend to sell within four weeks of being listed. “While it’s a more affordable area, the west side of Longmont is the most accessible to Boulder, which is a big selling point for homebuyers. Outdoor recreation is easily accessible from Longmont Estates. “It only takes 45 minutes to get to Rocky Mountain National Park,” says McCallister. “It’s a great daytrip and a popular weekend activity for local hikers. McIntosh Lake is also really close by, which has beautiful views of Longs Peak.” The lake is bordered by a 4-mile loop trail where visitors walk their dogs, ride bikes and, in the winter months, snowshoe. McIntosh’s recreation area also features facilities for sand volleyball and tennis, along with a pirate-themed playground. Twin Peaks is an 18-hole, public golf course that lies just south of Longmont Estates' residential streets. “Sunset Golf Course is also nearby,” McCallister says. “It’s a nine-hole course with beautiful mountain views, and it also has an amazing public pool with water slides. It’s really popular among families with young kids in the summer." Most residents are within a 20-minute walk of Longmont Estates Elementary School and Westview Middle School, both of which earn B-plus overall grades from Niche. Older students can attend the A-rated Silver Creek High, which is listed as the 26th best public high school in Colorado. Silver Creek has dozens of extracurricular offerings for students to consider, including clubs centered around gaming, photography, environmental science and poetry. Most locals pick up their groceries and household essentials at the Safeway at the corner of 17th Avenue and Hover Street. After running some errands, shoppers can swing by Ziggi’s Coffee, a local chain serving cups of Joe, smoothies and Italian sodas. The Kazoku is a local eatery where patrons enjoy traditional Japanese Cuisine with dishes like miso ramen and rice plates along with a variety of vegan offerings. Longmont Estates is also just a mile from the Common Spirt Longmont United Hospital on Mountain View Avenue. Easy access to Route 119 allows locals to reach Boulder in under 30 minutes, and Interstate 25 takes travelers north to Fort Collins or south to Denver.

Mere minutes from Longmont’s Main Street strip, Quail features modern architecture and a variety of shopping and dining, all within walking distance of its residential streets. On the city’s southeast side, the neighborhood teeters on the edge of suburban living and the Colorado countryside, with hundreds of acres of farmland bordering the community to the south and east. Most of Quail’s single-family homes were built over the last 20 years, with brand-new craftsman-style homes sharing blocks with early 2000s modern traditional builds. Most of these homes sit close together on quarter-acre lots. On the community’s east side along Quail Road, there are a selection of mid-to-late 20th century split-levels and ranch-style homes sitting on large, equestrian-friendly lots. Quail also has a varied selection of townhomes and manufactured homes. Two-bedroom condos range from $200,000 to $450,000, while newer four-bedroom single-family homes can go for $700,000 to $900,000. Well-maintained sidewalks line Quail’s streets, making it easy to walk to nearby stores and restaurants. Shoppers can get their groceries at the Costco on Ken Pratt Boulevard and can visit the Harvest Junction shopping center for stores like Lowe’s, Marshals and Petco. Patrons can be found catching up with friends, reading and working on their laptops from Red Frog Coffee while enjoying a hot sandwich and a cup of coffee. The Italian Twist is right next door and has over a dozen pasta offerings on the menu, from pesto alfredo to shrimp scampi. For more shopping and dining options, residents can drive north on Main Street to downtown Longmont. Burlington Elementary School lies half a mile west of Quail and earns a B overall rating from Niche. After the fifth grade, students can attend the B-minus-rated Sunset Middle School. Niwot High School boasts an A grade and is the best magnet high school in Colorado, according to Niche. “They have a great track and field team,” says Kelly McCallister, a local real estate agent with 8z Real Estate. “Locals expect to see them running up and down Niwot Road near the school after the bell rings.” Niwot High is also known for its college preparatory initiatives, with both Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses. Paved walking paths wind throughout the community along Left Hand Creek, which extends to the Left Hand Greenway, a trail network that spans 3 miles through Longmont and connects with the 8-mile St. Vrain Greenway. The path passes by the City of Longmont Recreation Center, which has facilities for tennis, basketball, rock climbing and swimming, along with a fitness center. “We're a community minded area and get a lot of support from locals,” says Kris Kron, the Recreation Area Supervisor. “A lot of locals take advantage of our fitness classes, swim lessons and sports leagues. We also host annual events like a kids triathlon in August and the Longmont Lights event, where we have a parade and winter activities like ice skating and a Santa workshop.” Route 119 runs just north of Quail and can take travelers southwest toward Boulder or east to Interstate 25, which goes north 32 miles to Fort Collins and south 35 miles to Denver.