What Is It Like to Live in Erie, Colorado, if I'm Moving From Out of State?

What is it like to live in Erie, Colorado, if you are moving here from out of state? It is a town that has grown a great deal and still feels like a small town, with a rec center, restaurants and a farmers market at its center, and about 15 minutes from both Boulder and Longmont. The best way to know whether it fits is to learn what a normal week looks like here, and then test a few pieces of it yourself before you buy.

I'm Carol, and Homes by Carol is my real estate practice here in Erie. Carol Vanlandingham is a REALTOR® with eXp Realty in Erie, Colorado, helping people through life transitions, downsizing, first homes and relocation across Erie, Boulder County and Northern Colorado. I've lived in this area for over 31 years and have been licensed for 10. I'm not trying to sell you on Erie. I'd like you to see it clearly, so you can decide whether it's the right place for your next chapter.

People moving here tell me their biggest worry is choosing the wrong community, or feeling alone after the move. Both worries are fair. Listings show you houses. They don't show you what a Thursday evening feels like. So let me describe it.

Here is what I see in an ordinary week.

In the middle of town there is a rec center with a large pool that has lap lanes, and it offers classes. There are plenty of new restaurants, and the town has its own post office. In summer, a farmers market runs on Thursday evenings.

Erie has also kept some old habits. Homecoming still brings a parade down Briggs Street. In my experience, that kind of event is what gives the town its small-town feel, even as it has grown.

None of these is a promise about how your life will go. They are the places where an ordinary week happens, and you can visit every one of them on a short trip.

Over the last 20 years, Erie has grown a great deal, with many new neighborhoods. In my experience, the number of people living here has roughly doubled in that time. That is my observation from living here, and not an official count, so if you need exact figures, check with the town.

I find that growth and a small-town feel can sit side by side. The new neighborhoods have brought more restaurants and more places to go. The parade and the farmers market are reminders that the center of town still works like a small town.

Because so much of Erie was built in the last 20 years, many of the homes are newer. You'll also find older homes closer to the center of town.

Several neighborhoods built by Boulder Creek Builders have single-level ranch homes designed for lock-and-leave living, which means less exterior upkeep and an easier time leaving for a trip. If that is what you want, my page on relocating to the area explains how I help from a distance, and I can show you those neighborhoods by video before you travel.

I don't post prices in this article, because they change month to month. When you are ready, I can send you current numbers for the part of town you are considering.

Erie is about 15 minutes from Boulder and from Longmont, about 35 minutes from Denver International Airport and about 40 minutes from Denver, depending on traffic. Erie also sits in two counties. West of County Line Road is Boulder County, and east of it is Weld County. I work both sides, and I can tell you which side a home is on.

If you would like to compare nearby towns, I have written about Boulder, which has the University of Colorado Boulder, Pearl Street and higher home prices, and Longmont, with its views of Longs Peak and homes at many price points. The drive from Erie to either one is about 15 minutes.

As Erie has grown, the number of elementary schools has more than doubled, and there are more middle school options. There is still one high school. I won't rate any school for you, because that decision is yours. I'd point you to the school district so you can read the information yourself, and I'm glad to help you find it.

This is the order I suggest to people moving from out of state.

Step 1: Tell me how you live

Before we look at a single home, we talk about your real routine. Where will you work? What do you do on a free Saturday? What do you want close by? That list guides everything after it.

Step 2: Take a video tour with me

When you can't be here, I walk through a home and its street with you on the phone, so you see the yard, the neighbors' homes and the things photos leave out. Many people narrow their list this way before they travel. My article on planning a house-hunting trip explains how to use the trip well.

Step 3: Visit and live a few ordinary hours

When you come, do more than tour. Swim or walk through the rec center. Eat dinner at a restaurant in town. If it is summer, go to the farmers market on a Thursday evening. Drive to Boulder and to Longmont at the hour you would really drive. Notice how each one feels.

Step 4: Compare two or three towns

Erie may not be the final answer, and that is fine. My article on choosing a town when moving to Boulder County walks through how to compare them on daily life.

Step 5: Get pre-approved early

I ask every buyer to be pre-approved before we tour. It matters even more when you may need to decide during a short visit.

Step 6: Decide at your own pace

I advise. The decision is always yours. If the answer is "not yet," I'll tell you that too.

These come up often, and each one is easy to avoid.

• Choosing from photos alone. A listing can't tell you the drive, the sounds or the feel of a street.
• Never driving the commute at the real hour. Time it on a weekday morning.
• Skipping the second town. Compare at least two, even if you expect to choose Erie.
• Forgetting which county a home is in. The county affects things like property taxes and which offices you deal with.
• Expecting the town to match an older memory of it. It has grown, so look at it as it is today.
• Not asking for help finding your people. Moving is more than a house. Tell me what you are leaving behind, and we'll talk about what you want to find here.

What is it like to live in Erie, Colorado?

It is a growing town with a small-town feel, a central rec center, new restaurants and a summer farmers market. It sits about 15 minutes from Boulder and Longmont, and homes range from newer neighborhoods to older homes near the center.

Is Erie in Boulder County or Weld County?

Both. West of County Line Road is Boulder County, and east of it is Weld County. I work on both sides.

How far is Erie from the airport?

About 35 minutes from Denver International Airport, depending on traffic. Denver is about 40 minutes.

Can I buy a home in Erie without seeing it in person first?

Some buyers do, using video tours and a professional inspection. Most of the people I work with narrow their list by video and then visit to see their top choices. I'll help you decide what you are comfortable with.

Do you help people moving from out of state?

Yes. I introduce you to communities, not only properties, and I plan around your dates. If you are a physician moving here, I also have a relocation packet I can send.

I listen before I advise, and I explain every step before you reach it. One couple I helped left the Boulder home where they had lived for 37 years and chose Erie, because it gave them the single-level living they wanted and kept them close to their doctors and friends. We weren't trying to find less. We were trying to find better for them now. You can read how I help people from a distance on my relocation page, or see what I know about the town on my Erie page. Send me a note or call me at (303) 522-3130.