Should I live in Boulder or Denver?

Just moved to CO for a job in Denver (2-3 days/week 9-5 hybrid schedule, office in DTC). I'm really on the fence about whether I should live in Boulder or Denver. I have a few friends in Boulder but otherwise know no one and am single (30 male). Rent prices are not an issue in either city, I'll be looking for a 1bd townhouse or similar. My goals are to not absolutely hate my life commuting, have some success dating and making friends, climb and ski a lot, and be able to do a bit of my other hobbies (tennis & running). 

Boulder pros: Allows me to not solely be a weekend warrior, can climb after work on WFH days or go scramble in the evenings. Close to Eldora for skiing and RMNP for day-trip alpine start missions. 

Boulder cons: Not a lot of single women my age (I keep hearing its mostly college students and families?), commute would be absolutely terrible to DTC (1-1.25 hrs?), poor nightlife, little diversity. 

Denver pros: Lots of young professionals, lots of culture, commute could be as little as 20-30 minutes to work. Good nightlife, can go to live music shows and take public transit home. 

Denver cons: Would have to resort to weekend warrior life (gym weekdays, climbing/scrambling weekends). Harder to find climbing friends? 

Anyone have relevant stories or opinions to share? I'm obsessed with climbing and peak bagging, but am hesitant to make my entire life outside of work focused on it. It would be nice to have "normal" friends and I'm not sure that's possible in Boulder?

Honestly Denver is massive. I prefer climbing in Golden and castlewood more than Boulder. Maybe on the Golden side of Denver? Super easy to go North from that area and hit other stuff too.

Hmu, feel free to dm me. I used to worked in the DTC and recently relocated to Golden area. I can give you some location advice as a 28M. But also, my advice is Boulder I found is a college town. Stick to the DTC or move to Littleton, you get access to route 6 and 3 movement gyms all within reasonable distance and you won't kill yourself with commuting to work when you have to. 

Yeah so if you want a dating scene you should do Denver hands down. Lots of gyms and places to live also, but it’s definitely a real city, which isn’t my vibe. I love Boulder, having lived in a converted vehicle for almost 5 (nonconsecutive) years here it feels like home, but as others have said it’s a college town. If you are fit and active though, there are plenty of communities and people to hang out with well into your 30s, nature is only a skip away, etc. Ultimately if you wanna climb you can’t beat the access to the Flatirons, BoCan and Eldo. 

Golden for sure- it’s more central, quick up to Boulder if you want to go, plus faster access to the big ski resorts and the South Platte. It’s 20 mins further from RMNP (assuming an alpine start), but that’s about the only drawback. 

We moved to Golden in ‘22 and have really liked it here- has a chill vibe but close proximity to anything you really want to do, be it hang in the city or the mountains.

I lived in Wheat Ridge right near Golden for years.

Access to climbing is great since you are right there between 6 and 70. Bike paths are awesome through the area. Quick access to BP for after work laps in the spring. Climbing is decent. TR Solo options exist at N Table if you are looking to solo climb. It’s going to be easier to get into DTC if you take 470 in the morning. 

Winter ski traffic will suck the life out of you though. It will probably make you hate skiing if you drive up I70. I started climbing more and more in the winters and avoiding 70 at all costs.

I was really into Boston nightlife before I moved to Denver but I found myself going West into the mountains in the mornings instead of east into the City at night.

Good luck, let us know what you decide.

Do you want a shit sandwich or a sandwich with shit on it?

Definitely not fair to say that living in Denver metro area forces you to be a weekend warrior. I lived several years in Lakewood and it’s really pretty central and leaves you a lot of quick access to high-quality after-work or before-work climbing, bouldering,or mtn biking. North Table Mtn, Clear Cr, Morrison, 3 Sisters. If you choose your location well, you can commute to DTC w/light rail. Great place to train on a road-bike.

Skiing the I-70 ski areas really isn’t that bad if you can go on weekdays. From the Green Mtn area of Lakewood you can be in the Loveland parking lot in 45 minutes on a weekday.

And you can always just go to Boulder without living there… 

In my years of living in Lakewood, I never felt like I was missing out on anything by not living in Boulder.

I have lived in Boulder and commuted to DTC and it was MISERABLE. I would never do it again or recommend it. That said, I have also lived in Denver and felt very trapped/claustrophobic. Even in the summer, it was difficult to get out for post work adventures without having to drive through rush hour traffic. Personally, a city of about 100k is all I can handle (i.e. Boulder or Longmont, where I am now) but I've had the time to get established in my career and life to find a place to settle down. You're gonna miss out on some things no matter where you live, my advice would be to pick based on what would make you least miserable (sounds like the commute is a pretty big deal breaker for you) and know that whatever choice you make will not be permanent. Your job, preferences, needs, etc  could change in a year and you can always reevaluate then.

Littleton, Golden, Parker, Castle Rock/Sedalia area. (If working at DTC)

I think you should live where ever gives you the best option for what you want to do, as long as it is on that side of the divide.

Boulder to DTC would be hell. I like the recommendations of Wheat Ridge, Golden, and Lakewood. The access isn't as different from Boulder as it is made out to be, prices are cheaper, dating scene and other aspects of city life are nice perks, you won't be a hellish commute from your office

Aurora has some dope Vietnamese gang dive nights if you're into that sort of thing.... or was it Laotion?..... Maybe it was Littleton and actually white supremacist meet ups....

Either way, you're screwed.

Golden is where it’s at 

Think about your commute time when you have to go to the office.  Traffic sucks down I-25 or C-470.  Let that guide you. . .