What’s It Like Living In Evergreen Colorado?

Chances are, since you are reading this post, you are considering moving to Evergreen, Colorado.  You want to know really, what’s it like living in Evergreen Colorado? I was once in your position and I recall there being a lack of information online about Evergreen, so I put this post together to help you get a first hand account of what it is like to live in Evergreen, Colorado.

Back in 2012, my wife and I were looking for a low stress, back to the basics, more simplified lifestyle, that fostered a slower-paced, nature-filled, less commercial childhood for our children. We extensively researched the Internet and from what little information we could gather, Evergreen Colorado seemed to to be a good place to live, yet we still had many questions that the Internet just couldn’t answer.

Questions like:

What’s the weather like?

What is there to do?

Is it expensive to live in Evergreen?

What are the property taxes?

What are the people like?

Will a bear eat me and my children on hikes?

Are Evergreen Co Schools Good?

Are there good jobs in Evergreen?

We decided to take the leap (questions unanswered) in 2012, and moved from one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, Frisco, Texas to Evergreen, Colorado. Let us share our story with you and try to answer a few of the many questions you may have through our experience living here in one of the most beautiful towns in the United States.

As you can guess by my last remark, we love it here. Love is an understatement. Evergreen, Colorado is an amazing place to live as it has all the advantages of living in a small mountain slow-paced town with the big city access (the heart of downtown Denver is only a 30 minute drive).

Moving from Texas, however, we were nervous about the weather. We imagined snow drifts blocking our front door and digging our way to our snow-buried cars. Well, at least that was my wife’s vision. In reality, the weather is, how do I say it, heavenly!

Click Below To View This Video on Evergreen

What is the weather like in Evergreen, Colorado?

Lets start with Winter, since this season was actually our primary concern. Winter conditions vary depending on home elevation. Most homes in Evergreen are located between 7,000 feet to 9,000 feet. The lower the elevation the less snow, typically. Between November and February we will get a few snow storms delivering anything from a dusting to around 9 inches. From March to April (Spring) we may encounter two or three big snow storms delivering around 12 to 18 inches of snow each time. There are your typical heavy snow days where all elevations accumulate heavy snow. No problem. Just shovel your way to the car and get going about your day.

As mentioned, snow does fall, but does not typically accumulate on the roads and may not have much bearing on your plans for your day. About 10% of the time the snow is a little heavier and the road crews do a great job of keeping them cleared off.

Most people stay home for the day, put a log on the fire, snuggle up with a good book or watch movies with the family while the landscape transforms into a magical Winter wonder land. The amazing part is the snow typically melts within a day or two because it is so sunny here.

If you have a vehicle with decent four wheel/all wheel drive, then you can still travel around without a problem. From my experience, driveways (no matter your altitude) are the most challenging place to move your vehicle in and out of due to several conditions: snow packed, and steep driveways. So it is best to stay on top of your driveway and you are good to go.  We recommend to buy a decent four wheel drive/all wheel drive vehicle and you will typically have no problems. If you commute to work in Denver then you may need to allocate additional time for the weather.

Because the humidity is lower here and the sun is so intense, Winter temperatures are not bad. Temperatures of 35 degrees here and 35 degrees to a more humid climate, like Frisco, Texas, is non-comparable . I was much colder in Frisco at 35 degrees than I ever am in Evergreen’s 35 degrees. The reason for this is the Texas humidity holds the moisture next to your body. Evergreen is much dryer, so 35 degrees may feel like 55 degrees especially when you factor in the intensity of the sun.  Temperatures will get below zero in Evergreen a few times during the Winter. The lower temperatures will typically occur at night time and you will be in the house anyway so it is not a big deal. There are a few days you will experience heavy snow and temperatures below zero during the day. Some schools will close, others will send out reminders to double up the kiddos layers.

Either way, the days are doable if you dress in layers and have warm socks. My cold wife concurs with this statement, by the way. Socks, warm boots, and a long coat are a must, but you end up peeling them off by the end of the day.

My Mississippi southern mama has this image of us living in Narnia during the Winter. Its not at all close to reality. It is surprisingly mild and incredibly breathtaking.

Although Winter in Evergreen affords epic skiing and cozy nights by the fire, in my opinion, Spring and Summer take the cake as the best times of the year to enjoy Colorado.   Even though native Coloradans wear shorts year-round, this Texas boy doesn’t dawn the knickers until Spring. I even pullout the flip flops and still remain comfortable.

SUMMER WEATHER

From mid May to October, the weather is quite similar to the California Central coast with temps in the mid 70’s to mid 80’s during the day and 40’s at night. July happens to be the warmest month of they year reaching temperatures in the low 90’s for approximately a week. During this “balmy” week, you may experience some minor discomfort as most homes here do not have air conditioning. Just keep the windows open in the house or head to the hills for cooler temps that week.

FALL WEATHER

Its hard to pic favorites when it comes to seasons in Evergreen, especially when the mountains are painted gold and orange with the changing colors of the Aspen tress in the Fall.  Mid September is the optimal time to explore Evergreen and the surrounding Colorado areas to enjoy the breathtaking Fall landscape. Camping this time of year is also a must. The cool crisp nights ensure gathering around the campfire for s’mores and stories with friends and family.

What is there to do in Evergreen?

You may be wondering, what are the top things to do in Evergreen Colorado? My wife has always been extremely active and has enjoyed the great outdoors her entire life. I fell in love with her as she was training for marathons and triathlons. I am an excellent cheerleader and snack provider during her races. Needless to say, moving to Evergreen was a perfect match for her activity level as Evergreen is a very physically active community.

It is commonplace to see road bikes throughout town, mountain bikers and runners in Elk Meadow, fly-fishing in Upper Bear Creek, and bird watching and boating at Evergreen Lake.

You can also pick up a game of golf at the beautiful Evergreen golf course right by Evergreen Lake or at another private course in Hiwan.

If my wife’s activity level is not your game, and shopping is, Evergreen is still your town.  Evergreen invests in their local artists like no other town I’ve ever lived in. There is a strong art community in Evergreen and there are several craft, art, and music shows every year. Art galleries also line the downtown streets featuring local artists and, many times, the artist is right there to meet you.  Quaint shops and restaurants accompany these galleries as well.

Evergreen has 8+ open space parks comprising of thousands of acres with trails you can hike, mountain bike, and ride your horses. You can fly fish for trout in the many creeks that flow through our town. Skateboarders can enjoy the newly updated skate park and we have two recreation centers that have indoor pools, rock climbing, and workout facilities. Yoga and Pilate studios are also available.

World class ski resorts like Winter Park, Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, and Copper are all within one to one and a half hours away. Pick up a game of ice hockey or enjoy ice skating with family at Evergreen lake in the Winter. You can zip line or white water raft up in Idaho Springs just 15 minutes West of Evergreen. There are youth recreational sports like soccer, lacrosse, football, baseball, tennis, etc for the kids. The list goes on and on and I just love this about Colorado.

There is so much to do here and once you
buy the proper gear most activities are FREE.

Fly Fishing at Bear Creek

Ice Hockey & Ice Skating at Evergreen Lake

Mountain Biking at Open Space Parks

World Class Skiing – Just a 1 hour drive

What are Evergreen property taxes like?

Coming from Texas, I was accustomed to not having a state tax. To offset the state tax, Colorado has very low property tax rates which makes it more affordable to buy a home here. As per Jefferson County law, property is valued every odd numbered year. A property’s assessed value is a percentage of its market value, 7.96% for residential property and 29% for non-residential properties. For example property taxes on a $1 million dollar house would be around $4,600 per year. Colorado is like one huge playground and if that ends up costing me a little more (which I don’t think it does) then I am fine with it. In the long run, I vacation in Colorado versus spending money vacationing in other states simply because there is so much to do here and it is mostly free, especially if you camp like we do. We invest in ski passes each year, pack lunches, and drive up to the resort for the day. We play a lot. We consider our state tax as vacation money!

Is it expensive to live in Evergreen?

Yes and no. On average, the homes here are more expensive than homes in the Frisco area. In Frisco, we found that we wanted a bigger home because of the extreme heat and long summers. We found ourselves staying inside most of the year. When we moved to Evergreen, we rented a huge house and our family ended up spending more time outside than in the house. While space is a luxury we have found that we can function with a smaller house here due to the comfortable Summer weather.

If you want a larger home because, well, you just want one, go for it. Evergreen has some beautiful homes that will impress for sure. If you decide to buy smaller, like us, there are many options as well.

The average price of a home in Evergreen
is in the $680 range (as of 2020).

Housing is available below the $680 range but you will mostly be looking at two and three bedroom homes in less than 2,000 sqft. Sales taxes are lower here and groceries and utilities are very reasonably priced as compared to Texas. Your utility bill may be much lower since most homes here don’t have air conditioning and, have I mentioned, the weather is amazing. In the Summer months my utility bill is less than $100 per month.

What are the people like?

We love the mix of community Evergreen offers as most people here are transplants. This town offers a perfect place for people to retire as well as to invest in a community that welcomes singles and young families. Everyone seems to mix together no matter the size of home you live in, the car you drive, or what you are wearing.

We have seen a growing population of families in the area (2012-2020) and it hasn’t seemed to slow down.

One of my favorite reasons I love Evergreen so much is that there is a real sense of community here. You will see the same people working in small businesses and grocery stores daily. This fosters a chance for relationship. Heck, my wife picks up our eggs from a local guy at the coffee shop! There are plenty of community events that bring everyone out from the surrounding mountains to get together and get to know one another. Overall people here are very active outdoors and many have moved here for the same reasons.

Are the wildlife dangerous?

Herds of deer and elk roam throughout the town and neighborhoods of Evergreen and it makes me so happy. To look out my window and see these majestic creatures roam freely sings to my soul.

I absolutely love all the wildlife that we experience here.

Besides the deer and elk, buffalo(fenced), turkeys, badgers, trout, hawks, bears, mountain lions, the occasional bald eagle and moose claim this land as theirs and we have the opportunity to share this majestic place with them. These are all wild animals and deserve space and respect. In the Spring, the deer and elk have their babies and you just might be blessed to witness their births right in your back yard.

Depending on where you live,  you may or may not see bears or mountain lions very often. I can say, in my years of living here,  I have never seen a mountain lion and have only seen a bear three times. That may be three times too many for you, but they mostly stay to themselves and are nocturnal by nature. We head the advice of keeping the kiddos inside at dusk and dawn to be safe. Overall, these are rare encounters with the bears and mountain lions. Typically,  if you respect them and their space, they will do the same.

What are the schools like?

There are multiple elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school in Evergreen.  There are also private schools and home school options available to the community.  The public schools have very good national ratings.  Here is a link to all the different Evergreen schools.

Wilmot Elementary | Evergreen High School | Evergreen Middle School