Grand Junction?? Billings?? Where to live?

[Stubaby]

I am from Ogden, UT and have lived in Billings for the last seven years. I like it here...but I have a opportunity to move to Grand Junction.

Pros...I would be closer to "home" for my wife and I, so we would see our families a lot more.

Deer hunting would be better and I can always get a NR deer tag and come back to hunt MT.
I would be off the road and home every night(away from home 5-10 nights a month now)

Cons...the pay would be about the same

How's the cost of living? Recreation? Family life? Crime? Schools? Weather? Wind?

Any ideas from y'all who might know.....

 

[Pagosa]

Cost of living is average. Most homes are $150-$250k for 1500 sq ft. Grand Jct took a pretty big hit after gas prices dropped, Obama got elected, and the state passed two house bills regulating gas drilling/production. There seems to be no real city zoning in Grand Jct, similar to Billings. Most people are friendly and way different from the front range. Its more desert around Grand valley, but you can be up in the high country in 50 minutes. If you would told me sooner I would have sold you my house in Fruita; closing end of month.

I have a different opinion about deer hunting around Grand Jct. Most better units require several years to draw, unit 40 takes 2-3 years, unit 30 about 5 years, 61/62 several years, grand mesa will take less. And you get 5 or 9 days with lots of other hunters. As compared to bma I hunted in Region 5 I would hunt Montana any day over Colorado.There is some good bear and elk hunting within 1-3 hours of Grand Jct.

Good luck in your decision and being closer to family is the best benefit of all.

 

[Summitthunting]

Cons - never call your wife " my wide".

 

[Dinkshooter]

Do you like 11 weeks to hunt im MT? Then don't move.

 

[Dinkshooter]

Cons - never call your wife " my wide".

This x 100

 

[Stubaby]

Changed it. Not wide at all. That's what I get for using an iphone to post stuff.

 

[Summitthunting]

5 to 9 day seasons suck. Deer is draw only, antelope is draw only unless you hunt archery. I've looked into moving to Grand Junction but I'm leaning towards Wyoming or Montana. Now if you like to smoke weed.................

 

[Khunter]

lived in GJ from 2001-2012. Great place to live. low crime. family life is what you make of it? raging republican country so if that is your thing....

if you bowhunt there is plenty of opportunity to hunt deer and elk nearby and dodge crowds. 1 month season.

wind? can blow pretty good a few weeks in spring. closer to family and not traveling 10 nights a month would be the clincher for some folks. just depends on the person.

 

[1_pointer]

Do you like 11 weeks to hunt im MT? Then don't move.

This!! I can't imagine there being more hunting opportunity in MT than CO. I'd stay put. However, I'd bet that your wife has other ideas. Gals like being close to family for some reason.