In case you haven’t heard, there’s a popular subReddit called ‘How Is Living There.’ It’s pretty fascinating, with an original poster simply asking others involved in the group what it’s like to live in a certain place around the world followed by group members familiar with a given area then chiming in to share on their experiences. The group has 2.5 million members and very rarely will one of the many posed prompts go unanswered.

With that bit of context out of the way, the topic of conversation in the group finally came to Colorado. “How is it living in and around Denver, Colorado?” asked user Ok_Report_5208, getting more than 450 comments in response.

The most upvoted response was a South Park quote, of course: “There’s friendly faces everywhere, humble folks without temptation, and there’s ample parking day or night, and people spouting ‘Howdy Neighbor.'”

While the South Park quote might not quite align with the typical Mile High City experience, following comments provided an insightful look that was closer to reality.

Here’s a breakdown of a few of the most common takeaways that got mentioned:

1. Big city amenities with nature nearby.

2. Nature might be nearby, but getting to it can be a pain and the closest spots can get crowded. That said, there are plenty of city parks for those not looking for mountains.

3. Cities and towns in the Denver metro that aren’t Denver are worth checking out, too, including spots like Boulder and Golden.

4. Great seasons – hot summers with no humidity and cool evenings, beautiful fall and spring, true winters, but fairly mild compared to what most expect.

5. Natural disasters are relatively mild. For the city, occasional hail seems to be the biggest threat, though in the foothills and greater metro, there’s notable fire risk, too.

6. Perceived uptick in crime in recent years, especially in Denver city proper. The city seems to have rougher pockets, but generally feels safer than many major cities.

7. Traffic can get bad and drivers can be aggressive.

8. Some people say the food scene is bad or boring, while others say good restaurants are around but can take some work to find. Most agree that food and going out is overpriced.

9. People seem to agree that it’s a good city for professional sports. After all, it’s home to the Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche, Rockies, Rapids, and recently, Denver Summit FC. There’s also pro rugby (Onyx), pro lacrosse (Mammoth), pro arena football (Spartans), and pro ultimate frisbee (Apex).

10. Many are surprised by the lack of pest bugs, like ticks, fleas, and mosquitos.

11. Several Redditors noted that the city could use more diversity.

12. Some noted that Denverites were, in general, friendly and with the massive transplant population, it can be easy to make friends.

13. Some people praised eco-friendly policies.

14. Issues with managing homelessness were addressed by a couple people, as well.

15. The need for a vehicle was also cited as a potential downside compared to life in other major American cities where it may be easier to rely on public transportation.

16. Proximity to Denver International Airport was cited as a great benefit.

Overall, the major takeaway was perhaps that while Denver isn’t on the same level as New York, Los Angeles, or Miami in terms of international notoriety, it’s a spot that’s got plenty of what people are looking for when it comes to life in a major metropolitan area while also being a manageable drive away from seemingly endless outdoor recreation. Redditors seemed to agree that Denver is great for people that want a big city and outdoor recreation access, but that those with no interest in outdoor recreation may be happier elsewhere.

Is that on par with how you feel about Denver? Chime in on Reddit – the full thread can be found here.

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