7.2 out of 10

Westcliffe

38.1334772495404 -105.470896371992
Great for
  • Lack of Traffic
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Safe & Sound
  • Clean & Green
Not great for
  • Public Transport
  • Shopping Options
  • Eating Out
  • Internet Access
  • Medical Facilities
Who lives here?
  • Country Lovers
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 1/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 2/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 1/5
  • Medical Facilities 1/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 2/5
2yrs+

"A very cute, smaller town at 7,867 feet"

Westcliff, Colorado is located about an hour southwest of Canon City. This town of only 590 people is quiet and serene, pretty and clean. Although there aren't a lot of businesses here, there is a Family Dollar, a local chiropractor,a market, gas stations, and a couple of bed and breakfast places, one right on main street in a cute little home that looks as if it's been there for many years. For anyone who works out of there home and likes the quiet life, this may be a town to look into. The people here are friendly and nice, and the town has a real small town atmosphere.

Currently, homes in Westcliff are going for around $200,000 and the median household income is about $32,351. Unfortunately, almost 34% of the town's population is living below the poverty line. This can come as a surprise to anyone who has been here as the town is very nice looking and you don't see the types of homes you would associate with living in poverty. The crime rate here is really low, as are most smaller towns like this. Over 80% of the residents are white and the town's main industry is retail trade, followed closely by construction.

Overall, Westcliff is a really cute, good looking little town. Although it's remote, it may be the perfect place for someone looking to be part of a smaller community which has good schools for the kids.
Pros
  • affordable
  • beautiful scenery
  • remote
Cons
  • few restaurants
  • no hospital
  • remote
Recommended for
  • Country Lovers
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 1/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 1/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 1/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 1/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 2/5
2yrs+

"Westcliffe has real cowboys"

The town of Westcliffe/Silver Cliff sits in the Wet Mountain Valley about 40 minutes west of Pueblo tucked well away from the dust of the plains and the many highways and interstate. It is a haven and it is small. There are three or so restaurants, a little grocery and a lot of local people. There are many amazing properties scattered on 35+ acre lots on the mountain outskirts that surround the town. This place is old west, you will see real cowboys walking around town doing errands or coming to and from contractor jobs with their tractors or horses. Westcliffe is unique, quiet but feisty and somewhat conservative and sleepy.

My aunt and uncle have lived in Westcliffe my whole life and the Sangre de Cristo mountains west of town are in my opinion the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen. They are a long gorgeous north/south spine of 14 and 13ers and the Great Sand Dunes and the San Luis Valley are on the valleys other side even though it takes over an hour to drive there. To me, Westcliffe is the gateway to the four corners area, New Mexico is only70 miles south. The plants and animals change in the Westcliffe area compared to the Front Range or the more populated northern Colorado. It feels like a different state down there.

I was driving through the town and mountain roads just last weekend and couldn't believe how many for sale signs there were. Homes, land, cars, businesses, tractors it seemed that every other thing along the road ways had a for sale. I guess its just hard economic times, but many people were saying that it is an excellent time to by land and homes. My cowboy cousin said that there are amazing homes that used to go for $400,000 that are now half that or less!

If you want to invest in land &/or take advantage of the desperately low housing prices, the Westcliffe area deserves a trip. It takes about 4 hours from the Denver/Boulder area but the drive, once you get off I-25, is spectacular. If you want a remote place that has great weather, wildlife, amazing views and a small town feel and you do not need to get in and out to Denver very often this might be the region of Colorado for you. It is lovely there, so many deer, antelopes, foxes, hummingbirds and rabbits. The plants are sage, juniper and pinon pines in the lower parts of the valley then up in the mountains it turns to tall pine, aspen and wildflowers in the summer. This is a special valley that many people do not even know about, check it out!
Pros
  • remote
  • beautiful scenery
  • affordable
Cons
  • remote
  • very little shops and restaurants
  • no hospital
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • Country Lovers
  • Trendy & Stylish

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