Surprising Things About Moving to Denver From Washington, DC

• Since moving from DC to Denver two-and-a-half years ago, I’ve experienced many culture shocks.
• I’ve found people like to discuss their hobbies in Denver, but many focus on their careers in DC.
• I’ve also noticed that people in Denver seem more laid-back compared to those in DC.

When I boarded my flight from Washington, DC, to Denver in May 2022, I ruminated in my window seat for hours, wondering what my new home would be like.

I was leaving behind the nation’s capital — the place where I’d spent almost three years launching my career and growing through my 20s.

Hopping from city to city wasn’t new to me. I was born in Seattle and raised outside New Orleans before pursuing my master’s degree in Phoenix.

However, every region has its own distinct culture, and I suspected the transition from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains would be a little bumpy. Still, I didn’t expect just how different the two parts of the country would be.

Here are a few of the biggest culture shocks I experienced when I headed west.

Many seem enamored with their hobbies in Denver, but careers typically come first in DC

Your choice of ski pass isn’t just a question Denver residents will pose to you as an icebreaker. In my experience, it’s a constant topic of conversation among friends and colleagues.

In fact, I’ve found that skiing, snowboarding, camping, hiking, rock climbing, and white-water rafting are topics that constantly come up in conversation.

I’ve met plenty of Denver residents with impressive careers, but their hearts often belong to their hobbies.

Meanwhile, many people I met in DC lived to work. I’d inevitably be asked what I did for a living at almost every house party I attended. Young professionals primarily move to DC for their education and careers, so networking is a way of life.

The city is packed with journalists, lobbyists, and government employees, so it’s not uncommon to see someone toting a work laptop to happy hour.

The cities’ definitions of style don’t align

In DC, my favorite activity was ticking restaurants and bars off my list, taking in the cosmopolitan city in seasonal dresses and heels.

However, since moving to Denver, what’s left of my collection of cocktail dresses is gathering dust on hangers. Here, athleisure, flannels, and denim are the norm.

The climates in Denver and DC are completely different beasts

I was adept at handling DC winters. When snow occasionally fell over the city, I bundled up in a coat and gloves to build snowmen on the National Mall or braced myself for the chill in the air when I exited a Metrorail subway station.

Preparing for my inaugural Colorado winter, however, was much more intense. I bought my first pair of snow boots at age 27, and learned that Halloween usually brings a snowstorm, and the flurries continue through April.

For context, according to the National Weather Service’s data from 1882-2015, Denver averages about 57.1 inches of snow per season. DC’s average snowfall, which is based on data from 1991-2020, is roughly 13.8 inches.

Local attitudes couldn’t be more different

Colorado straddles two prominent regional personality traits — the Midwest’s kindness and the West Coast’s easygoingness. Residents of the Centennial State get the best of both worlds with their friendly attitudes and sense of ease.

Despite Denver’s urban sprawl, niceties from its cow-town days persist. Walking down a neighborhood sidewalk, I can usually count on smiles or greetings from passersby.

However, while living on the East Coast, I found many DC residents exuded the region’s no-nonsense air, buzzing from place to place as efficiently as possible.

I got used to avoiding small talk in elevators and found the standard attitude in DC was both a little guarded and direct. It’s not that locals were unkind — they’re just booked and busy.

Yet, both places have one thing in common: hometown pride. I’m excited to embrace that attitude in Denver like I did in DC.