Down in the gorgeous southwestern mountainous corner of Colorado sits the funky college town of Durango.  This area of the state contains some of the most stunning mountain scenery you'll probably ever see, and so real estate prices tend to be on the high side, slightly higher than in the Denver metro area but less than in Vail or Aspen.  There are small houses and condos in town and roomier homes on larger lots outside of town.  Primarily, you will be paying for scenery and atmosphere as Durango attracts a young, outdoor-oriented crowd.  The town is somewhat inaccessible, so prices overall tend to be higher than in larger metro areas.