I don't live in Golden, but I work around there.
As far as
bikeable, there are tons of trails cutting through Golden, most notably the ones paralell to Cherry Creek, 6th Ave and S Golden Rd. These are non-street trails and should be able to get you all over town by bike. I don't think Golden has the same kind of Biker/Pedestrian v. Driver culture as Boulder. Where cars in Boulder will stop at a crosswalk where there is no stop sign just to let a person cross, or are happy giving a bicyclist their space, lots of drivers in Golden come from Denver and usually lack the respect to be very nice to bikers sharing the road.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7519631,-105.1847581,14z/data=!5m1!1e3?hl=enThat being said, there's one
bus route through town, the 16. It can also get you all up and down the town. Route 16 will also take you all the way to Downtown Denver, as will the regional bus GS.
https://www.google.com/maps/search/bus+stop/@39.7501697,-105.1947936,14z?hl=enHCOL: Food is a smidge more expensive in that area, in my experience. I haven't ever purchased groceries from the King Soopers on S Golden Rd, but... Shopping at the King Soopers in Applewood v. shopping at the King Soopers on 58th in Arvada yields a ~10% difference for me, on some occasions - which is partially food being slightly more expensive, but also the extra variety at the Applewood store (huge cheese assortment, fancy deli, fresh sushi bar... Very fance, much impulse buy.). Applewood also merchandises their organic produce better, so you're a lot more likely to find and pick up organic whatever before you find regular whatever. :)
HCOL: Housing is ridiculous. This mostly has to do with the college, I think. There are very, very few frugal options in this category if you're talking about living
in Golden. Like I said, I work in Golden, but I live in Arvada, and I'm considering moving to the area around 44th and Kipling to cut my commute in half. I think this is the most optimal place to be if you want to approach Golden from it's north end via Golden Fwy/44th Ave. However, if you want to approach from Colfax or 6th Ave, there are more economical options in the area of Alameda and Union, or along Colfax... But if you're going to live along Colfax, look closer to Kipling, or try to stay generally west of Wadsworth.
HCOL: Other things are pretty much par for the course!
I don't know anything about the
schools except what the internet tells me.
http://www.greatschools.org/colorado/golden/schools/Also can't speak to NREL down in Golden, but my mom's room mate last year loved her field work for them up toward Boulder. :) So there's that?
