For those who’re planning on shifting to Colorado, add these cities to your checklist.
Colorado is a mecca for tall mountains, excessive prairies, considerable outside recreation, and a extensively various local weather. Throughout its 5 distinct areas (all above 3,000 toes), the state supplies a mixture of historical past, attraction, and journey, making it an important place to name house. Persons are benefiting from this, too; Colorado’s inhabitants grew by practically 15% from 2010 to 2020 – nearly twice the nationwide fee.
Pure alpine magnificence is certainly one of Colorado’s defining options. The Rocky Mountains dominate most of Western Colorado, with 58 mountain peaks rising above 14,000 toes (generally known as fourteeners). Deserts, basins, canyons, and the headwaters of enormous rivers additionally dot the west. Jap Colorado is nearly totally house to excessive plains.
Colorado’s local weather is outlined by extremes. A dry, alpine atmosphere permits for giant temperature swings between summer time and winter and day and evening. The truth is, the vary between the state’s highest and lowest recorded temperatures is 176°F. As such, it’s widespread for a snowy day to be adopted by a 60°F day after which again once more. Summer time thunderstorms and hail are widespread within the west, whereas tornadoes can happen within the east.
Round 85% of Colorado’s inhabitants lives simply east of the Continental Divide inside the Entrance Vary City Hall, which roughly stretches from Fort Collins to Pueblo. Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs are positioned right here.
Given this variety in each panorama and way of life, it’s no shock that persons are drawn to all corners of the state. However which Colorado cities actually rise above the remaining? On this Redfin article, we’ve uncovered the perfect locations to reside in Colorado, rating them on qualities reminiscent of affordability, navigability, and variety of facilities. You could find extra details about our methodology right here or on the backside of the article.
The very best locations to reside in Colorado
Fort Collins, CO
Denver, CO
Boulder, CO
Wheat Ridge, CO
Longmont, CO
Colorado Springs, CO
Englewood, CO
Arvada, CO
Loveland, CO
Centennial, CO
1. Fort Collins, CO
Inhabitants:170,376Median Sale Value:$565,000Median Hire Value:$1,795Average Commute Time:20 minutesUnemployment Price:4.2%
Fort Collins tops our checklist as the perfect place to reside in Colorado. Fort Collins (FoCo or Selection Metropolis to locals) seamlessly mixes historical past, training, recreation, and big-city facilities, all inside a navigable format. This, mixed with its relative affordability, helped the town earn prime marks. Colorado State College has a campus within the metropolis as nicely, giving a vibrant vitality to the world. Fort Collins is a bit slower-paced than Denver and Boulder, although.
Fort Collins is located on the Cache La Poudre River alongside the Entrance Vary, with tall, jagged mountains virtually in its yard. Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park can be simply 35 miles west, house to Longs Peak, the closest 14er. Throughout the metropolis, Horsetooth Mountain Open House is a well-liked choice for day hikes, whereas large parks, many lakes, and lengthy trails are dotted all through the world.
One of many metropolis’s main points of interest is its historic downtown, Previous City Fort Collins, which has the whole lot you want packaged inside just some blocks. The neighborhood has over twenty restored historic buildings, European-style walkways lined with flowers and Tivoli lights, and area for outside concert events on the Previous City Sq.. Over 84 eating places and a lot of the metropolis’s 21 craft breweries are positioned within the space, too.
Public transportation can be pretty sturdy for a metropolis of its dimension, with 21 native bus routes and three regional routes. This, paired with nice bikeability, makes getting round a breeze.
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2. Denver, CO
Inhabitants:716,577Median Sale Value:$595,000Median Hire Value:$1,902Average Commute Time:25.4 minutesUnemployment Price:3.1%
Denver, the biggest metropolis and capital of Colorado, is second on our checklist of the perfect locations to reside in Colorado. Initially an Previous West metropolis, Denver is a hub of historical past, tradition, outside recreation, and innovation. Town’s sunny local weather (although not 300 days), pure magnificence, and nice facilities have helped it change into a well-liked nationwide hub. The Denver Nuggets, Denver Broncos, and Colorado Rockies maintain native sports activities followers joyful, too.
Nestled on the base of the Rockies, a mile above sea stage, Denver affords unparalleled entry to the outside. From snowboarding and snowboarding at close by resorts like Vail and Aspen within the winter, to mountaineering and mountain biking in the summertime, outside fans have all of it only a brief drive from downtown. Moreover, Denver’s in depth community of parks, trails, and inexperienced areas permits for straightforward adventures. Sloans Lake Park and the South Platte River Path are common choices.
Denver can be very straightforward to navigate and not using a automobile. Served by RTD Denver, there’s bus and light-weight rail service all through the metropolitan space, working seamlessly with the world’s already walkable and bikeable format. Moreover, Amtrak’s in-progress Entrance Vary Passenger Rail is meant to assist join your entire Entrance Vary Hall, additional bettering mobility.
Denver’s local weather is dry and sunny, with scorching summers and snowy winters. Its excessive elevation helps maintain temperatures comparatively cool year-round, too. Wildfire dangers are a rising concern, nevertheless.
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3. Boulder, CO
Inhabitants:105,898Median Sale Value:$726,000Median Hire Value:$2,376Average Commute Time:19 minutesUnemployment Price:3.6%
Incessantly rated the happiest and fittest metropolis within the nation, and residential to a big college and an abundance of pure product firms, Boulder has rather a lot going for it. That stated, Boulder is pricey, with median home costs practically double that of Denver. A few third of the town’s inhabitants (~37,000) are college students on the College of Colorado Boulder.
Boulder is a historic metropolis that has been by means of large progress and alter over the previous century. A well-liked technique to expertise the town’s historical past is by strolling across the historic downtown and visiting one of many 1,000 companies on the Pearl Avenue Mall. Whereas many basic companies are gone, you may nonetheless go to some gems, together with Dot’s Diner, Walnut Cafe, and the Outback Saloon. Elsewhere, you’ll discover an enormous number of craft and micro breweries, small eating places, and native retailers.
A defining attribute of Boulder is that its residents are obsessive about the outside. On the doorstep of the Flatirons, the town is house to actually lots of of trails, parks, open areas, rivers, hills, and extra. You may tube Boulder Creek, cling within the solar at Eben G Superb Park, hike to the highest of Chautauqua State Park to see an outside live performance, or climb at Boulder Canyon.
Lastly, Boulder sees a exceptional quantity of snow yearly – practically twice as a lot as Denver. That is due to its favorable location nestled within the Rockies. Snow can fall as early as September and as late as June in Boulder, though the season is shrinking.
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4. Wheat Ridge, CO
Inhabitants:31,804Median Sale Value:$625,000Median Hire Value:$1,609Average Commute Time:23.9 minutesUnemployment Price:3.1%
Subsequent on our checklist is Wheat Ridge, a small Denver suburb identified for its agricultural historical past and mountain views. It’s positioned between Edgewater and Golden within the foothills of the Rockies. Loads of facilities, a excessive per-capita earnings, and easy accessibility to the outside helped Wheat Ridge declare the quantity 4 spot on the checklist. Public transportation can be enough, with RTD-Denver offering gentle rail service by way of the G Line.
Wheat Ridge was beforehand the biggest producer of carnation flowers on the earth, which helped it earn the nickname “Carnation City.” These days, it’s primarily a suburban city with a perfect location between Denver and the mountains. A number of the hottest spots in Wheat Ridge embody Mr. Biscuits, Heinie’s Market, and Belfiore Italian deli.
One other one of many highlights of the town is its outside recreation – primarily the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, which runs adjoining to Clear Creek. The greenbelt comprises a number of trails, lakes, and the biggest quantity of open area within the metropolis. The Clear Creek Path is the longest and runs from Golden by means of Wheat Ridge, with seven miles of paved path.
Greater than 20 parks dot the town’s panorama, with Crown Hill and Berkeley Lake among the many hottest. Wheat Ridge can be filled with lakes and reservoirs created from reclaimed gravel mines, particularly as you get additional west. Tabor, Prospect, Bass, and West Lakes are all inside strolling distance to the west.
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5. Longmont, CO
Inhabitants:98,630Median Sale Value:$540,000Median Hire Value:$1,700Average Commute Time:25.4 minutesUnemployment Price:3%
Positioned midway between Denver and Fort Collins, Longmont is available in at quantity 5 on our checklist of the perfect locations to reside in Colorado. Longmont is understood for its craft breweries and agricultural previous, which you’ll be able to study extra about on the Agricultural Heritage Middle. And most significantly, Longmont’s outside recreation is top-notch. Various parks, trails, and open areas are woven amidst the town’s gridded format, with the scenic St. Vrain Greenway, Golden Ponds Park, and Union Reservoir the preferred.
Longmont is comparatively flat in comparison with Denver and Boulder and extra faraway from the Rockies, however mountain escapes are nonetheless nicely inside an hour from city. Within the winter, Longmont sees an analogous quantity of snow as Denver and Fort Collins, averaging round 45 inches. Nonetheless, because of the area’s excessive elevation and coinciding robust solar, constant floor snow cowl is uncommon, with most snow melting in a day or two.
Annual occasions are common within the space. Residents collect for occasions just like the Longmont Farmers Market, the Longmont ArtWalk, and the Longmont Oktoberfest to have a good time group and tradition. Town’s craft brewery scene additionally brings folks collectively, with native favorites like Left Hand Brewing Firm and Oskar Blues Brewery main the way in which.
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6. Colorado Springs, CO
Inhabitants:488,664Median Sale Value:$458,000Median Hire Value:$1,650Average Commute Time:22.8 minutesUnemployment Price:3.7%
Coming in at quantity six is Colorado Springs, the second-largest metropolis within the state. Colorado Springs is known for its parks, historical past, and college-town vibe, providing a extra inexpensive big-city way of life simply an hour from Denver. You may uncover the area’s previous on the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum or Previous Colorado Metropolis, whereas the College of Colorado, Colorado Springs and 11 different schools present nationally-known training.
Colorado Springs is an athlete’s paradise. The Manitou Incline, a cable tram turned steep 2,744-stair climb, and Pikes Peak, with a well-known uphill/downhill marathon reaching an elevation of 14,115 toes, are particularly common and simply exterior of city. Town isn’t any stranger to high-level athletes both, with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Coaching Middle within the middle of the town.
For those who’re searching for nightlife or issues to do on the weekends, it’s possible you’ll run out of choices earlier than lengthy and wish to head north to Denver. Fortunately, you don’t even want a automobile to take action; the Bustang Categorical Bus Service affords routes to Denver, Fort Collins, and extra. For those who do wish to keep inside Colorado Springs, some common night hotspots embody Mansion, Gasoline Alley, and Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub. Public transportation inside the metropolis is restricted, although.
The world’s local weather is much like Denver however usually hotter and drier. Winters are nonetheless normally snowy and summers are sunny and scorching.
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7. Englewood, CO
Inhabitants:34,275Median Sale Value:$595,000Median Hire Value:$1,650Average Commute Time:23.1 minutesUnemployment Price:2.7%
Like most cities within the area, Englewood’s beginnings might be traced to the 1800s gold rush. Located alongside the South Platte River, the town slowly grew till it related with Denver, however at all times retained its small-town western really feel. As we speak, Englewood is a Denver suburb identified for its handy location, good high quality of life, and nice views.
Broadway is the oldest road within the metropolis and stays the primary thoroughfare, with all of the fixings you may need. The Gothic Theater, ZOMO, Moes, and The Brutal Poodle are native favorites for leisure and meals alongside Broadway. Two blocks from the road is CityCenter Englewood, one of many hubs of the town offering entry to facilities together with public transportation, eating, and inexperienced area.
Parks, golf programs and nation golf equipment are scattered all through the world, too. Harvard Gulch Park, Centennial Park, and Damaged Tee Golf Course are common choices. Out of doors recreation isn’t exhausting to search out, both, with the South Platte River Path, Mary Carter Greenway Path, and Pirates Cove Water Park close by.
Importantly, public transportation is mostly accessible all through the town. Mild rail service to Denver is obtainable by way of the D-Line, whereas the Free Trolley affords 19 stops connecting the town, together with the sunshine rail station, many companies, and two medical amenities.
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8. Arvada, CO
Inhabitants:121,414Median Sale Value:$667,000Median Hire Value:$1,900Average Commute Time:26.2 minutesUnemployment Price:2.8%
Simply north of Wheat Ridge however extending nicely into the Rockies, Arvada is the eighth metropolis on our checklist of the perfect locations to reside in Colorado. A suburb of Denver, Arvada was beforehand identified for its celery and gold, however is now house to large open areas and golf programs, meandering creeks, and easy accessibility to big-city facilities.
Town is common amongst these trying to be nearer to the mountains however inside a bigger metropolitan space. RTD-Denver’s G-line connects Arvada to Denver by way of gentle rail, though sitting in visitors is widespread, particularly for commuters. Homes in Arvada are likely to get dearer the additional west and nearer to the mountains you go.
Exploring the mountains is a well-liked pastime amongst locals. Simply exterior of city is White Ranch Park, with miles of trails and two campsites. And only some miles additional are dozens of smaller mountain peaks, most with trails and lovely vistas. Eldorado Canyon State Park is a very common spot.
Inside metropolis limits, there’s much more to do. Renting a kayak or tenting at Standley Lake, assembly furry associates on the large Westminster Hills Canine Park, or working alongside the Ralston Creek Path are a few of dozens of native outside points of interest. For these searching for nice meals and wealthy historical past, Olde City Arvada is the place to go. Inside this central hotspot, 12 Volt Tavern, Woman Nomada, and Bread Winner’s Cafe are three of dozens of eating places.
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9. Loveland, CO
Inhabitants:79,352Median Sale Value:$499,000Median Hire Value:$1,695Average Commute Time:25.6 minutesUnemployment Price:2.8%
Nestled within the plains between Longmont and Fort Collins, Loveland is understood for its inexpensive value of dwelling, small-city really feel, and close-knit group. Housing and rental costs are 12% and 14% decrease than Fort Collins, respectively.
Loveland’s topography is pretty flat: Inexperienced fields, patches of timber, and small lakes cowl the panorama till you hit the mountain foothills west of city, when timber change into denser. Just like Longmont, many mines are nonetheless in operation all through the world. Unsurprisingly, Loveland and surrounding cities have an industrial and agricultural historical past, and the scent of cow pastures might float in on the outskirts of the town.
Loveland is a close-knit metropolis filled with attraction and gatherings. In style occasions embody the Sweetheart Pageant, Bluegrass & Brews Pageant, and Medieval Pageant, offering locations for locals and guests to get collectively. Many festivals are held downtown or at Fairground Park. Whereas nightlife and facilities are usually much less various than in Fort Collins and Denver, many individuals favor a slower tempo of life.
Just like most cities in Colorado, outside recreation is considerable in Loveland. Boyd Lake State Park, Lake Loveland, and Satan’s Spine Open House present the widest array of leisure alternatives, whereas many lakes and smaller parks dot the panorama. Loveland can be the closest giant metropolis to Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park.
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10. Centennial, CO
Inhabitants:106,883Median Sale Value:$660,000Median Hire Value:$2,400Average Commute Time:25.8 minutesUnemployment Price:2.5%
A suburb of Denver half-hour southeast, Centennial is a reasonably upscale metropolis with excessive median sale and hire costs. Town may be very unfold out, too, so that you’ll probably want a automobile for errands.
Breweries are one of many greatest attracts of the world, alongside quiet residential streets, giant housing tons, and handy entry to Denver alongside the E and R gentle rail traces. Resolute and Two22 are a number of the favourite breweries amongst locals. For individuals who need some meals to go together with their craft beer, Pollo Lima and Sukiya Ramen serve scrumptious world cuisines.
An amazing half about dwelling in Centennial is that it has big-city facilities with out the hustle and bustle. Loads of giant firms have workplaces in Centennial, together with Comcast, Nordstrom, and UnitedHealthcare, whereas many neighborhoods are constructed as developments surrounding a golf course or nation membership. The suburban metropolis is laid out on a grid, with many facilities alongside Arapahoe Highway.
Out of doors recreation is common as nicely, in fact. Cherry Creek State Park is the biggest within the space, whereas Willow Spring Open House, deKoevend Park, and the Willow Creek Path are different hotspots. Snowy winters are widespread and may flip parks right into a winter wonderland.
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Methodology
Redfin’s Greatest Locations to Reside rankings are supposed to assist house searchers make an knowledgeable determination when selecting the place to reside. To try to measure the general high quality of a metro space, every rating takes under consideration a number of key elements, together with entry to healthcare, open outside area, navigability, housing tendencies, employment statistics, earnings, and journey time to work. Solely metros with a inhabitants of 20,000 or higher have been thought-about for our Colorado checklist. Extra details about our methodology might be discovered right here.
Knowledge legitimate April 2025. This text is for informational and academic functions solely.
