7 of Colorado’s Best Communities to Retire

Colorado’s rising popularity and continued growth bring in new residents daily from all over the country. While many of those looking for work head to the busiest spots around the Denver Metropolitan Area, those with more flexible situations like retirees have their choice of where to settle down.

With the glorious Rocky Mountains as the center attraction of this great state, it makes sense to pick a prime retirement spot in proximity to its glory. For those looking to retire in Colorado and choose the best town to do it in, we’ve compiled this list.

Why do so many people want to retire in Colorado?

Sunset over the Collegiate Peaks in Buena Vista, Colo.

Whether you’re nearing the end of your career life or you’ve already left the industry, you’ve probably already considered the place where you might want to retire. This is a big decision that you’re going to have to make, especially because you won’t be able to move around as much as when you were younger and also because you might potentially live here for the rest of your life.

There are many places that hold various wonders in the country, but Colorado holds within it a few natural spots that no other place in the country has. There’s often the dilemma between having to choose between getting in touch with nature and enjoying the comforts of modern technology. Colorado is special in the sense that it has both of these things. And if that isn’t reason enough for you to consider retiring here, the next few reasons might convince you.

The Food

Food trucks line up for Taste of Colorado in Denver’s Civic Center Park.

One of the first things you need to try when you visit any place is the food native to that area. This is both speaking from a cultural and a practical perspective. Colorado has a lot of really good food that deserves its own article. Colorado boasts some of the best bison dishes in the country. This is a big factor to consider especially if you’re someone who likes to eat. There’s such a wide range of food that there’s bound to be something for everyone.

The Great Outdoors

Overlooking Park County’s awesomeness south of Terryal Reservoir.

Whether it’s in the form of mountains, deserts, grasslands, or the famous Colorado River that headwaters in the state and runs through the Grand Canyon, there’s just so much nature here to enjoy. Couple that with the numerous adventure-focused activities like trekking, skiing, and kayaking and you’re in for the adventure of a lifetime. There’s always something to do and you would not be short while planning on what to do in retirement.

The Weather

Blue sky day at the Cherry Creek Dog Park in Aurora, CO.

When 300 days of your year are sunny, you’re bound to be in a good mood most of the time because exposure to sunlight triggers the production of serotonin in your body. This is responsible for boosting a person’s attitude as well as helping that person maintain calmness and focus. In a way, this also explains why Colorado residents are generally friendly and easy to get along with. But aside from the emotional benefits of regular exposure to sunlight, there are also several physiacl benefits, the chief among them is the fact that sunlight exposure can also help reduce blood pressure, which in turn lowers the risk for other heart ailments.

Top Towns in Colorado to Retire In

Twilight gondola ride in ‘The Boat.

This retirement list isn’t backed by statistics, only preference based on living here and spending time all over this Centennial State. High elevation towns like Leadville (10,200′) and Breckenridge (9,600′) are out because most of us don’t have Sherpa blood and could do without the heavy breathing just to scrape off our windshield. Super expensive resort towns like Vail and Aspen are also 86’ed for retirement because it’s better we stretch our dollars.

There’s also a lack of Denver Metro cities because it’s getting so damn busy here already that who wants to move here or who wants you to move here 😉 But if you really are a city slicker by choice, I’d aim for anything WEST of Highway I-25 (the mountain side) and choose the likes of Littleton, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Morrison or Golden.

Here are some of the best places in Colorado to retire, in no particular order:

Fort Collins, CO

Pedestrian Mall View – Old Town Fort Collins, CO. Photo: Joe Wolf

For those looking to escape the increasing traffic of the Mile High City, but still reap the benefits of living in a large city, retire in Fort Collins. It’s Colorado’s fourth largest city at more than 165,000 people. And it feels even bigger due to being a college town. Over 33,000 students (undergrad and grad combined) attend Colorado State University. Go Rams!

Horsetooth at night. Photo: David Kingham

While the ski resorts are far away, every other bit of world class recreation is at your fingertips. Catch a sunset from the shores of Horsetooth Reservoir, located only minutes from downtown. Afterward stroll the historic Old Town’s blocks and blocks of charming shops and restaurants. The Cache La Poudre Scenic Byway leads you west into the Rockies on Highway 14 right from town, unlocking endless forests and mountain vistas.

Salida, CO

Signs, old and new, in the historic town district of Salida, CO. Photo: Dave Minkel

Salida’s got one of the biggest historic districts in the state and nearly 6,000 residents, so it’s actually one of the more populated mountain towns. Situated at 7,083 feet, year round you can find something to do here. This charming community on the Arkansas River is a whitewater mecca, so summers bring in waves of tourists and fresh faces. Wintertime skiing is only 30 minutes away on the uncrowded and affordable slopes of Monarch Mountain.

Mayhem in SUP Cross at the FIBArk Whitewater Festival. Photo: Josh Montague

If you need to reach the front range civilization, it’s relatively fast to do so. Both Pueblo and Colorado Springs lie about two hours east, and Denver is just shy of 3 hours to the northeast. Going west leads you into the heart of the Rocky Mountains and among the best playgrounds for nature. With tasty restaurants, chain stores like your Walmart, and big cities close enough, Salida has been and will continue to be a top retirement town in Colorado.

A couple other neighboring gems to consider are Buena Vista and Cañon City. Both are neighboring towns located along the Arkansas River about 30 minutes and an hour from Salida, respectively.

Buena Vista has a high elevation of around 8,000 feet and population of around 3,000 people, so it’s good if you’re looking for solitude. Denver is under 2.5 hours and COS about 2 hours. You’ll have to put up with a few degrees cooler temperatures than Salida, given the extra 1000 feet in elevation, however, Buena Vista has a couple nice hot springs resorts to enjoy.

My top choice would be Salida’s downstream neighbor Cañon City. It’s got more than 16,000 residents, which brings with it more amenities like restaurants. You’ll find a few fast food places, some sit down restaurants like a Chili’s and diners, and even some microbreweries. At only 5300 feet situated by Colorado’s banana belt, it boasts among the best climate in the state. It’s generally a few degrees warmer than Denver. Colorado Springs is only 50 minutes northeast and Pueblo 45 minutes east or 30 minutes to Pueblo West.

Evergreen, CO

Road Sign Barn at Evergreen, CO. Photo: Kent Kanouse

One of the closest mountain towns to Denver, Evergreen really provides the best of both worlds. Located at 7,220 feet, with a vibrant population of 9,038 residents in 2010, you’ll find both a historic downtown and ample chain stores on the outskirts. Another nice feature of Evergreen is its accessibility.

It’s tucked between Highway 285 and Interstate 70, so you can reach it from both the north and south, or come directly thru the foothills past Morrison and Kittredge. It’s more or less considered a mountain suburb of Denver.

Elk on the golf course at Evergreen CO. Photo: Aaron Patterson

As one of the Colorado’s best small towns, Evergreen caters well to retirees. The locals are health conscious and that’s reflected in the quality of restaurants and outdoor recreation in town. From microbreweries to steakhouses, establishments take great pride in what they serve. Evergreen Lake is the center piece of town, offering fishing year round and ice skating each winter.

Woodland Park, CO

Woodland Park, Colorado. Photo: Ken Lund

Like the aforementioned town, Woodland Park is another alpine suburb, but this time of Colorado Springs (COS). It’s located less than a 30 minute drive from Colorado’s second largest city, residing in the omnipresence of Pikes Peak. Like Evergreen, Woodland Park is a fun community full of health focused, nature loving citizens.

Pike’s Peak near Woodland Park CO. Photo: Osajus

The town of 7,642 residents in 2010 sits at 8,465 feet toward the top of the stunning Ute Pass. This easy mountain drive winds from downtown COS, up past Manitou Springs, Cascade, Chipita Park and Green Mountain Falls before reaching Woodland Park. It finishes 7 miles west of that in Divide, in total stretching from 6,165 to 9,165 feet. Each community along the route offers unique sights and sounds for visitors and locals alike.

If you’d rather live a couple thousand feet lower and with far greater access to entertainment and facilities, Colorado’s second largest city is a fantastic place to retire. It’s still cheaper than Denver and folks who live there love Colorado Springs.

Durango, CO

Historic Strater Hotel Durango Colorado. Photo: Al_HikesAZ

Southwest Colorado’s biggest city, Durango, is an absolute beautiful place to retire. At 6,522 feet the winters are more mild (but still plentiful Rocky Mountain snow) and summers warmer than higher elevation towns. The population of 18,465 in 2017 makes it probably Colorado’s largest mountain town too.

For the surrounding towns of Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, Mancos and Cortez it even acts as “the city”, attracting the other locals from up to an hour away just for a fun night on the town. Telluride is 2 hours away.

Durango to Silverton Railroad. Photo: Jerry and Pat Donaho

There are far more bars and restaurants in Durango thanks to its year round tourism than neighboring towns. The Durango & Silverton Railroad brings people from all over the world, enhancing the international feeling of the destination town. Purgatory Resort’s 1,605 skiable acres and 2,029 rolling feet of vertical are only 30 minutes to the north. Plus you have Chapman Hill in town for your tiny learning ski hill, ice skating, as well as Hesperus Ski Area providing great night riding and surprising terrain only 15 minutes away. Trimble Hot Springs relaxes aching muscles and minds year round.

Thanks to the town’s location in the Animas River Valley of La Plata County, future expansion and commercialization is limited due to lack of available terrain. So get in while you can. Another interesting note, while Denver is 6 hours away and COS only 30 minutes less, the closest major city is actually Albuquerque at 3.5 hours. Viva New Mexico, the “Land of Enchantment”, Tierra del Encanto!

Steamboat Springs, CO

Summer at Steamboat Lake State Park. Photo: John B. Kalla

Visit the Yampa Valley once and you’re hooked, or cursed they say. You’ll be back. The fantastic heart of the Yampa River Valley is Steamboat Springs. Like its name implies, there are two fantastic hot springs in town: Strawberry Park and Old Town. Out of all the retirement towns mentioned, “The Boat” has the best skiing and snow quality.

Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Photo: Frank DiBona

People dream of sipping fine champagne chasing sunsets during their retirement, but who knew you could ski the stuff in Steamboat, thanks to its Champagne Powder®. The lower elevation of 6,732 feet means warmer temps (no “Breckenfridge”) and a ski resort entirely below tree line. The summit is 10,570 feet (a good 1,000 feet under for CO). So no bowls to ski, but legendary tree skiing. Visibility bad? Duck into the glades.

Downtown Steamboat Springs is a true western town, with wide streets (for accommodating large cattle herds), welcoming locals, and timeless natural beauty. In 2017 there were 12,965 recorded residents, making Steamboat a fairly big alpine community. Denver can be driven year round in under 3 hours, weather pending on Rabbit Ears Pass. Salt Lake City is 5.5 hours almost straight west.

Palisade, CO

Eric Mt. Garfield overlooking Palisade, Colorado and Grand Valley. Photo: Donna Boley

The far Western Slope of Colorado certainly needs a mention. The I-70 corridor between Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction, which takes an hour to drive, is expected to grow significantly over the future as people escape the Front Range.

If you love the landscapes of Utah, but would like to live in Colorado, this region makes a great compromise. With a population of only 2,686 in 2017, Palisade seems like the tiniest town on our list. But it’s really just a suburb of the 62,475-large Grand Junction, at only 15 minutes from downtown to downtown.

Lake – Palisade, Colorado. Photo: BeerAndLoathing

Both tiniest and the lowest in elevation at 4,728 feet, Palisade has one of the most unique ambiances on our list. It feels like the American West, a lower elevated but similar desert alpine feel to Durango. The scenery is still spectacular though, and creates one of the best growing conditions in the state.

You’ve probably heard of Palisade Peaches and its famous vineyards, but that’s just tip of the tasty culinary iceberg. Peach Street Distillers, Palisade Brewing Company, and the countless wineries will leave you feeling fine if that’s your cup of tea.

Another bonus to this Western Slope gem is its proximity to other gems. Utah’s crazy national parks lie not too far west (Moab is under 2 hours), Southwest Colorado is just down Highway 550 (heard of the Million Dollar Highway), and the largest flat topped mountain in the world is 30 miles southeast.

The Grand Junction Regional Airport connects with both Denver (DEN) and Salt Lake City’s (SLC) international airports for easy flights abroad. Metropolitan Denver is 3.5 hours east and SLC 4.5 hours west.

Other nearby towns to consider: Grand Junction and Fruita both feature fantastic milder climates for Colorado located around 4500 feet, nearly thousand feet less than most front range cities. The landscapes featured a lot of flat topped mountains, no surprise for these towns in Mesa County.

Sunset over a Northglenn Open Space Park.

In retirement, there are three things you’re most likely going to consider with all the free time you’re going to have. These things are your hobbies, your health, and your relationships. The state of Colorado benefits all these aspects and more. And if you haven’t found a happy and meaningful life yet, you’re bound to find it here.