Many individuals spend years dreaming of what their retirement will appear like. Along with all the monetary planning that goes into it, you’ve most likely additionally dreamed about what you’ll do together with your newfound free time. Lastly, you could have given some thought to the place you’ll stay. Positive, southern states like Florida and Texas have lengthy been widespread for retirees. However many individuals are actually branching out and on the lookout for different locations to spend their golden years, together with Colorado.
Is Colorado a Good Place to Retire?
Colorado has gotten a lot consideration lately and has grow to be a preferred place to retire. Its inhabitants has constantly elevated over the previous a number of years, and it’s simple to see why.
First, Colorado has some apparent advantages on the subject of the panorama and recreation. The state is stuffed with mountains and lakes, that means individuals who get pleasure from outside recreation will really feel proper at residence in Colorado.
Colorado additionally stands out as being one of many healthiest locations to stay. Along with on a regular basis its residents spend outdoor, Colorado additionally has one of many lowest weight problems charges within the nation and is understood for its wholesome (whereas nonetheless scrumptious) meals, a lot of which is domestically grown. The state has a number of hospitals which can be nationally ranked and gives a number of the greatest healthcare companies to seniors and younger individuals alike.
Moreover, Colorado has a powerful tradition. Along with its sturdy outside tradition, it additionally has a powerful artwork scene and is understood for its craft breweries and wineries.
Lastly, Colorado has some monetary advantages. Sure, the price of dwelling is larger than the nationwide common, and it’s been rising as extra individuals have moved to the state. Nevertheless, Colorado can be tax-friendly for seniors. The state permits a big deduction for retirement earnings for people 65 and older. Moreover, the state has a number of the lowest gross sales and property taxes within the nation, in addition to a property tax exemption for seniors who personal and occupy their houses in Colorado.
11 Greatest Locations to Retire in Colorado
1. Greeley
- Inhabitants: 109,323
- % of Inhabitants 65 and Older:2%
- Median House Worth: $458,146
- Value of Residing (In comparison with the State Common): 13% decrease
- Value of Healthcare (In comparison with the State Common): 3% decrease
- Crime Fee (In comparison with the State Common): 11% decrease
- Facilities Rating: A+
Greeley is a big metropolis in Weld County within the northern a part of Colorado. It’s positioned a brief drive from loads of different key areas within the state, together with Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, and Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park. Greeley is a school city and is residence to the College of Northern Colorado. It’s additionally residence to WeldWerks Brewery, which is likely one of the hottest in Colorado. Greeley has loads of outside recreation, together with mountain climbing trails, grasslands, parks, and extra. Lastly, the town has a powerful historical past and tradition which you could expertise on the native museums and different native points of interest.
Greeley has loads of perks for retirees and different residents. First, the town’s housing costs, healthcare prices, and total value of dwelling are all decrease than the state’s common. It additionally has a low crime charge and plenty of facilities. The one draw back to Greeley is the small senior inhabitants, which may make it harder to construct a neighborhood.
2. Pueblo
- Inhabitants: 112,368
- % of Inhabitants 65 and Older:2%
- Median House Worth: $312,177
- Value of Residing (In comparison with the State Common): 20% decrease
- Value of Healthcare (In comparison with the State Common): 9% decrease
- Crime Fee (In comparison with the State Common): 74% larger
- Facilities Rating: A+
Pueblo is a big Colorado metropolis close to the central a part of the state. Town is residence to the Colorado State College of Pueblo, the Pueblo Zoo, the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, and Lake Pueblo State Park, which sits on the Pueblo Reservoir. The park is a well-liked spot for fishing, boating, and tenting. Pueblo has a number of museums that show its wealthy historical past and tradition.
Pueblo has some downsides, together with its crime charge that’s above the state common. Nevertheless, it additionally has an total value of dwelling that features reasonably priced housing costs (even decrease than the nationwide common) and low healthcare prices. Lastly, the state has a comparatively massive senior inhabitants.
3. Fruita
- Inhabitants: 13,508
- % of Inhabitants 65 and Older:3%
- Median House Worth: $433,260
- Value of Residing (In comparison with the State Common): 6% decrease
- Value of Healthcare (In comparison with the State Common): 5% larger
- Crime Fee (In comparison with the State Common): 61% decrease
- Facilities Rating: A+
Fruita is a small municipality positioned in Mesa County within the western a part of Colorado. In reality, the town is only a quick drive from Utah. The state’s identify stems from the truth that it began as a fruit-producing area. Fruita sits alongside the Colorado River and has a formidable quantity of native outside recreation for such a small city. Inside and surrounding the city, you’ll discover many widespread trailheads, canyons, and different pure areas. The city is residence to the Museums of Western Colorado’s Dinosaur Journey Museum.
Fruita is a comparatively small city with a big share of its inhabitants being 65 or older. It additionally has housing prices and an total value of dwelling which can be beneath the state’s common. Lastly, the state has a criminal offense charge that’s significantly decrease than the state and nationwide common.
4. Fort Collins
- Inhabitants: 168,538
- % of Inhabitants 65 and Older:9%
- Median House Worth: $592,263
- Value of Residing (In comparison with the State Common): Equal to
- Value of Healthcare (In comparison with the State Common): 3% decrease
- Crime Fee (In comparison with the State Common): 27% decrease
- Facilities Rating: A+
Fort Collins is the fourth-largest metropolis in Colorado by inhabitants. It’s positioned within the northwestern a part of the state, simply over an hour immediately north of Denver. Fort Collins has a deep tradition that retirees will love. First, the town is named the Craft Beer Capital of Colorado, which is saying one thing, contemplating the big variety of craft breweries the state is residence to. It additionally has a big artwork scene that features its orchestra, ballet, opera, and artwork galleries. Lastly, Fort Collins is surrounded by issues to do outdoors, together with its native mountain climbing, tenting, fishing, boating, kayaking, horseback driving, and far more.
Fort Collins has a price of dwelling that’s on par with the state’s common. Housing is barely dearer, whereas healthcare is barely extra reasonably priced. In the meantime, the town’s total value of dwelling is strictly equal to Colorado’s common. Town additionally enjoys a low crime charge and plenty of facilities. Nevertheless, it has a low senior inhabitants — solely about 10% of the residents are 65 or older.
5. Estes Park
- Inhabitants: 5,880
- % of Inhabitants 65 and Older:9%
- Median House Worth: $731,040
- Value of Residing (In comparison with the State Common): 4% larger
- Value of Healthcare (In comparison with the State Common): 3% decrease
- Crime Fee (In comparison with the State Common): 67% decrease
- Facilities Rating: A+
Estes Park is a small city in Northern Colorado that serves as the bottom of Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park. Along with being simply outdoors one of the crucial widespread nationwide parks, the town is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Close by you will discover Roosevelt Nationwide Forest, in addition to loads of wildlife. In different phrases, should you get pleasure from outside recreation, Estes Park is a spot you’ll get pleasure from.
Estes Park has housing prices and an total value of dwelling which can be larger than the state’s common. Nevertheless, it additionally has below-average healthcare prices and a really low crime charge. And as an added bonus for seniors, greater than 40% of the city’s residents are 65 or older, so that you’ll have a simple time discovering a neighborhood.
6. Buena Vista
- Inhabitants: 2,935
- % of Inhabitants 65 and Older: 12%
- Median House Worth: $524,725
- Value of Residing (In comparison with the State Common): 5% decrease
- Value of Healthcare (In comparison with the State Common): 2% larger
- Crime Fee (In comparison with the State Common): 45% decrease
- Facilities Rating: A+
Buena Vista is a small city positioned in Chaffee County within the central a part of Colorado. The city is well-known for its Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Space in and across the San Isabel Nationwide Forest. The realm can be residence to a part of the Sawatch Vary Mountains. You’ll discover mountains on all sides of Buena Vista, making for glorious mountain climbing and outside recreation (to not point out the unbelievable views). And should you’re on the lookout for native tradition, Buena Vista can be residence to the Buena Vista Heritage Museum.
Buena Vista has a small inhabitants. In reality, the most recent census confirmed it was simply shy of three,000 residents, about 12% of whom have been 65 or older. The state enjoys housing prices, healthcare prices, and an total value of dwelling which can be all decrease than the state’s common. Lastly, the city enjoys a really low crime charge.
7. Woodland Park
- Inhabitants: 7,983
- % of Inhabitants 65 and Older:6%
- Median House Worth: $523,059
- Value of Residing (In comparison with the State Common): 4% larger
- Value of Healthcare (In comparison with the State Common): 2% larger
- Crime Fee (In comparison with the State Common): 56% decrease
- Facilities Rating: A
Woodland Park is a small city in Teller County within the central a part of the state. The city is part of the Colorado Springs metropolitan space and sits simply half an hour from the bigger metropolis’s downtown. Woodland Park has the nickname “Metropolis Above the Clouds” as a result of it sits at practically 8,500 ft above sea stage. It has unbelievable views of Pikes Peak, in addition to nature areas on all sides, together with recreation areas, campgrounds, lakes, and extra.
Woodland Park’s healthcare prices and total value of dwelling are larger than the state’s common, however housing prices and the crime charge are each decrease. Town has roughly 8,000 residents, practically 19% of whom are 65 and older.
8. Steamboat Springs
- Inhabitants: 13,390
- % of Inhabitants 65 and Older:1%
- Median House Worth: $1,090,234
- Value of Residing (In comparison with the State Common): 23% larger
- Value of Healthcare (In comparison with the State Common): Equal to
- Crime Fee (In comparison with the State Common): 55% decrease
- Facilities Rating: A+
Steamboat Springs is a ski city within the northern a part of Colorado within the Yampa Valley. Town is residence to 2 of the state’s well-known ski areas — the Howelsen Hill ski space and the Steamboat ski resort. You’ll discover many close by peaks, together with Mount Werner. Town can be residence to geothermal scorching springs, that are mentioned to have therapeutic properties.
Steamboat Springs isn’t precisely an reasonably priced place to stay. Whereas its healthcare prices are on par with the state’s common, its total value of dwelling is larger, and the median residence value is greater than $1 million. However should you can afford to stay on this quaint ski city, it’s price it.
9. Salida
- Inhabitants: 5,812
- % of Inhabitants 65 and Older:9%
- Median House Worth: $577,602
- Value of Residing (In comparison with the State Common): 1% decrease
- Value of Healthcare (In comparison with the State Common): 5% larger
- Crime Fee (In comparison with the State Common): 59% larger
- Facilities Rating: A+
Salida is a small metropolis in Chaffee County within the central a part of Colorado. Town sits alongside the Arkansas River and is residence to the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Space. It’s additionally residence to native outside recreation, like mountain climbing trails and campgrounds. And while you head only a bit additional outdoors of city, you’ll discover the Pike and San Isabel Nationwide Forest, in addition to many mountains.
Salia has housing prices and an total value of dwelling which can be barely decrease than the nationwide common. Nevertheless, healthcare prices are a bit dearer than the state’s common. Town’s retirees additionally get pleasure from a powerful neighborhood since practically one-quarter of the residents are 65 or older. A serious draw back of Salida is the crime charge, which is sort of 60% larger than the state common.
10. Grand Junction
- Inhabitants: 66,964
- % of Inhabitants 65 and Older:3%
- Median House Worth: $384,319
- Value of Residing (In comparison with the State Common): 8% decrease
- Value of Healthcare (In comparison with the State Common): 5% larger
- Crime Fee (In comparison with the State Common): 59% larger
- Facilities Rating: A+
Grand Junction is a medium-sized metropolis within the western a part of Colorado, positioned within the state’s Western Slope area. Town is named the hub of the state’s wine nation. It sits alongside the Colorado River, which brings loads of outside recreation, together with river entry, lakes, wildlife, and extra. Town can be residence to loads of different websites, together with the Colorado Nationwide Monument, trailheads, botanical gardens, and extra.
Grand Junction is likely one of the most reasonably priced cities on our listing. The general value of dwelling is decrease than the nationwide common, and housing is kind of reasonably priced. Town additionally boasts a big senior inhabitants. Sadly, each the town’s healthcare prices and crime charge are larger than the state common.
11. Montrose
- Inhabitants: 20,648
- % of Inhabitants 65 and Older:3%
- Median House Worth: $419,425
- Value of Residing (In comparison with the State Common): 10% decrease
- Value of Healthcare (In comparison with the State Common): 5% larger
- Crime Fee (In comparison with the State Common): 3% larger
- Facilities Rating: A+
Montrose is a municipality positioned in Montrose County within the western a part of Colorado. The small city is understood for its tourism, with many museums, eating places, breweries, and native lodging to go to. Montrose sits simply to the west of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison Nationwide Forests. It additionally sits simply to the east of the Dominguez-Escalante Nationwide Conservation Space.
Monrose has housing prices and an total value of dwelling which can be decrease than the state’s common. Of its inhabitants of simply over 20,000 residents, greater than one-quarter of them are 65 or older, that means retirees can discover a sturdy neighborhood. Sadly, the town’s crime charge and healthcare prices are barely larger than the nationwide common.
Subsequent Steps for You
Colorado could be a wonderful place to spend your retirement, due to its sturdy tradition, outside recreation, stunning surroundings, and tax perks. However keep in mind that the place you’ll spend your retirement years isn’t the one factor you need to take into consideration. It’s additionally necessary to make sure your funds are heading in the right direction.
Go to the Private Capital Retirement Planner to see whether or not you’re on monitor for retirement and decide how a lot you ought to be saving per 30 days to achieve your retirement targets.
Get Began with Private Capital’s Retirement Planner
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