If you are looking to hike 14ers outside of Steamboat Springs. Or to golf Jack Nicholson’s courses in Denver. Or to hang with your friends at a brewery in Montrose. Then look no further than our list of the best places to retire in ColoradoColorado for 2024.
You better put some pep in that retirement step because Colorado is one of the fastest-growing states in the country with the 65 and older population expected to increase to 15% of the state’s population by 2024.
The Centennial State’s best places to retire are some of the best places in the state in terms of safety, affordability, amenities, and distance to the closest international airport. But what makes Colorado great for retirees is its down-to-earth, active people and creative, friendly communities.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Colorado For 2024
What’s the best place to retire in Colorado for 2024? According to the latest FBI and Census data, the best place to retire is Montrose.
Grab yourself a cold Fat Tire and a sunny spot on Aspen Mountain’s sundeck and read on as we uncover Colorado’s top ten best places to retire.
Why did Montrose take the top spot? And where are Denver and Colorado Springs?
For more Colorado state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Colorado
- Cheapest Places To Live In Colorado
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Colorado
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Colorado For 2024
/10
Population: 20,394
Median Income: $60,132
Median Home Price: $423,228
Median Rent: $1,032
Distance to Closest Airport: 195 miles
More on Montrose: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 33,905
Median Income: $121,754
Median Home Price: $567,646
Median Rent: $1,659
Distance to Closest Airport: 44 miles
More on Windsor: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,466
Median Income: $44,556
Median Home Price: $239,066
Median Rent: $838
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Sterling: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 45,531
Median Income: $90,273
Median Home Price: $674,009
Median Rent: $1,554
Distance to Closest Airport: 26 miles
More on Littleton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,251
Median Income: $93,280
Median Home Price: $1,192,382
Median Rent: $1,813
Distance to Closest Airport: 121 miles
More on Steamboat Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 76,500
Median Income: $81,898
Median Home Price: $487,758
Median Rent: $1,595
Distance to Closest Airport: 43 miles
More on Loveland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 65,918
Median Income: $62,993
Median Home Price: $382,198
Median Rent: $1,007
Distance to Closest Airport: 214 miles
More on Grand Junction: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,420
Median Income: $72,955
Median Home Price: $439,901
Median Rent: $1,142
Distance to Closest Airport: 166 miles
More on Rifle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 33,634
Median Income: $79,375
Median Home Price: $522,702
Median Rent: $1,483
Distance to Closest Airport: 22 miles
More on Englewood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 20,920
Median Income: $135,840
Median Home Price: $821,232
Median Rent: $1,950
Distance to Closest Airport: 25 miles
More on Louisville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Centennial State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Colorado to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Centennial State — 450 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 43 places from across the state.
For these 43, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 43, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Montrose, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Colorado.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Colorado Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Colorado goes to Montrose.
The best places to retire in Colorado are Montrose, Windsor, Sterling, Littleton, Steamboat Springs, Loveland, Grand Junction, Rifle, Englewood, and Louisville.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Fountain
- Lone Tree
- Golden
For more Colorado reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Colorado
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montrose | 20,394 | $60,132 | $423,228 | $1,032 |
| 2 | Windsor | 33,905 | $121,754 | $567,646 | $1,659 |
| 3 | Sterling | 13,466 | $44,556 | $239,066 | $838 |
| 4 | Littleton | 45,531 | $90,273 | $674,009 | $1,554 |
| 5 | Steamboat Springs | 13,251 | $93,280 | $1,192,382 | $1,813 |
| 6 | Loveland | 76,500 | $81,898 | $487,758 | $1,595 |
| 7 | Grand Junction | 65,918 | $62,993 | $382,198 | $1,007 |
| 8 | Rifle | 10,420 | $72,955 | $439,901 | $1,142 |
| 9 | Englewood | 33,634 | $79,375 | $522,702 | $1,483 |
| 10 | Louisville | 20,920 | $135,840 | $821,232 | $1,950 |