Top Places to Live in Colorado 2021
Livability.com has composed a list of the Top 100 Places to Live in America for the past 8 years based on surveys, studies, and adjust algorithms and new variables to pinpoint the new number one position. Due to the pandemic, the world has experienced a new way of work, which has deeply impacted how people view their home life. These new, more flexible rules have raised questions, where do I want to live if I work remotely? Can I afford my dream town?
Over 1,000 small to mid sized cities have been analyzed based on “factors like safety, affordability, economic stability, outdoor recreation, accessibility, community engagement.” When asked, these were what was important to 42% of Americans who have moved since March 2020 or considered moving.
On the list of 100, a total of four cities in Colorado were ranked, is one of them your town? If you’re looking for a nationally ranked new town in Colorado, here are a few ideas!
Want to move to Colorado?
#1. Colorado Springs (#9 nationally)
Home to Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO is a proud military town — and so much more. Nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs offers unparalleled access to nature and plenty of outdoor recreation activities to keep you busy, making it one of the best places to live in America. With excellent job prospects, tons of higher education opportunities, and lots of sunshine, the residents who live here have an authentic community feel.
Top Colleges/Universities: U.S. Air Force Academy, University of Colorado – Colorado Springs & Pikes Peak Community College
Top Industries & Employers: Military, aerospace, electronics, health care, education
Weekend Plans: Spend the day golfing or getting a spa treatment on the picturesque grounds of The Broadmoor, then treat yourself to lunch or dinner at one of the resort’s many top-notch restaurants.
Favorite Place to Feast: Bristol Brewing Company at Ivywild School, a repurposed elementary school that’s been given new life as a community gathering space with amazing nostalgic remnants from its school days still intact!
Beloved Beverage: The rotating, seasonal gin cocktails at Brooklyn’s on Boulder Street, a speakeasy-style bar that looks like a men’s clothing shop.
Outdoorsy Activity: Hike or bike roughly 13 miles to the summit of Pikes Peak, which towers over the region at 14,115 feet and inspired the lyrics of “America the Beautiful.” When you get to the top, reward yourself with one of the summit’s world-famous (and super proprietary) high-altitude donuts.
Why Your Pet Will Love It, Too: While dogs are welcome at tons of restaurant and brewery patios around town, their favorite spot will definitely be a hybrid restaurant/dog park called Pub Dog. This establishment lets dogs hang out with you indoors as you eat. Pub Dog also offers their own 3,000-square-foot off-leash area for your fluffy companion to romp and play.
Remote Work Perk: When you work from home in Colorado Springs, you’re never more than a few minutes away from a trailhead. Hike break for lunch, anyone?
One More Thing … Colorado Springs is home to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center
as well as the amazing U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum so keep your eyes peeled as you walk
around town — you never know when you’ll run into one of the nation’s top athletes!
Check out this home for sale in Colorado Springs! 5 Beds | 5 Baths | 5,093 Sq. Ft. | 0.71Acre Lot
#2. Aurora (#36 nationally)
There’s a lot to swoon over in the Centennial State, and Aurora, CO offers that covetable Colorado lifestyle. It’s a neighbor to Denver, close to the Denver International Airport and an hour’s drive west will put you to the mountains. Aurora ranks high in the demographics category as a minority-majority city, with a diverse population. The economy is solid, with a medical campus, Air Force base and aerospace businesses providing many job opportunities. Of course, weekends are for exploring, whether that’s the 103 miles of trails or the various restaurants. Glorious mountain views from your home— enough said.
Top Colleges/Universities: The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Aurora Community College
Top Industries & Employers: You’ll find a variety of jobs in Aurora, with industries spanning several sectors. Buckley Air Force Base, University of Colorado Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado are all located here. Plus, there are several aerospace companies and government contractors, including Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
Weekend Plans: Book a staycation at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center. Indoor waterslides and pools mean you can have a pool day even when it’s snowing outside. The Gaylord is a year-round destination, but the holiday programming is magical. We’re talking about Cirque shows, cameos by Santa, an outdoor adventure park with ice bumper cars, tubing, and an ice skating rink.
Favorite Place to Feast: The Stanley Marketplace, an airy, made-over factory building that’s home to several restaurants. Some favorites are New York-style bagels from Rosenberg’s Bagels and Delicatessen, as well as griddled tacos and spicy margaritas from Comida. For a memorable meal, make a dinner reservation at award-winning Annette, a sweet restaurant built around a wood-fired grill that roasts fish and chicken to perfection.
Outdoorsy Activity: Aurora has 8,000 acres of open space, so you’ve got options!
Why Your Pet Will Love It, Too: When it comes to dog parks, the one at Cherry Creek State Park is top dog. Dogs can run around in a 107-acre open space bisected by
a creek. So it’s no wonder 250,000 dog lovers visit this area each year.
Check out this home for sale in Aurora! 5 Beds | 4 Baths | 4,869 Sq. Ft. | 0.19 Acre Lot
#3. Fort Collins (#42 nationally)
Nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Fort Collins, CO is an active, outdoorsy college town with a charming downtown and a fast-growing tech scene. Families, young professionals, creatives, college students, adventurers and retirees all love Fort Collins for its outdoor recreation amenities, proximity to nature and the local food scene. What’s more, Fort Collins has a thriving economy and a strong entrepreneurial spirit, which makes it the perfect place to grow your career or start a business.
Top Colleges/Universities: Colorado State University & Front Range Community College
Top Industries & Employers: Manufacturing and high-tech are two key industries in Fort Collins, with companies like Noosa, Otter Products and Anheuser-Busch opting to do business here, just to name a few.
Favorite Place to Feast: Ginger and Baker, a downtown community hub located inside a historic mill building. There are several eateries inside, including a fine-dining restaurant, a cafe and a bakery specializing in heavenly pies.
Outdoorsy Activity: Fishing, kayaking or whitewater rafting the Poudre River (full name “Cache la Poudre River”), which meanders down from the Continental Divide and through Fort Collins.
Rooftop Bar: Sunset Lounge, located atop The Elizabeth Hotel. It has an upscale lounge vibe, complete with sophisticated cocktails and sultry live jazz, making it perfect for an intimate date or a night out on the town.
One More Thing … Fort Collins’ historic Old Town area is so charming that it served as the inspiration for
Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. Walt Disney asked Hollywood art director Harper Goff to help design the park. Goff, who grew up in Fort Collins, drew on his childhood memories when sketching out the park’s main street.
Check out this home for sale in Fort Collins! 5 Beds | 5 Baths | 5,988 Sq. Ft. | 0.18 Acre Lot
#4. Longmont (#92 nationally)
Longmont, CO has everything you need to be successful, whether you’re raising young kids, starting your own business, pursuing a new career path or hoping to make a difference in your community. Longmont is conveniently located between Boulder, Denver and Fort Collins and can be more affordable than some of its Front Range neighbors. With a big emphasis on open space and trails, a friendly, down-to-earth vibe, tons of innovative restaurants, bars and breweries, and a culture that supports everything from outdoor adventure to art, Longmont is somewhere you’ll never want to leave.
Top Colleges/Universities: Front Range Community College
Top Industries & Employers: Education, tech, health care, aviation and manufacturing
Outdoorsy Activity: Go tubing down St. Vrain Creek, which was severely damaged by flooding in 2013 but has since been revitalized and turned into a float course.
Rooftop Bar: The Roost, located on Longmont’s historic Main Street, offers tons of whiskey selections (plus great tater tots!).
Why Your Pet Will Love It, Too: People love to bring their dogs along for an afternoon of sipping craft beer on various brewery patios throughout Longmont.
Remote Work Perk: Longmont has its own municipal fiber gigabit internet service called NextLight. Not only is it super fast and reliable, but it’s also incredibly affordable, which makes working from home a super seamless, pain-free experience.
One More Thing … Longmont has a unique backstory. In 1870, a group of people living in Chicago packed up their belongings and moved whole-hog to the site that is now Longmont.
They sold memberships for this new
town, then called the Chicago-Colorado Colony, and built the city from scratch, bringing their own lumber and building materials from Illinois.
Check out this home for sale in Longmont! 4 Beds | 2 Baths | 2,717 Sq. Ft. | 0.16 Acre Lot
Ready to relocate?
Check out: Top Places to Live in Arizona, California, Nevada 2021
Source: Livability.com houses from HomeScout