2017 Best Places to Retire in ColoradoAbout this List

Pueblo

• City in Colorado
• 298

Current Resident: Pueblo is a relatively quiet town, with little in the way of nightlife or activities for young people.
The largest employers are the steel mill, the hospitals, and the nearby Pueblo Chemical Depot. The majority of the educational choices offered by the community college and university in town are in fields related to these employers, and other educational paths suffer as a result.
Education at the primary and secondary levels is very poor in terms of helping students reach proficiency and preparing them for college. There are many passionate teachers in Pueblo, but they lack the resources to teach effectively. Elective and extracurricular courses suffer in Pueblo due to a lack of qualified instructors and funding for programs.
Culturally, Pueblo is quite diverse, but the Hispanic community has had the most obvious impact on the art, music, events, and of course the food. Pueblo is famous for its green chile, and many local restaurants have their own version of it.
Read 298 Reviews

• B-

• C+

• B+

• 108,073 Population

Lakewood

• City in Colorado
• 335

Current Resident: Lakewood is the perfectly situated, very large suburb. 15 minutes from Denver, 20 minutes from the foothills, you've got access to all the different aspects of Colorado life. It is a large suburb, with many different neighborhood subsets, and you definitely need a car to live here. Generally quite safe, most stores and restaurants close by 8-10 pm so the nightlife is minimal. A variety of affordable living depending on budget, from very expensive to very affordable. A nice place to grow up!
Read 335 Reviews

• A

• A-

• B+

• 147,836 Population

Colorado Springs

• City in Colorado
• 1,533

Current Resident: I Love the Mountain view everyday! I love the lite traffic, friendly people, healthy community, crazy weather you cannot really experience anywhere else. I love raising my family in this community. There are many family friendly volunteer opportunities in our community and lots of community support for leadership and furthering education. I strongly recommend this community for anyone interested in living in the Midwest. This is a military town with five military installations who love and care for active, retired and discharged veterans in the community. Guaranteed 360 days of sunshine in this beautiful city and state of colorful Colorado.
Read 1,533 Reviews

• A

• B

• B

• 442,040 Population

Aurora

• City in Colorado
• 255

Current Resident: Aurora is the second biggest city next to Denver in Colorado and has a very diverse population.

The city's population was 325,078 in the 2010 census, which made it the third most populous city in the state of Colorado and the 54th most populous city in the United States.

The Community College of Aurora is a Colorado community college with campuses in Aurora and Denver. In addition to the classes offered at these two campuses, it offers online courses and degrees. The Aurora Community College - CCA - offers an affordable way to transfer to a four-year college or university in Colorado.

Small enough to get to know you, and big enough to offer numerous courses of study that will meet your educational goals. Our exceptional faculty and staff, convenient class times and locations, friendly support services, and CCA offers tuition and fees that are about half of what students pay at a public or private university!
Read 255 Reviews

• A

• A

• B

• 345,867 Population

Denver

• City in Colorado
• 378

Current Resident: Denver sits at the foot of the beautiful Rockies and has great weather all year. I live in Arvada, which sits on hills north of Denver, and I never grow tired of the mountain and city views, especially at sunset and night. We have lakes and ponds everywhere, rich with waterfowl and eagles, and the people are friendly and open. Music and community events abound, and we have great schools and universities. There are many quaint historical towns nearby so every day trip is a vacation. Denver is growing in diversity and has a lot of heart. I love that there are many nonprofits and outreach organizations who care for the most helpless, and offer many opportunities to volunteer and get free training. This area is a great place to live and go to school!
Read 378 Reviews

• A

• B-

• B

• 649,654 Population

Fort Collins

• City in Colorado
• 587

Current Resident: Fort Collins is a beautiful town on the eastern slope of the front range. It's a college town with great night life and a variety of restaurants.
The best parts of Fort Collins include its vast array of public parks, trails, and nearby natural areas. Pingree and Rocky Mountain National Park are only an hour away from town. Health and fitness are popular here, if you're a health nut you will love it here.
Fort Collins is well known for its downtown district, termed "Old Town". The buildings here are older, artisan-like, and provide cultural enrichment. There are many alleyways and squares in this part of town, full of artwork and statues. It's a great place to live!
Read 587 Reviews

• A+

• A

• B

• 153,292 Population

Boulder

• City in Colorado
• 184

Former Resident: Spray paint decor, a homeless person with dreadlocks on every other corner, bicycling, bright colors, and the jagged foothills that line the west end of the sky: This is Boulder. If anything is gorgeously unusual, you can find it here. The homes are expensive, but the historical district is beautiful enough to make you consider spending your entire savings account. There are activities for everyone. If you like nightlife, Pearl Street offers a variety of bars. There is hiking, bicycling, aerial circus, and rock climbing for the adventurous. The artists can take art classes at the local college, stroll though parks full of sculptures, or spend hours painting along boulder creek. The only disadvantage is that fast food is scare. Numerous Whole Foods and local groceries offer healthy choices for health nuts, vegetarians, vegans, and more!
Read 184 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• B

• 103,919 Population

Lincoln Park

• Town in Colorado

• B-

• C

• A+

• 3,222 Population

Cokedale

• Town in Colorado

• B

• C-

• A+

• 140 Population

Fowler

• Town in Colorado

• B-

• B

• A+

• 1,144 Population

Williamsburg

• Town in Colorado

• B-

• C

• A

• 680 Population

Morrison

• Suburb of Denver, CO
• 4

Current Resident: Very lovely place. The town is very cute and small. There is a lot of open space. Only downside is the police officers get bored and love to ticket for everything.
Read 4 Reviews

• A-

• A-

• A

• 394 Population

Columbine Valley

• Suburb of Denver, CO
• 3

• A+

• A

• A

• 1,164 Population

La Veta

• Town in Colorado
• 1

Current Resident: La Veta is a small town in southern Colorado. It has a population of about 800 locals, with it swelling to about 2,000 during the summer and fall tourist season. It is a calm and peaceful setting, hosting many beautiful mountain views, friendly people and diverse wildlife. Activities in and around town include hiking, fishing, bird watching, hunting, art galleries, art and music festivals, concerts and more.
The school system in town reaches up until high school, and is considered a great education system for its size. With a graduation class average of about 12-20 students, students get lots of 1 on 1 time with teachers, leading to an increased chance of academic success throughout grade school and high school.
La Veta is a place worth experiencing. If you are into the arts, wildlife, the outdoors, history, and quaint small town life, this town is for you.
Read 1 Reviews

• B

• B+

• A

• 729 Population

Las Animas

• Town in Colorado
• 3

• C+

• B-

• A

• 1,813 Population

Perry Park

• Town in Colorado
• 2

• A

• B+

• A

• 1,727 Population

Cañon City

• Town in Colorado
• 41

Current Resident: Canon City ids a wonderful little town in Colorado, nestled in a bowl surrounded by mountains. It's quaint charm and amazing history make it a perfect stop on your way to see the Royal Gorge, the highest suspension bridge in North America. The lazy Arkansas River becomes prime whitewater rafting when the snowpack melts in the spring. Whether you enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, rafting or just experiencing the majestic beauty of the Colorado mountains, Canon City is the perfect spot to spend a week or two.
Read 41 Reviews

• B-

• C

• A

• 16,408 Population

Wellshire

• Neighborhood in Denver, CO
• 1

Niche User: I moved from Las Vegas, NV just about two years ago. I truly have fallen in love with Colorado and all of its enchanting beauties. There is a ton to do, not only the downtown and bar scene, but ESPECIALLY the great outdoors. I couldn't think of a better place to live. The reason I gave the feedback that I did, is because all you hear about our police force recently in the news. I love that we are implementing the police body cams on top of more street cameras. I think it is important that we all feel safe.
Read 1 Reviews

• A+

• B-

• A

• 3,363 Population

Paonia

• Town in Colorado
• 2

Former Resident: Paonia is a very small town! The community is very supportive and you know most of the people there after being there for like a week. Great place to vacation too and it is beautiful there.
Read 2 Reviews

• B+

• B

• A

• 1,255 Population

Redlands

• Town in Colorado
• 10

Niche User: I plan on leaving this area when I go to college, but I know I will be back here to raise my kids, because this is an area that I want my kids to grow up in. It's the perfect mix between small community and big city. We have all the resources of a big city but have the living of a small town. Everyone seems to know one another, and has family here. The schools are improving for the most part, and the town continues to grow.
Read 10 Reviews

• B

• B-

• A

• 10,086 Population

Cherry Creek

• Neighborhood in Denver, CO
• 1

• A+

• B

• A-

• 6,267 Population

Montrose

• Town in Colorado
• 17

Niche User: Montrose is one of the best places to live in Colorado! The remarkable diversity of landscapes makes for the perfect adventure. There are many scenic views and enticing activities to indulge in. You can go camping in the forest filled with aspens or pine trees, an then go dirtbike riding in the adobe hills. You could go fishing in the abundance of lakes, or take a stroll on main street and see the local businesses. The people are also very wonderful almost everyone you meet is up beat and so personable. I see the town expanding which is great for students i just hope it doesnt change too much.
Read 17 Reviews

• B+

• B-

• A-

• 18,970 Population

Gold Hill

• Town in Colorado

• B

• A+

• A-

• 189 Population

Fruitvale

• Town in Colorado
• 4

Niche User: I love the views of the mountains, and the atmosphere of the outdoors. I enjoy how much room we have in our backyard, and how we can even own a farm because of the vast space.
Read 4 Reviews

• B-

• C+

• A-

• 7,458 Population

Estes Park

• Town in Colorado
• 3

• A-

• B+

• A-

• 6,103 Population