Study: Best Cities to Grow Old in Colorado

Compared to the sunny beaches of Florida or the arid desert of the Southwest, Colorado may seem like an unconventional choice for retirees. There are, however, some distinct advantages to spending your golden years in the Centennial State.

The summers are warm but not overwhelmingly so and winters are milder compared to its northern neighbors. Awe-inspiring landscapes are perfect for exploring the great outdoors and there are ample opportunities for enjoying the arts. If you're ready to exchange your current surroundings for a mountain view, here are 10 cities you'll want to consider.

10 Best Cities to Retire in Colorado

Study Methodology

There are lots of great places to live in Colorado and choosing the best spots for retirees was no easy task. Our first step involved gathering U.S. Census data for those locations with a population of 10,000 people or more. From there, we assigned each city a ranking in five specific categories, explained in more detail below. The cities we selected for our top 10 spots are the ones that earned the best overall ranking across all five categories combined:

1. Senior Population
   
2. Housing
   
3. Income
   
4. Recreation
   
5. Healthcare/social assistance

One of the great things about retiring to a new city is getting the chance to broaden your social circle. To measure how easy it is to connect with your peers, we considered the percentage of seniors aged 65 and up in each city.

Senior living communities are desirable for retirees for several reasons. Typically, they feature apartments or townhomes, which require less maintenance than a traditional home. You'll also find that they come with plenty of amenities and aren't as much of a burden on your wallet. If you're ready to downsize, take a look at the percentage of multi-unit housing structures are available in each city.

As you move into retirement, it's expected that your income may fluctuate as you begin taking Social Security payments or pension payouts. We know you might be curious about what retirees in a particular area are bringing in so we ranked each city based in part on the median household income for residents age 65 and up.

Volunteering or taking up a new hobby are good ways to spend your free time but there are many other ways to stay active in retirement. To determine where seniors have the most opportunities for keeping busy, we looked at how each city ranks based on the number of people to art, recreation and entertainment establishments.

A retirement move usually means a change of doctors and we understand that finding quality medical care in your new hometown is a priority. We considered the ratio of people to healthcare and social assistance establishments in each city as a measure of the variety of services that are available.

10. Grand Junction

• Population Over 65: 15.7%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 22.8%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $32,302
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 1,497.5
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 166.4

Grand Junction is located along the Colorado River, not far from the Utah border. The city's got a healthy population of about 60,000 people, more than 15% of whom are seniors. If you've got an eye for natural beauty and a taste for adventure, you won't be disappointed. Grand Junction is close to both the Colorado National Monument and the McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area (about 1.5 hours), where you can go rafting, fishing or hiking.

Did You Know: Mesa County has been the site of a number of important fossil discoveries over the years, including the earliest Brachiosaurus and the Bollan Stegosaurus.

9. Durango

• Population Over 65: 8.9%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 36.3%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $44,363
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 688.6
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 97.3

Situated in the southern part of the state, Durango is a magnet for tourists but the 17,000 people who live here year-round already know what makes it so special. It has the second best ranking in both the healthcare and entertainment categories as well as one of the higher median incomes for seniors. There are five major ski areas nearby and when the weather warms up, you can hit the trails at Mesa Verde National Park.

Did You Know: Durango's name is drawn from the Basque word "Urango" which means "water town."

8. Boulder

• Population Over 65: 9%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 46.5%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $57,163
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 925.5
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 177.1

With over 101,000 residents, Boulder is one of the largest cities in our rankings and in the state. Located approximately 30 miles north of Denver, Boulder has established itself as an important urban center in its own right. Multi-unit housing is plentiful and seniors earn a generous median income of over $57,000. The city's residents enjoy a wide variety of recreation and entertainment options, such as the Andrews Arboretum, Redstone Meadery and the Leanin' Tree Museum of Western Art.

Did You Know: Boulder is notable for being one of the largest beer-producing areas in the world.

7. Montrose

• Population Over 65: 19.6%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 17.2%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $35,063
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 1,898.1
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 131.8

Montrose sits to the southeast of Grand Junction, nestled between the Gunnison and Uncompahgre National Forest areas. Less than 19,000 people reside here and close to 20% of them are over 65. Even though its location is a little more remote, Montrose isn't lacking when it comes to things like healthcare and social programs for seniors. The Black Canyon at Gunnison is easily one of the most scenic spots for camping and horseback riding while the Ute Indian Museum provides a fascinating look at the valley's earliest inhabitants.

Did You Know: Scenes from "True Grit" and "How the West Was Won" were filmed along Owl Creek Pass.

6. Lakewood

• Population Over 65: 14.5%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 40%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $44,423
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 2,798.4
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 294.6

Lakewood is a suburb of Denver and the most populous city in our rankings, with over 145,000 residents. One of the things that makes it so attractive for retirees is the fact that you'll pay quite a bit less for housing compared to the capital city. The Clements Community Center offers numerous ways for seniors to stay active, including fitness and wellness classes as well as outings to local venues. There are also two golf courses within city limits as well as several parks and open spaces.

Did You Know: Lakewood's Casa Bonita restaurant has been called one of the nation's best roadside attractions.

5. Lone Tree

• Population Over 65: 8.8%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 36.5%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $82,560
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 1,481.5
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 118.5

Head south out of Denver and you’ll soon come to the quiet little city of Lone Tree. Less than 12,000 people make their home here and almost 9% of them are 65 or older. Despite its smaller size, Lone Tree ranks second best overall for income, with seniors bringing in a median pay of more than $82,000. There’s a strong cultural scene and the city has its own symphony orchestra as well as a performing arts center. You’re also less than 25 miles from attractions like the Denver Zoo and Coors Field.

Did You Know: The Schweiger Ranch is one of Lone Tree’s most significant historical sites.

4. Steamboat Springs

• Population Over 65: 8.8%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 47.8%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $57,439
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 401
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 130.8

Steamboat Springs, one of Colorado's premier resort destinations for skiers, is a good fit for retirees in any season. About 12,000 people live here and close to 9% are 65 and up. It earned the best individual ranking in the housing and entertainment categories, but it also scored well for healthcare. Aside from skiing, Steamboat Springs residents enjoy mountain biking, kayaking along the Yampa River and taking a soak at the Old Town Hot Springs.

Did You Know: The annual Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival is the oldest continuous running event of its kind west of the Mississippi.

3. Littleton

• Population Over 65: 16.1%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 38.6%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $37,723
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 1,824
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 187.9

Littleton, which got its start during the Pike's Peak gold rush, has evolved into one of Denver's busier suburbs. There are close to 44,000 people living in the area, which includes a considerable percentage of seniors. Housing prices are comparable to neighboring cities, with several dedicated retirement communities to choose from. Hudson Gardens offers classes on everything from beekeeping to gardening and it also serves as the venue for the city's summer concert series.

Did You Know: "South Park" creator Matt Stone hails from Littleton.

2. Wheat Ridge

• Population Over 65: 17.5%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 33.5%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $35,043
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 1,535.9
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 164.3

Wheat Ridge gets high marks based on its senior population, availability of retirement housing and its low ratio of people to healthcare and social assistance providers. Conveniently located just northwest of Denver, Wheat Ridge is a little bigger than some of the other metro area suburbs but it still evokes a quaint small-town feel. There are a number of places to shop as well as several parks where you can take a stroll. The Wheat Ridge Active Adult Center sponsors regular outdoor events, as well as education and hobby classes for older residents.

Did You Know: The annual Carnation Festival is the city's most widely attended event.

1. Greenwood Village

• Population Over 65: 13.6%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 33.1%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $108,224
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 850.2
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 87.6

Coming in at number one is Greenwood Village, one of the Denver area's most affluent suburban communities. Seniors account for just over 13% of the city's roughly 14,000 residents and they enjoy the highest median payday in our rankings, at more than $108,000. Greenwood Village also gets the best rating for healthcare and social assistance, with more than 160 facilities located throughout the city. The Denver Art Museum and the History Colorado Center are just a couple of the things you'll want to put on your list of places to visit.

You might have noticed that both Colorado Springs and the Mile-High City didn't earn a spot in our rankings. While both of them have sizable retiree populations and rate well for healthcare and entertainment, the 10 cities in our study had the edge when it came to being the best all-around choices for retirees...