Moving to Colorado? Here are the 5 best cities, according to our 2024 study

Colorado has a lot to offer residents: stunning mountain landscapes, outdoor adventures, a strong economy and a solid job market. And it turns out, you don’t have to move to popular cities such as Denver or Colorado Springs to enjoy the benefits of colorful Colorado. According to USA TODAY Homefront findings, those cities don’t even make the top five best places to live in the state.

The research team at Homefront ranked 22 cities in Colorado across 16 different quality-of-life metrics. Grand Junction, Littleton and Loveland took the top three spots, scoring well in categories such as home affordability and low crime rates. These locales are also known for restaurants and entertainment.

Brighton and Commerce City, both in Adams County, ranked lowest mostly due to the high cost of living and poorly rated schools.

With its beauty, relative affordability and seemingly endless activities — from breweries to mountain biking — it’s hardly surprising that Colorado welcomed around 264,500 residents from out of state and abroad in 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. If you’re considering joining them, see which Colorado cities are the best before you call the moving company.

Key findings

• More than 260,000 people moved to Colorado in 2022.
• Grand Junction is the best city to move to in Colorado, offering affordable housing options for renters and buyers, low crime rates and good schools.
• Notable cities Denver (No. 19) and Aurora (No. 17) ranked low mainly because of high crime rates and hefty homeowners insurance premiums.
• The three bottom cities — all in Adams County — scored poorly across categories such as cost of living, walkability, and number of restaurants and activities per capita.

Why are people moving to Colorado?

Colorado’s snow-capped mountains and moderate temperatures likely offer a welcome change for Americans escaping the not-so-rare heat waves each summer. Plus, Colorado has fewer climate change risks than Texas, Florida, New Jersey or California.

Aside from climate and beauty, the Centennial State is easier on the wallet — Colorado ranked as more affordable than Texas, Florida and California, according to our 2024 study.

Best cities to move to in Colorado

Homefront ranked 22 Colorado cities using 16 metrics to see how they stack up. We looked at livability factors, including activities, walkability and quality of schools. We factored in life expectancy, health care and safety (crime and severe weather). Economic variables — housing affordability and unemployment rates — also affected the rankings.

Overall, Grand Junction is the best place to live in Colorado, followed by Littleton and Loveland. These places excelled in safety, education and access to medical care.

You may be surprised to see popular cities such as Denver (No. 19) and Aurora (No. 17) ranking poorly, but high crime rates and hefty homeowners insurance premiums affected the overall standing.

Aurora lost points because it’s home to one of Colorado’s most rent-burdened communities, with 60% of its residents spending more than 30% of their income on rent.

5. Longmont, Colorado

Longmont has a population shy of 100,000. But we expect the city to hit, and likely surpass, that mark soon. This charming city is conveniently located about 20 minutes from downtown Boulder, making it a convenient option for people who work or spend a lot of time in the metropolis but still want affordable housing.

Longmont is about a 45-minute drive from Denver and Rocky Mountain National Park and just an hour’s drive from Eldora Mountain skiing.

Longmont secured the fifth spot on our list of top cities in Colorado because it has the second-highest life expectancy — 82.6 years — which is higher than the state average of 80. This Boulder County city is tied with counties in Larimer and Douglas for the title of the lowest unemployment rate (3.4%), and its school district ranked 8 out of 10 on NeighborhoodScout.

4. Fort Collins, Colorado

Fort Collins, in Larimer County, is the largest city on our top five list — its population is roughly 168,700. This historic haven lies just an hour north of Denver and is complete with a vintage trolley, ghost tours and Old Town buildings that date back to the 1800s.

Situated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Fort Collins offers a perfect combination of natural beauty, outdoor activities and urban amenities.

Home to Colorado State University, Fort Collins is unsurprisingly one of the most educated cities in the state, with 58% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree. Comparatively, only 36% of Coloradans have one.

Fort Collins scored well in our ranking for sharing the lowest unemployment rate.

3. Loveland, Colorado

Behind Fort Collins, Loveland is the second most-populated city in Larimer County with about 77,000 residents. Tucked away in the base of the Rocky Mountains, the so-called Sweetheart City offers residents the convenience of a big city with the charm of a small town. It’s well known for its vibrant arts scene, including several sculpture parks and public murals.

It’s all love in Loveland. The city has the fifth-lowest crime rate in our study, with less than 30 crimes per 1,000 residents — the state average is 36 crimes per 1,000 residents. Loveland shares the title for the lowest unemployment rate and has the third-best access to primary care providers.

In addition to all its perks, living in Loveland is comparatively affordable, with typical rent hovering around $1,751 — the fourth lowest of the 22 cities we analyzed.

2. Littleton, Colorado

Tucked away just 25 minutes south of downtown Denver, Littleton is a unique and charming city brimming with turn-of-the-century architecture and antique shops. Littleton is aptly named; it’s the smallest city by population in our top five and the second smallest on our list overall, with only 45,500 residents.

Despite its small population, this cozy city has plenty to do. It’s just a 20- to 30-minute drive from Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the Coors Brewery. Littleton has the largest number of restaurants and activities per capita, which helped it rise to the No. 2 spot in our ranking.

Littleton is home to one of the best-rated school districts in Colorado, tied in our study’s top spot with Highlands Ranch and Boulder. Additionally, it has great healthcare access, with almost 10 primary care physicians for every 1,000 residents.

However, living with these perks comes at a cost. Our analysis reveals that Littleton is one of the most expensive places to live, and 55% of its population is rent-burdened, slightly above the state average of 53%. These financial factors likely kept it from securing the top spot.

1. Grand Junction, Colorado

Grand Junction might just be Colorado’s best-kept secret. This city has incredibly diverse landscapes — mountains, rivers, canyons, deserts and forests —  as well as affordable housing and low climate risks. Downtown Grand Junction also offers a variety of eateries and activities, ranking fourth and third in these categories, respectively. 

“Grand Junction is on the verge of significant growth and in the path of progress,” said Christi Reece, top Grand Junction real estate agent with HomeLight. “Our location — midway between Denver and Salt Lake City and surrounded by endless outdoor recreation opportunities — makes us an ideal place to live, work and play.”  

According to our analysis, Grand Junction is the second-most affordable place for prospective home buyers and the third-most affordable for renters. Reece emphasized the affordability point: “More affordable than Colorado resort towns and less crowded than Denver, we still have all the amenities needed to live the Colorado dream.” Additionally, homeowners here enjoy the lowest annual homeowner’s insurance premium, likely thanks to the area’s tame weather.

While Grand Junction has the second-lowest median income in our study, its lower cost of living balances the scale. It has the third-lowest percentage of rent-burdened residents and typical home values are six times the median income, which places Grand Junction above average compared with other Colorado cities we ranked.

Relocating to Colorado? Here’s what you need to know

Colorado offers something for everyone — spectacular scenery, thriving craft breweries, outdoor activities and charming architecture. If you’re unsure which city is right for you, first-hand research is a great way to get to know the landscape.

“Look before you leap! Do some research before visiting,” said Rob Klein, top Colorado real estate agent at Kittle Real Estate with HomeLight. “Then visit a few areas that you have an interest in and interview the people in the community to see what cities and towns may work best for you and your lifestyle.”

If you’re ready to set out on a Colorado adventure, follow these tips to ensure your move is as smooth as the bunny slopes:

• Land a job: Colorado has a strong job market, with its major industries in technology, aerospace, biotech and outdoor recreation. State and local governments are also significant employers, and you can check the Colorado Workforce Centers for resources and job listings. Colorado also welcomes teachers as the state needs educators.
• Find a home: Check to ensure your potential future home isn’t in an area prone to wildfires. If you’re planning to buy a house, consider the age of the home, especially the roof, as it will affect your insurance premium and the likelihood of roof repair.
• Find a reliable moving company: Research interstate moving companies for a trustworthy service to simplify your relocation. Get quotes from at least three moving companies to ensure you get the best deal.
• Bundle up: If you’re not used to winter, Colorado’s heavy snowfall and colder temperatures may take you by storm. Plan to prepare your future home for blizzards. Consider your car warranty as well since wintery weather may affect your vehicle.
• Prep for the altitude: Colorado has some of the highest elevations in the country. If you’re not used to high altitudes, take a few days to relax before you start unboxing dishes.

Best and worst cities in Colorado (full data)

Our methodology

For this study, the research team at USA TODAY Homefront ranked 22 cities in Colorado across 16 metrics to determine the best cities to live in. The population threshold was set at 40,000. Cities were ranked on the following metrics: 

• Walkability score from Walk Score
• School district ratings on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) from NeighborhoodScout
• Number of restaurants from Tripadvisor per 1,000 residents
• Number of activities from Tripadvisor per 1,000 residents
• Estimated primary care providers per 1,000 residents from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• County-level life expectancies from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute’s County Health Rankings 
• Severe weather events from 2019–2023 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Number of violent and property crimes per 1,000 residents from NeighborhoodScout
• Expected annual loss from natural hazards from Federal Emergency Management Agency 
• The ratio of home values for single-family homes, condos and co-ops to median household income from the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) and the U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-year Estimate. Cities are scored based on how close this ratio is to what we define as the “ideal home value ratio” of 2.5 value to income. 
• Typical rent for all home types using the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)
• Percentage of renters who pay more than 30% of income to rent (“rent burdened”) from the U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
• Median annual homeowners insurance premiums from Quadrant
• Unemployment rates at the county level from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
• Regional price parity: Values are a percentage of the overall national price level (a lower value is better) from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
• Percentage of the population with a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 1-year Estimates

For some metrics, data was only available at the county level. 

Data used from Quadrant is representative of publicly sourced data and should not be interpreted as bindable quotes.

Questions about our study? Please contact Homefront at press@homefront.usatoday.com.

Reference policy

We encourage journalists to share our findings on the best cities in Colorado. If you choose to do so, please link back to our original story and credit USA TODAY Homefront for the research.

Local moving pros in the best Colorado cities

Grand Junction Littleton Loveland Fort Collins Longmont Greeley Broomfield Boulder Colorado Springs Parker Centennial Arvada Castle Rock Lakewood Highlands Ranch Westminster Aurora Pueblo Denver Thornton Brighton Commerce City