Retirement is probably the time in your life that you have been looking forward to for years. Here you are—ready to begin this exciting and well-earned chapter of your life!
There is so much to enjoy about retirement, but you want to be sure that you find the place that is right for you. When it comes to finding the best places to retire in Colorado, there are plenty of great options to pick from.
Be sure to think about what you want retirement to be like for you as you embark on your journey. There is undoubtedly a place for you, and you want to focus on the best fit.
This is a state with much to offer for every interest and phase of life. So as you consider this new lifestyle of doing the things that you enjoy, you want to be close to the activities and amenities that mean the most.
Are you ready to look at the best places to retire in Colorado? Let’s get started so you can start planning your amazing journey!
Our 14 Top Retirement Destinations in Colorado
You may love the outdoors and want to hike or ski your way through the beautiful seasons. You may want a bigger city that offers plenty to do and places to see.
Whatever interests, hobbies, or adventures you may be into, Colorado likely offers you some wonderful options. This is a place with so much to offer, and there’s a fit for everybody.
Here are the very best of the best, and these make up the top places to retire in Colorado.
Federal Heights
The beauty of Federal Heights is that it’s the culmination of a variety of different things all at the same time. It’s a suburb so you get a bit of an escape from big city living. The cost of living is quite affordable, and you can get some good value when buying a home.
It is located close enough to Denver that you can access it, but it’s tucked away as a community of its own. You can enjoy outdoor activities, and there’s even a winery to complete this as an excellent retirement destination.
Pueblo
When you picture the picturesque scenery of Colorado, then you are envisioning the city of Pueblo. This has scenery that looks straight out of a movie, and it offers plenty of activities to enjoy as you take it in.
What sets Pueblo apart is that it has the Arkansas River running right through it. This makes for the perfect city to enjoy all water activities including fishing and boating with its marinas. It also has a riverwalk with plenty of restaurants and shops to take in as well.
Montrose
If you are looking for a much more relaxed change of pace, then Montrose is the place for you. There are plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery that Colorado is known for.
You can stay active with some great hiking here, as this is set in the mountains. It’s a safe community with much to offer outdoors, so you can ease into retirement but still stay active and enjoy the beautiful mountains in this area.
Littleton
You hear of a lot of people retiring to Littleton, and with good reason. This has a bustling downtown that offers endless shopping and dining options. It is also a city that has so many different hiking and biking trails to enjoy and stay in good shape.
It is located near the Rocky Mountains for access to the most amazing outdoor scenery in the state. Yet you also have access to great lakes and beaches. So whatever you may be interested in, Littleton is a wonderful place to retire to and enjoy all that it has to offer.
Evergreen
It may be a bit more expensive than some of the other cities, but that has a lot to do with how much Evergreen has to offer. There are so many outdoor recreational centers within the city. That means this is the place for the outdoor enthusiast with so many options for staying fit and taking it all in.
This is also a great golf community, and you can enjoy some of the best around. If you want something a little nicer that still allows you to enjoy the outdoors, then Evergreen is a great choice.
Estes Park
This is a very popular destination for retirees as about a third of the population here is comprised of seniors. It may be the beautiful scenery or the slower pace that makes Estes Park a desirable spot to enjoy in your golden years.
It may be that it’s a bit more private in nature, or it may be that there is plenty to do outside. Estes Park serves as the base of the Rocky Mountain National Park, so it’s a wonderful place to relax and ease into this next more relaxed phase of your life.
Monument
This is the definition of peace and tranquility, and perhaps that’s why it is so appealing to so many retirees. This is located within the tri-lakes area, and that means that you have plenty of access to the water. It has plenty of outdoor amenities, particularly many hiking trails if you enjoy that as an activity. It is still located close enough to the big city living, particularly to a bustling art scene if you enjoy that. So you can live within a peaceful community that is perfect for retirees, but also have access to outdoor amenities and city living.
Fountain
You can tell just from the name that Fountain is going to be something special. This is a city that is all about tranquility. If you are looking for a relaxed change of pace as you embark on your retirement journey, then this is a wonderful option. It’s a suburb that is off the beaten path and quiet, and yet still has plenty to enjoy outdoors.
It is beautiful and serene, and perfect if you are looking for a bit of an escape. It is still located close enough to some amenities that you will need, and you can easily get to the city if you want a fun day trip.
Grand Junction
This is a city that appeals to a retiree with specific interests. Grand Junction is located within wine country, and that means that you get access to some of the very best wineries in the state. This area is very well known for the wineries, and you could spend much of your retirement enjoying them.
You are also located within a thriving art and culture scene, and there is plenty to support that. You can enjoy some wonderful local art galleries and theaters, and you can embrace this as a hobby or interest. The city of Grand Junction also has scenic mountains as the backdrop, so it is a perfect destination for retirement.
Englewood
You have probably heard a lot about Englewood because it is a very sought-after destination within Colorado. This is a fabulous spot if you have a sense of adventure, and you happen to be an outdoor enthusiast. You can enjoy white water rafting, skiing, and zip lining just to name a few of the more extreme outdoor activities.
The beauty of Englewood however, is that there is also plenty of space to just relax and unwind. You have hiking trails, rivers, and plenty of beautiful landscapes to just get outside and enjoy it all. This is a very popular destination with retirees with a sense of adventure and who want to stay active and fit.
Sterling
The name of the game with a city like Sterling is peaceful. If you are planning to retire and get away from the craziness of typical everyday living, then this is for you. It’s a very quiet place to live, and that’s appealing to many retirees. It has all the charm of a small town, but yet has plenty of amenities that you may need daily.
Sterling is located on the Overland Trail, so getting outside for a walk or hike can be a regular pastime. This may be a wonderful match for your retirement goals, and so it’s well worth exploring.
Fort Morgan
When you think of a destination such as Fort Morgan, you realize that Colorado is a state with something to offer everybody. This is most certainly a lesser-known destination with so much to offer. It is located on the banks of the South Platte River so enjoying water activities is highly likely.
It is a slower-paced city, however, and therefore that is attractive to many retirees such as yourself. The beautiful and serene environment here is perfect for getting away from it all and changing your pace and mindset. You can of course get outside and enjoy nature, but there are plenty of opportunities here to just relax and unwind.
Evans
This may not be the most conventional retirement destination, but it can be fun for those interested in a less traditional pick. Evans is most certainly a college town, as it is the community that the University of Northern Colorado is built around. Initially, you might not expect to find a lot of retirees here. However, the great part about a city such as this is that it has a lower cost of living than many of its counterparts.
So if you are a senior on a budget as so many are, then this is a wonderful pick. There is plenty to do and you can get away from the college scene if you plan it right. For the less traditional who still want to enjoy Colorado but at a lower price point and plenty to do and see. Sometimes the road less traveled can be exactly what you need.
Berthoud
This happens to be a very popular destination with seniors as they make up a significant part of the population. Berthoud isn’t a big city, and it isn’t a small town, but it’s the perfect blend of everything in between. You can enjoy outdoor activities even extreme in nature such as zip lining and hot air ballooning. You can enjoy a quieter escape from everyday life and some peace and tranquility.
Berthoud does have a slightly higher cost of living, and yet you get a gorgeous city when you live here. You can enjoy your most needed amenities, and embrace what a city in Colorado has to offer in beauty and outdoor wonder. If you want something in between in terms of size and options, then Berthoud is a great choice. This perfectly rounds out our list and gives you a great pick for very different reasons.
Final Thoughts
So if you find yourself looking for the best places to retire in Colorado, these make up some of the best choices out there. Of course, there are bigger cities or smaller towns, but these options are all over the map in terms of what they have to offer. They are all worth checking out, and they all have different and unique things to offer.
When you consider retiring in Colorado, you want to think of what this phase of life will mean to you. Think about what you want to do in retirement, the types of activities that you would enjoy, and the type of pace that you want to keep. There is something for everyone in Colorado, and that is part of what draws so many retirees here each year.
You want to consider your budget, your interests and hobbies, the type of living that you want to enjoy, and what environment would be a good fit for you. There is much to enjoy within Colorado and if you choose your destination carefully, then you can make this a wonderful phase of your life. Consider the options listed here, check them out, and see what will work best for you. This can help to make retirement a wonderful phase of your life with everything you always envisioned!
