If you are looking to hike 14ers outside of Steamboat Springs. Or to golf Jack Nicholson’s courses in Denver. Or to hang with your friends at a brewery in Montrose. Then look no further than our list of the best places to retire in ColoradoColorado for 2026.
You better put some pep in that retirement step because Colorado is one of the fastest-growing states in the country with the 65 and older population expected to increase to 15% of the state’s population by 2026.
The Centennial State’s best places to retire are some of the best places in the state in terms of safety, affordability, amenities, and distance to the closest international airport. But what makes Colorado great for retirees is its down-to-earth, active people and creative, friendly communities.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Colorado For 2026
What’s the best place to retire in Colorado for 2026? According to the latest FBI and Census data, the best place to retire is Montrose.
Grab yourself a cold Fat Tire and a sunny spot on Aspen Mountain’s sundeck and read on as we uncover Colorado’s top ten best places to retire.
Why did Montrose take the top spot? And where are Denver and Colorado Springs?
For more Colorado state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Colorado
- Cheapest Places To Live In Colorado
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Colorado
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Colorado For 2026
/10
Population: 21,044
Median Income: $70,386
Median Home Price: $467,130
Median Rent: $1,197
Distance to Closest Airport: 195 miles
More on Montrose: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 37,914
Median Income: $127,028
Median Home Price: $577,242
Median Rent: $1,793
Distance to Closest Airport: 44 miles
More on Windsor: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 44,710
Median Income: $98,839
Median Home Price: $634,610
Median Rent: $1,819
Distance to Closest Airport: 26 miles
More on Littleton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 34,129
Median Income: $86,800
Median Home Price: $516,656
Median Rent: $1,668
Distance to Closest Airport: 22 miles
More on Englewood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,433
Median Income: $104,964
Median Home Price: $1,310,882
Median Rent: $2,017
Distance to Closest Airport: 121 miles
More on Steamboat Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 78,410
Median Income: $84,604
Median Home Price: $500,792
Median Rent: $1,730
Distance to Closest Airport: 43 miles
More on Loveland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 20,786
Median Income: $147,319
Median Home Price: $837,472
Median Rent: $2,166
Distance to Closest Airport: 25 miles
More on Louisville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,172
Median Income: $43,283
Median Home Price: $244,758
Median Rent: $1,031
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Sterling: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,570
Median Income: $80,000
Median Home Price: $497,316
Median Rent: $1,308
Distance to Closest Airport: 166 miles
More on Rifle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 108,201
Median Income: $131,928
Median Home Price: $649,085
Median Rent: $2,148
Distance to Closest Airport: 21 miles
More on Centennial: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Centennial State for 2026
To create our ranking of the best places in Colorado to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Centennial State — 450 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 42 places from across the state.
For these 42, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 42, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Montrose, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2026. This list reflects our eleventh time ranking the best places to retire in Colorado.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Colorado Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Colorado goes to Montrose.
The best places to retire in Colorado are Montrose, Windsor, Littleton, Englewood, Steamboat Springs, Loveland, Louisville, Sterling, Rifle, and Centennial.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Severance
- Glenwood Springs
- Fountain
For more Colorado reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Colorado
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montrose | 21,044 | $70,386 | $467,130 | $1,197 |
| 2 | Windsor | 37,914 | $127,028 | $577,242 | $1,793 |
| 3 | Littleton | 44,710 | $98,839 | $634,610 | $1,819 |
| 4 | Englewood | 34,129 | $86,800 | $516,656 | $1,668 |
| 5 | Steamboat Springs | 13,433 | $104,964 | $1,310,882 | $2,017 |
| 6 | Loveland | 78,410 | $84,604 | $500,792 | $1,730 |
| 7 | Louisville | 20,786 | $147,319 | $837,472 | $2,166 |
| 8 | Sterling | 13,172 | $43,283 | $244,758 | $1,031 |
| 9 | Rifle | 10,570 | $80,000 | $497,316 | $1,308 |
| 10 | Centennial | 108,201 | $131,928 | $649,085 | $2,148 |