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 2025.
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 2025.
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 2025
What’s the best place to retire in Colorado for 2025? 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 2025
/10
Population: 20,703
Median Income: $63,177
Median Home Price: $359,000
Median Rent: $1,117
Distance to Closest Airport: 195 miles
More on Montrose: Data
/10
Population: 45,092
Median Income: $96,611
Median Home Price: $596,700
Median Rent: $1,731
Distance to Closest Airport: 26 miles
More on Littleton: Data
/10
Population: 35,918
Median Income: $121,758
Median Home Price: $562,300
Median Rent: $1,780
Distance to Closest Airport: 44 miles
More on Windsor: Data
/10
Population: 13,341
Median Income: $100,156
Median Home Price: $874,400
Median Rent: $1,909
Distance to Closest Airport: 121 miles
More on Steamboat Springs: Data
/10
Population: 77,350
Median Income: $82,592
Median Home Price: $453,100
Median Rent: $1,683
Distance to Closest Airport: 43 miles
More on Loveland: Data
/10
Population: 33,774
Median Income: $82,016
Median Home Price: $534,000
Median Rent: $1,563
Distance to Closest Airport: 22 miles
More on Englewood: Data
/10
Population: 13,273
Median Income: $44,242
Median Home Price: $205,200
Median Rent: $1,052
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Sterling: Data
/10
Population: 20,788
Median Income: $149,159
Median Home Price: $835,000
Median Rent: $2,069
Distance to Closest Airport: 25 miles
More on Louisville: Data
/10
Population: 10,466
Median Income: $80,629
Median Home Price: $377,900
Median Rent: $1,231
Distance to Closest Airport: 166 miles
More on Rifle: Data
/10
Population: 13,578
Median Income: $77,680
Median Home Price: $361,500
Median Rent: $1,275
Distance to Closest Airport: 205 miles
More on Fruita: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Centennial State for 2025
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 41 places from across the state.
For these 41, 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 41, 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 2025. This list reflects our tenth 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, Littleton, Windsor, Steamboat Springs, Loveland, Englewood, Sterling, Louisville, Rifle, and Fruita.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Fountain
- Glenwood Springs
- Monument
For more Colorado reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Colorado
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montrose | 20,703 | $63,177 | $359,000 | $1,117 |
| 2 | Littleton | 45,092 | $96,611 | $596,700 | $1,731 |
| 3 | Windsor | 35,918 | $121,758 | $562,300 | $1,780 |
| 4 | Steamboat Springs | 13,341 | $100,156 | $874,400 | $1,909 |
| 5 | Loveland | 77,350 | $82,592 | $453,100 | $1,683 |
| 6 | Englewood | 33,774 | $82,016 | $534,000 | $1,563 |
| 7 | Sterling | 13,273 | $44,242 | $205,200 | $1,052 |
| 8 | Louisville | 20,788 | $149,159 | $835,000 | $2,069 |
| 9 | Rifle | 10,466 | $80,629 | $377,900 | $1,231 |
| 10 | Fruita | 13,578 | $77,680 | $361,500 | $1,275 |