9 Best Small Towns to Retire in Colorado in 2024
Of all the states in the U.S., Colorado is one of the most beautiful. This western state is the home of mountains, forests, canyons, mesas, and other natural beauties. Situated in the eastern part of the Rocky Mountains, this tranquil state is a great spot for retirees as well, with its main quaint, slow-paced small towns. Within the Centennial State, as it is called, there are many small towns with affordable housing, low crime, great amenities, and opportunities to explore and relax. Here are nine small towns in Colorado to consider for your retirement home in 2024.
Buena Vista
With a population of just under 3,000, Buena Vista is a hub for seniors, as roughly 18% of the population is 65 years old and above. The crime rate is 10.7, lower than the national average of 22.7. The small town has a wide range of outdoor activities, such as biking, with multiple biking trails in the area, including Lower Gentleman's Loop and Barbar Whipple Figure 8. Go fishing in the Arkansas River or visit the Collegiate Peak Wilderness. For a relaxing day during the winter, visit one of the hot springs in the area, such as Cottonwoods Hot Springs or Mount Princeton Hot Springs. There are plenty of restaurants in the area for a relaxing lunch or dinner, such as Roosters Crow Café or Eddyline Brewery.
Fort Morgan
The community of Fort Morgan offers a relaxing atmosphere with plenty of things to do and see. With a population of a little over 11,000, it maintains a small-town feel with a retirement-age population of just over 14%. Its crime rate and housing prices are both lower than the national average, with housing, on average, costing $347,000 on average in the area. The community has a lot of amenities to check out, such as the Fort Morgan Museum, the Rainbow Arch Bridge, Quail Dunes Golf Course, and great trails at Riverside Park. Residents can also take the Pawnee Pioneer Trail scenic and historic byway to explore the Pawnee Buttes. For art lovers, Fort Morgan is also home to the Center for Arts & Enrichment. This underrated Colorado town is a great place to retire.
Windsor
Settled in the 1800s by German immigrants, Windsor provides easy access to several cities in Colorado, including Greeley, while offering a more laid-back atmosphere with only 33,000 residents, a very low crime rate, and access to multiple hospitals in the area. There's plenty of history and art to check out in Windsor, such as the Windsor Art & Heritage Center and the Boardwalk Park Museum, where you can explore many historic buildings, such as a train depot, farmhouse, and chapel. Another great activity is fishing or boating at nearby Windsor Lake or going for a walk at Boyd Lake State Park. The town also offers Movies in the Park throughout the summer. There are multiple health clinics nearby to help you stay healthy.
Estes Park
As the gateway to the Rocky Mountains National Park, Estes Park is a place of fantastic natural beauty. It is home to around 5,800 people with over a third being seniors. It has a low crime rate and prides itself on being a safe mountain town. Speaking of the mountains, the trail to Dream Lake is a great place to start in town, and the Estes Park Mountain Shop provides any equipment you might need. Lake Estes itself provides a paved trail and opportunities for biking, fishing, paddleboarding, and more. The town also has many local events, such as the Whiskey Warm UP in March and the Elk Fest, which runs in September. You'll never run out of things to do in this beautiful mountain town.
Breckenridge
Breckenridge is a hidden treasure in Colorado with a great arts scene, hiking trails and great historic buildings and boutiques. In its historic district, there are more than 200 historic and Victorian buildings from the town's mining era in the late 1800s. Breckenridge offers great skiing at the Breckenridge Ski Area, with 187 trails, and is home to the Boreas Pass Road, which you can take to see the top of the Continental Divide. You can take a tour of one of the mines in the area or learn more about the town's history at the Edwin Carter Museum and Park. Breckenridge has facilities with healthcare services, and its crime rate is low, so you can rest easy.
Golden
Spend your golden years in Golden, a safe community with many attractions, historic locations, and trails. This charming small Colorado town is located close to Denver, so you are never far from world-class healthcare facilities. Residents enjoy a small-town atmosphere with a population of around 20,000 people. Some of its key attractions include Lookout Mountain, North Table Mountain, and Clear Creek. The town gained its name from its founding as a Gold Rush town, and there are plenty of houses you can explore from that era in historic downtown Golden. Beer lovers can check out one of the many breweries in the area or take a tour at the Coors Brewery.
Salida
Salida, Colorado. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salida,_Colorado By Galt57 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11171015
This mountain town is a great place for seniors to retire, with a retired age population of over 20% and a crime nearly half the national average. Salida prides itself on being a friendly Colorado town with its entire downtown area on the National Register of Historic Places. Salida has plenty of outdoor activities as well, such as the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Center, which offers rafting and kayaking, as well as the Browns Canyon National Monument. The Arkansas River around Salida is famous for trout fishing, as it has up to 5,000 trout per mile. The town is home to the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center for all your healthcare needs.
Montrose
Known as the Hub of Western Colorado, Montrose contains many beautiful sights, such as the Black Canyon National Park, the Uncompahgre Plateau, and the Grand Mesa. With a population of just over 20,000, Montrose has a senior population of 27%, and the cost of living is 4.6% lower than the national average, making it a great place to retire. It is home to a Senior Center, which offers weekly events such as sing-alongs and line dances. There are plenty of bed and breakfasts in the area, and you can stay active at the Montrose Community Recreation Center, an 82,000-square-foot facility with activities for everyone, including a hot water wellness pool and a lazy river.
Woodland Park
This small town has a large senior population of 20.6%, a low crime rate, and great attractions for everyone to enjoy. Woodland Park offers Horsethief Falls and Eleven Mile State Park for outdoor activities, along with the nearby Manitou Lake, which is great for fishing and picnicking. Its two most well-known attractions are the Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center, which houses rescued wolves and foxes, and the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Reverse Center, a perfect spot to take your grandkids for the day. There are plenty of nice restaurants in the area to visit, such as Joanie's Deli and Bakery and the Hungry Bear. There are multiple hospitals close by, such as UCHealth Pikes Peak Regional Hospital.
As a mountainous state, Colorado is a perfect state to relax, smell the air, and enjoy good company. Its many small towns offer hiking, hot springs, fishing, and much more. From the relaxing falls of Woodland Park to the gentle shores of Dream Lake in Estes Park, retirees will always be able to find something to do. And with world-class healthcare facilities, they can rest easy knowing they have resources. If you are planning to retire in Colorado, consider moving to one of these small towns.
