9 Cost-Effective Retirement Towns In Colorado

Retiring in Colorado brings with it exceptional tax benefits along with access to a wide variety of outdoor recreation, entertainment, and cultural offerings. Tax benefits include a deduction on retirement income for seniors age 65 and older. Colorado also offers a property tax exemption for seniors or surviving spouses. As of November 2025, the median listing home price on Realtor.com is $570,000 for the state. Although it’s above the U.S. median listing price, it’s still possible to find a cost-effective town to enjoy an affordable retirement. Moreover, these towns abound with opportunities ideal for one’s golden years, from hiking the Rocky Mountains in Red Feather Lakes to spending time with animals in Fountain’s Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Wellington

Retirees seeking a quiet town on the Colorado plains, in close proximity to Wyoming, should consider Wellington. As of November 2025, the median home listing price in Wellington is $475,000. Retirees in Wellington enjoy several local parks, like the Wellington Community Park, which offers walking trails, batting cages, and baseball/softball fields to catch a game. Find the local Farmer’s Market at Centennial Park or try Viewpointe Park for longer, but easy trails. Seniors looking for more challenging nature trails are in luck. Wellington is near the Red Mountain Open Space and Wellington Lake. For more access to wildlife and nature, a short 10-minute drive takes seniors to the Wellington State Wildlife Area.

Healthcare is available locally at the Align Medical Center or the Banner Health Clinic. Wellington also offers a full-service local senior center at the Wellington Senior Resource Center. The center offers games, social events, and exercise classes. There’s also lunch served every Friday, as well as a monthly potluck. There’s also a country western band that plays live music on Wednesdays.

Keenesburg

Keenesburg is a small community located off Interstate 76 in northeastern Colorado. It sits about thirty minutes from Brighton. The median home listing price for Keenesburg is $455,000. The Keenesburg community welcomes retirees. There are quarterly events held in town, starting with an Easter Egg Hunt, July 4th festivities, Oktoberfest with live music, food, and vendors, and a Christmas lighting ceremony and parade in December.

Despite its small size, there’s plenty to do for both retirees looking to stay active and those looking for leisure time. Retirees can walk the raised path in the Wild Animal Sanctuary. The sanctuary is a 10-minute drive and features rescued wildlife, including wolves, bears, foxes, tigers, and mountain lions. The animals enjoy roaming acres of available space in large, natural areas with shelter. Retirees can hike, walk, bike, and fish at the Barr Lake State Park, which is a short 20-minute drive. Barr Lake includes the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. Seniors looking for biking or hiking trails closer to town will find Banner Lakes an option.

Healthcare options include the Keene Clinic or a 20-minute drive to Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton. Keenesburg offers several small, highly personalized assisted living homes for seniors requiring care, such as Aladdin Assisted Living. The site offers private apartments, cable TV, 24-hour staff, and even daily cooked meals.

Fountain

Retirees seeking an affordable Plains town retirement should consider Fountain. The median home listing price for Fountain is $406,000. For the price, there are numerous opportunities to participate in the community, get outdoors, or take advantage of the big-city amenities available in nearby Colorado Springs. Retirees interested in off-road and other auto racing can check into the Pikes Peak International Raceway. The raceway is a short 20-minute drive from the central Fountain area.

Residents also enjoy the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The zoo is renowned for its expansive, open, and natural habitats for animals. In fact, it’s one of the most well-known zoos in the U.S. that allows people to feed the giraffes. There is a small fee to buy special crackers, but it’s so small that one could spend all day just feeding giraffes. Due to the zoo's size, retirees can easily meet their daily step goals. For hiking, walking, or biking trails, check into the Fountain Creek Nature Center. Retirees in Fountain are close to the popular Garden of the Gods. Garden of the Gods offers free admission and miles of roadways and trails. Check out the red rock formations from your car or hike right up to them. Healthcare is available locally at the Health Center at Fountain - Peak Vista, Fountain Valley Healthcare, or UCHealth Primary Care. There is an active senior center at the Fountain Valley Senior Center. The center offers a weekly lunch program and special events.

Evans

Evans is a suburb of Greeley that offers retirees an affordable place to live in a small town, while being just minutes away from Greeley’s big-city amenities. The median home listing price for Evans as of October 2025 is $389,000. Retirees will notice that Evans offers an unusual number of local parks, including Riverside Park, which features its own fishing lake and miles of trails. Seniors with dogs will enjoy Freedom Park, which includes an off-leash dog park with dog agility props.

Residents of Evans also enjoy visiting the Riverside Library and Cultural Center. The center hosts the community’s events, such as Heritage Day. Heritage Day starts with a parade, followed by a pancake breakfast, and then features amusement vendors and local food trucks. For seniors who run, there are frequently 5K fun runs or walks at City Park. Retirees will enjoy attending various community events and festivals throughout the year. Seniors can also enjoy the water by kayaking, canoeing, or fishing in the South Platte River.

Healthcare options are available nearby at Nadora Healthcare Center, Sunrise Community Health, and Monfort Family Clinic. There is a senior center in town located at the Evans Community Complex. The senior center offers a free lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays to seniors aged 60 and above. Donations are requested, or interested parties can opt to pay for a delicious meal. Additionally, the center offers exercise classes and various SilverSneakers programs.

Fort Morgan

Fort Morgan is located on the eastern side of the state and is surrounded by an extensive agricultural zone. Visit working farms, or sit back and watch a variety of farming activities year-round. As of October 2025, the median home listing price in Fort Morgan is $375,000. Fort Morgan is a 30-minute drive to Jackson Lake State Park and the Pawnee National Grasslands. Retirees looking for water activities, including fishing and boating, can head out to Jackson Lake. Retirees who enjoy hiking, OHV riding, or birdwatching will appreciate exploring the Pawnee National Grasslands.

Retirees will find plenty to do in town as well. Fort Morgan supports a large and accessible recreation center that includes several outdoor swimming pools. Visit the Fort Morgan Museum and walk the historic Sherman Street District. Golfers can find their game at the Quail Dunes Golf Course.

Healthcare is available locally at several facilities, including CommonSpirit St. Elizabeth Hospital, UCH Health Primary Care, and Salud Family Health Centers. Seniors can find community through social, recreational, and leisure activities at the Gene Doty Senior Center right in town. Attend a weekly lunch or have it delivered to your location. Play games, exercise, receive basic medical care, or attend a social event.

Alamosa

Alamosa is a mountain lover's retirement dream. The city is nestled between the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado. The median home listing price for Alamosa is $358,000. Alamosa is home to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Retirees can explore the preserve, camp, or play in the miles of pure sand of the dunes.

Alamosa residents also enjoy local hikes within the Great Sand Dunes or at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge. For retirees who love trains, take a ride on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad or opt for leisurely soaking at the Splashland Hot Springs. Seniors seeking UFOs can quickly access the UFO Watchtower to catch alien activities. Hike or walk at the local State Ave River Trail and view the Rio Grande River. There’s also a natural road base trail for hiking, running, or biking at the Alamosa Riparian Park.

Healthcare is available locally at the San Luis Valley Health Regional Medical Center or the Convenient Care Community Clinic. Retirees in Alamosa also enjoy the local Alamosa Senior Citizens Center. The center offers seniors affordable meals, free classes and programs, and social activities.

Brush

Brush retirees can expect a quiet, rural town that’s still actively based in agriculture. However, Brush is also building a resilient city with modern amenities and services. The median home listing price for Brush is $322,000. The affordability is impressive, as are the city's amenities, including multiple community parks with walking paths, a public swimming pool, a 9-hole golf course, and plenty of open space and wildlife areas.

Bird watchers will want to make a habit of visiting the Brush Prairie Ponds State Wildlife Area. The area includes trails for hiking, biking, and walking. For water lovers and fishing enthusiasts, check out the Prewitt Reservoir or the Doty Fishing Pond. Retirees can attend community events nearly year-round, such as the 4th of July Rodeo, Oktoberfest, 4-H Fairs, and a Christmas celebration. Healthcare is available locally at the East Morgan County Hospital and the Banner Health Clinic. If you’re looking for a retirement home or advanced care center, check out the highly respected Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center or The Aladdin, amongst several others. Brush has a local Senior Center at the Brush Housing Authority Office. The center has a swimming pool, exercise and fitness equipment, classes, and games. There are also opportunities for social interaction and prepared meals.

Trinidad

Trinidad is a unique city sitting between Fishers Peak Mesa and the Spanish Peaks. The city is rich in history, boasts a vibrant arts and cultural scene, and offers exceptional opportunities for leisure and outdoor recreation. The median home listing price for Trinidad is $287,000, around half the state average. Moreover, healthcare is available locally at Mt. San Rafael Hospital, Salud Family Health Center, and the Samaritan Clinic. The H.R. Sayre Senior Center offers seniors a range of services, including meals, recreation, and social events.

Apart from amenities, retirees will find all they need in Trinidad to stay entertained. For water lovers, there’s the local Trinidad Lake State Park. Visitors can camp, hike, run, or ride horseback on over ten miles of trails. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including mule deer, black bears, blue herons, and cottontail rabbits. The lake is also open for boating and fishing.

On the other hand, seniors can visit the grasslands to the southeast of town at Fishers Peak State Park. The park is an active natural corridor for wildlife movement. Watch for mule deer, elk, bears, and the New Mexico jumping mouse. The park is home to over 170 bird species, including peregrine falcons. For golfing, visit the Trinidad Municipal Golf Course, one of the oldest in the state.

La Junta

The southeastern Colorado town of La Junta is located 70 miles east of the large city of Pueblo. The Santa Fe Trail passes through La Junta as it heads into New Mexico. Moreover, the city is situated on the south bank of the Arkansas River, offering endless scenery. Even with so much to see, the median home listing price for La Junta stands at approximately $225,000. La Junta offers more than affordability for retirees. Residents enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine a year, and there are interesting historical and natural occurrences happening in town and nearby.

Retirees who love western history will enjoy visiting, volunteering, or attending events at Bent’s Old Fort. Bent’s Old Fort is a National Historic Site with a reconstructed trading post on the Santa Fe Trail. Retirees looking for a variety of hiking and biking trails can visit the Comanche National Grasslands. Discover the authentic Dinosaur Tracks and watch the annual mating migration of tarantulas crossing the grasslands. Retirees into leisure can take advantage of the La Junta Golf Course, La Junta Raceway, City Park, and the Clay Hills Disc Golf course.

Healthcare is available locally at the Arkansas Valley Regional Hospital and Summit Primary Care. The city supports the La Junta Senior Center. The center offers seniors a range of social activities, events, meal programs, and other services. Seniors can use an open kitchen and borrow books from the library. There’s also plenty of board games and exercise classes.

Settle Down Amidst Colorado’s Scenery

When it comes to finding a retirement home with plenty of leisure and action, Colorado is hard to beat. Retirees seeking affordable towns have several options to choose from in various locations, whether in the mountains or the plains. Colorado offers retirees ample access to nature, quality healthcare, and a variety of city and national parks, along with exceptional tax benefits for seniors 65 years or older.