Best counties to retire to in Colorado
Best counties to retire to in Colorado
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Colorado based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Colorado.
#25. Archuleta County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (D+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 13,730
- Median household income: $76,524
- Median home value: $451,400
- Top places to live: Pagosa Springs (C+), Arboles (C-)
#24. Routt County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (D+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 24,990
- Median household income: $104,803
- Median home value: $756,200
- Top places to live: Steamboat Springs (A-), Oak Creek (B), Phippsburg (C+)
#23. Larimer County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (D), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 363,561
- Median household income: $91,364
- Median home value: $532,200
- Top places to live: Timnath (A), Fort Collins (A), Johnstown (B+)
#22. Clear Creek County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 9,358
- Median household income: $96,667
- Median home value: $572,800
- Top places to live: Idaho Springs (B), Georgetown (B), Silver Plume (C+)
#21. Kit Carson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 7,015
- Median household income: $59,810
- Median home value: $221,400
- Top places to live: Burlington (C+), Stratton (B-), Bethune (C)
#20. La Plata County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (D+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 56,088
- Median household income: $85,296
- Median home value: $549,100
- Top places to live: Durango (A-), Bayfield (B-), Ignacio (B-)
#19. Las Animas County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 14,392
- Median household income: $50,408
- Median home value: $214,500
- Top places to live: Trinidad (C), El Moro (B-), Segundo (C+)
#18. Montezuma County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 26,204
- Median household income: $63,005
- Median home value: $308,100
- Top places to live: Cortez (B-), Mancos (B), Dolores (C+)
#17. Pitkin County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (D), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 17,119
- Median household income: $100,318
- Median home value: $1,131,200
- Top places to live: Aspen (A), Snowmass Village (A-), Woody Creek (B-)
#16. Boulder County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (D), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 328,317
- Median household income: $102,772
- Median home value: $713,900
- Top places to live: Louisville (A+), Superior (A+), Boulder (A+)
#15. Arapahoe County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (D), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 655,709
- Median household income: $97,215
- Median home value: $526,000
- Top places to live: Holly Hills (A+), Cherry Creek (A+), Inverness (A+)
#14. Delta County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 31,353
- Median household income: $58,330
- Median home value: $318,000
- Top places to live: Cedaredge (B-), Orchard City (C+), Delta (C+)
#13. Pueblo County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 168,726
- Median household income: $62,250
- Median home value: $271,800
- Top places to live: Pueblo West (B), Pueblo (B-), Vineland (B-)
#12. Douglas County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 368,283
- Median household income: $145,737
- Median home value: $674,000
- Top places to live: Castle Pines (A+), Highlands Ranch (A+), Lone Tree (A+)
#11. Teller County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (D+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 24,774
- Median household income: $80,666
- Median home value: $445,000
- Top places to live: Woodland Park (B-), Victor (C-), Cripple Creek (C-)
#10. Jefferson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (D+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 579,715
- Median household income: $107,800
- Median home value: $604,400
- Top places to live: Evergreen (A), Golden (A), Applewood (A)
#9. Otero County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (B-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 18,460
- Median household income: $54,897
- Median home value: $160,700
- Top places to live: Rocky Ford (C+), La Junta (C+), Fowler (B)
#8. Mesa County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 157,316
- Median household income: $71,485
- Median home value: $349,400
- Top places to live: Redlands (B), Grand Junction (B), Fruita (B)
#7. Montrose County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 43,272
- Median household income: $66,072
- Median home value: $357,900
- Top places to live: Montrose (B), Redvale (B-), Olathe (B-)
#6. Rio Grande County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 11,394
- Median household income: $62,166
- Median home value: $215,400
- Top places to live: Monte Vista (C+), Gerrard (B-), South Fork (B-)
#5. Fremont County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 49,394
- Median household income: $61,027
- Median home value: $282,100
- Top places to live: Cañon City (B-), Lincoln Park (B-), Florence (B-)
#4. Chaffee County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (D+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 19,876
- Median household income: $70,909
- Median home value: $598,500
- Top places to live: Salida (A-), Buena Vista (B-), Poncha Springs (B)
#3. Ouray County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 5,024
- Median household income: $84,556
- Median home value: $670,100
- Top places to live: Ouray (A), Ridgway (A), Loghill Village (B+)
#2. Custer County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 5,073
- Median household income: $72,700
- Median home value: $358,800
- Top places to live: Westcliffe (B), Silver Cliff (D+)
#1. Huerfano County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 6,946
- Median household income: $52,139
- Median home value: $256,700
- Top places to live: Walsenburg (C+), La Veta (C-)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
