What makes Colorado a great place to live, is also what causes its biggest downside.
There is no denying how beautiful the state is with the Rocky Mountains and all the outdoor activities that inspire.
Because of that, people have moved there by the thousands, leading to some overcrowding and a high cost of living, which are the worst things about the state.
There are a lot of jobs available, so the cost of living obstacle can be overcome.
Contents
- Pros of Living in Colorado
- 1. Four seasons and the great outdoors are the best things about the state
- 2. There is no place better for skiing, period
- 3. Colorado is the first state to have legalized marijuana for recreational use
- 4. The mountains may be the most famous thing about the state
- 5. You might think with all the mountains and skiing that it would be a cold state, but that is not the case
- 6. The state’s healthcare system is often rated as one of the best in the nation
- 7. There is a good mix of political affiliation and a high level of tolerance for differing opinions
- 8. At one time, Coors Beer of the Colorado mountains was famous
- 9. There are plenty of jobs to go with the growing population
- The Cons of Living in Colorado
- 1. The high cost of living is the biggest negative about moving to Colorado
- 2. Overcrowding and urbanization are also issues that are negative about Colorado
- 3. High altitudes take some getting used to
- 4. Traffic in cities like Denver is as bad as anywhere in the country
- 5. Local people have an attitude towards newcomers at times and are not very welcoming in Colorado
- 6. While snow creates tremendous skiing opportunities, it also creates a downside
- 7. Getting around can be a hard issue to deal with in the state
- 8. With all the outdoor activities available, it is surprising perhaps to discover that swimming is not among them
- Pros and Cons of Living in Colorado – Summary Table
- Colorado Safety Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions
Pros of Living in Colorado
1. Four seasons and the great outdoors are the best things about the state
There is the best skiing to be had anywhere in Colorado in winter.
In spring and summer, there are trails to hike and mountains to climb, along with incredible views at every turn.
In the fall, aspen trees in the west add stunning views to the landscape.
Add to this low humidity and a lot of great weather, and you have something that is not far from paradise.
2. There is no place better for skiing, period
There are 26 resorts and each has its own personality or flavor.
Regardless of what you want from a skiing adventure, at least one of them will have it.
Resorts average 300 inches of snow each year, and even global warming has not slowed them down much.
Skiing is great with very high mountains, and the season lasts longer than in other states.
There are also many cross-country skiing adventures available.
3. Colorado is the first state to have legalized marijuana for recreational use
Even if you are not a fan, at least it is not illegal.
Legalization has lessened the load on law enforcement and has brought a lot of money into the state coffers.
This has also led to the creation of a lot of jobs as a new legal industry has been born.
The state has infrastructure for growing the crop that may be used by other states.
4. The mountains may be the most famous thing about the state
There are four national parks that house many of them. Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park take up a good portion of the state.
Public lands like this are ideal for hiking, biking, fishing, mountain climbing, and any other outdoor activity you can think of.
There are also a lot of state parks and nature preserves, so you can always find a place to enjoy the outdoors.
5. You might think with all the mountains and skiing that it would be a cold state, but that is not the case
There is a lot of snow high in the mountains, and Denver is high in the mountains as well.
Even so, most of the state does not get an overwhelming amount of snow.
The air is dry for the most part, and most of the state has 300 days or more of sunshine each year.
The weather can present challenges, but summers are mild and winters are not terribly bad.
6. The state’s healthcare system is often rated as one of the best in the nation
With all the outdoor activities, people tend to be healthier, and there is more emphasis on well-being than in some places.
The quality of healthcare and the delivery of care is also very good in Colorado.
The state is one of the healthiest states in the nation as a result.
There is also good healthcare available in rural areas.
7. There is a good mix of political affiliation and a high level of tolerance for differing opinions
The state tends to be about 50-50 when it comes to liberal and conservative ideologies.
Liberals tend to live in Denver and the Interstate corridors while conservatives inhabit the more rural areas.
They seem to get along well for the most part and that is a positive.
You will not be ostracized here over your politics.
8. At one time, Coors Beer of the Colorado mountains was famous
That tradition has continued and now there are craft breweries all over the state.
The micro-breweries take their place alongside the large breweries.
There is a beer for every taste in Colorado.
Also, the state has done away with 3.2 beer laws, so there are no limits on the strength of your beer or where you can buy it.
9. There are plenty of jobs to go with the growing population
Major companies call the state home, such as Lockheed Martin Space Systems.
There are several universities and hospitals providing many jobs.
The tourism industry is always needing help as well.
The state’s unemployment rate is consistently below the national average.
It also has a flat income tax rate and one of the lowest sales tax rates in the country.
The Cons of Living in Colorado
1. The high cost of living is the biggest negative about moving to Colorado
Homes cost about 65 percent more than the national average.
Rentals are about 30 percent more than the national average.
Cities like Denver and Colorado Springs have the highest housing costs.
Rural areas cost less and you might get a better deal there.
You should also expect to pay more for things like utilities and food as well.
While the cost is above the national average, there are 20 states that cost more, according to government figures.
2. Overcrowding and urbanization are also issues that are negative about Colorado
It may not be exploding like it was in the gold rush days, but cities like Denver and Colorado Springs have a hard time keeping up with the demand.
That has led to higher prices for everything.
National parks are also affected.
Rocky Mountain National Park can have 40,000 visitors in a single day in summer, so even getting away from it all can be hard at times.
3. High altitudes take some getting used to
Altitude sickness is a real issue for many people moving to the state.
There can be symptoms like headaches, fatigue, nausea, and difficulty breathing and sleeping.
Even residents can have symptoms at times.
About 75 percent of Colorado is above 10,000 feet, and that is where altitude sickness begins.
4. Traffic in cities like Denver is as bad as anywhere in the country
In Denver, rush hour is all day long as it seems to never let up.
That is due to the influx of people.
Weekends are also bad because everyone is heading in or out of town.
You can get tremendous traffic jams heading out of Denver into the mountains on a Friday or Sunday evening, for example.
Traffic issues can also be made worse by the weather in winter, and y road repairs in summer.
5. Local people have an attitude towards newcomers at times and are not very welcoming in Colorado
People who have lived there a long time enjoy their slice of paradise and they feel that it is damaged when it gets too crowded.
They blame tourists and new arrivals for higher prices and problems with finding housing.
Some say there is also discrimination at times against people who are new or different in some way.
6. While snow creates tremendous skiing opportunities, it also creates a downside
There is a lot of snow in Denver, and it can become overwhelming.
At times it seems like it snows all the time.
This is the case in all of the higher areas of the state.
There can be six solid months of snow on the ground in Denver.
If you hate snow, Denver is not a place you will enjoy.
Even if you love snow, you will get tired of it in Denver.
While summers are wonderful, winters can get long even for fans of cold weather.
7. Getting around can be a hard issue to deal with in the state
Outside of downtown Denver or Colorado Springs, there is no public transportation.
Roads have also not kept up with growth, making it harder even if you have a car.
You have to have a car if you are going to go anywhere, and that makes the traffic problems even worse.
Some mountain roads are hard to drive on, and crowding makes driving more difficult.
8. With all the outdoor activities available, it is surprising perhaps to discover that swimming is not among them
There are some city swimming pools, but not many natural areas to take a dip in.
Mountain streams and rivers are too cold even for the hardiest of souls.
There is white water rafting, and reservoirs for boating, but those areas have water that is too cold, and underwater surfaces are hard on your feet.
Pros and Cons of Living in Colorado – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Colorado | The Cons of Living in Colorado |
|---|---|
| 1.Four seasons and the great outdoors are the best things about the state | 1. The high cost of living is the biggest negative about moving to Colorado |
| 2. There is no place better for skiing, period | 2. Overcrowding and urbanization are also issues that are negative about Colorado |
| 3. Colorado is the first state to have legalized marijuana for recreational use | 3. High altitudes take some getting used to |
| 4. The mountains may be the most famous thing about the state | 4. Traffic in cities like Denver is as bad as anywhere in the country |
| 5. You might think with all the mountains and skiing that it would be a cold state, but that is not the case | 5. Local people have an attitude towards newcomers at times and are not very welcoming in Colorado |
| 6. The state's healthcare system is often rated as one of the best in the nation | 6. While snow creates tremendous skiing opportunities, it also creates a downside |
| 7. There is a good mix of political affiliation and a high level of tolerance for differing opinions | 7. Getting around can be a hard issue to deal with in the state |
| 8. At one time, Coors Beer of the Colorado mountains was famous | 8. With all the outdoor activities available, it is surprising perhaps to discover that swimming is not among them |
| 9. There are plenty of jobs to go with the growing population |
Colorado Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Colorado Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is meant by the term 14er?
There are 58 mountain peaks in Colorado that are higher than 14,000 feet, and they are referred to as 14ers by people who live there.
Some are easier to climb than others, and some can be driven to, and they are great places to explore the outdoors.
There are about 100 peaks that exceed 10,000 feet.
What is the tallest mountain in Colorado?
Mount Elbert in the Sawatch Range is the highest peak in the state at 14,440 feet, and it is the second tallest peak in the United States.
There are two more peaks in Colorado that exceed 14,400 feet along with the Sawatch range.
Why would Colorado be a good state for a person to retire?
Colorado offers retirees a tax exemption on their income.
It is the only state offering this benefit, which means you pay no income tax if you are retired and living in Colorado.
Sales tax is also one of the lowest in the nation, but local towns may add some sales tax.
There is no sales tax on food.
Colorado also has one of the lowest property tax rates in the nation.
Is Colorado business-friendly?
Colorado has a corporate tax rate that is under five percent, and that is among the best in the nation.
From a taxation standpoint, Colorado is a great place to own a business.
The cost of property or land, however, is expensive and that can make owning a business more difficult.
How much snow does Denver get each year?
Denver averages 56 inches of snow each year, which is a lot less than higher in the mountains, and more than in lower areas.
Colorado Springs is about the same at 55 inches.
By comparison, Chicago averages 37 inches and New York City gets 25.
Denver traffic varies during the day. Water is a big issue, as Colorado is semi-arid. Cost of housing is less the further away from the mountains you live. There are some lakes on the plains that are warm enough for swimming in the summer. Overall, I love living in Colorado, although the summers continue to get hotter every year. And we do have the occasional blizzard, but I actually like those. Stay home and warm, and watch it snow.
I’ve lived in Colorado for decades, and we have sales tax on groceries. I’m retired and I pay income tax on my retirement benefits and social security. And as to some of the other “financial” statements here, they are inaccurate. Don’t know where you got your information, but you should check those statements out.