So, you’re curious about living in Colorado? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Colorado.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Colorado matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Colorado is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Colorado
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Colorado is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Colorado:
- It’s a great place to be outdoors. Hiking, biking and skiing are just some of the many outdoor activities you can enjoy in Colorado! The state is also home to national parks like Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park and more. You’ll never run out of things to do here – there’s always something new around every corner.
- The seasons are beautiful around the state.
- People from other states love moving here because it has lower costs than many other popular states out west.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Colorado:
- The winters can be brutal and the summers are pretty hot.
- While it’s less expensive than a state like California, you’ll have to deal with higher costs of living if you’re coming from the Midwest or the South.
Read More: Is Colorado a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Colorado
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Colorado? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Colorado!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Colorado.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Colorado:
- Aurora
- Boulder
- Colorado Springs
- Denver
- Fort Collins
- Frederick
- Holly Hills
- Lakewood
Read More: Best Places to Live in Colorado
Checklist for Moving to Colorado
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Colorado. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Colorado.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Colorado:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Colorado driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Colorado
- Getting Colorado car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Colorado and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Colorado.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Colorado and your previous home state.
Visit your Colorado Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Colorado Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Colorado.
Things to Know About Living in Colorado
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Colorado, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Colorado
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Colorado ranks 35th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 106.3, meaning it’s a slightly more expensive than average place to live.
Here is how Colorado scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 99.9
- Housing: 116.7
- Utilities: 87.9
- Transportation: 103
- Health: 98.8
- Miscellaneous: 107.4
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Colorado
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Colorado from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Colorado’s state sales tax rate is lower than the national average at 2.9%, with an average local rate of 4.82% (the highest local sales tax rate is 8.3%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 7.72%.
Check with the Colorado tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Colorado
If you own or plan to own real estate in Colorado, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Colorado ranks 3rd (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 0.51%.
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There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Colorado tax office for the most current tax rates.
Colorado’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Colorado is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Colorado ranks 16th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Professional and business services
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Manufacturing
- Finance and insurance
- Construction
- Wholesale trade
- Information
- Retail trade
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
The top employer in Colorado is Denver International Airport.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Colorado
Our Colorado moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Colorado is Red Rocks Park.
National Parks that you can visit in Colorado include:
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Mesa Verde National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park
National Monuments that you can find in Colorado include:
- Browns Canyon National Monument
- Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
- Chimney Rock National Monument
- Colorado National Monument
- Dinosaur National Monument
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
- Hovenweep National Monument
- Yucca House National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Colorado
Colorado is the 38th state of the United States that lies in the western region. To its north is Wyoming, to its south is New Mexico, to its east is Kansas, and to its west is Utah.
What is the capital of Colorado?
The capital of Colorado is Denver.
Denver is located in Denver County with a population of 716,492.
What is the population of Colorado?
The population of Colorado based on 2020 US Census data is 5,773,714.
What is the largest city in Colorado?
The largest city in Colorado is Denver.
What is the size of Colorado?
Colorado is 104,094 square miles, making it the 8th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Colorado?
The state motto of Colorado is: Nil sine numine
What is the state bird of Colorado?
The state bird of Colorado is the Lark bunting.
What is the state flower of Colorado?
The state flower of Colorado is the Rocky Mountain columbine.
What is the state tree of Colorado?
The state tree of Colorado is the Colorado Blue Spruce.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Colorado?
The minimum wage in Colorado is $12.32 per hour.
What is the median income in Colorado?
The median annual household salary in Colorado is $71,953.