2026 editionWestPop. 6,012,561Capital Denver38th state, admitted 1876Cook PVI D+5
Is Colorado a Good Place to Live? Colorado Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes
Colorado ranks #18 of 50 with a composite score of 64.7 and a B+ grade, strongest in transportation (#3) and weakest in safety (#46). The median household earns $97,113 (20% above the national median), homes typically cost $532,748 (44% above the national average), and violent crime is 422 per 100,000 (29% above the national average).
Colorado's economy is a Front Range story, with median household income at $97,113, 20% above the national median, and 19.9% of workers already at home, the highest share in the country. Weigh that against a home price to income ratio of 5.5x (national 4.6x) and a property crime rate 40% above the national average, most of it inside the Denver metro.
Colorado by the numbers
Six measures every state is judged on, each with Colorado's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.
Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.
Read the Colorado overview
Colorado scores above the national average in 7 of 11 categories and ranks #6 of 13 states in the West, behind 5 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is median household income ($97,113, 20% above the national median); its biggest shortfall is typical home value ($532,748, 44% above the national average). That mix of top-10 finishes (4) and bottom-10 finishes (1) is why the composite alone undersells the tradeoffs a mover here faces.
Where does Colorado rank in each category?
All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. Colorado is top 10 in 4 and bottom 10 in 1.
| Category | Score | Rank | Grade | Weight | US avg | The numbers behind it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 60.3 | #9 of 50 | A | 15% | 47.1 | Its unemployment rate is 4% and median household income is $97,113. |
| Safety | 50.4 | #46 of 50 | D | 12% | 68.9 | The FBI estimates 421.7 violent crimes and 2,143.6 property crimes per 100,000 residents. |
| Health | 75.4 | #7 of 50 | A | 12% | 54.4 | Life expectancy is 78.5 years, 25% of adults have obesity, and 7.9% of residents are uninsured. |
| Education | 65.3 | #18 of 50 | B+ | 12% | 57.5 | Eighth graders average 278 in NAEP math and 265 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 82.3%. |
| Affordability | 53.1 | #38 of 50 | C | 10% | 65.2 | Typical home value $532,748 (5.5x median income); cost of living index 103.1 (100 = US); center-based infant care $20,978 a year. |
| Fiscal Health | 60.4 | #22 of 50 | B | 8% | 58.1 | It carries $3,120 of debt per resident, has 67% of pensions funded, and holds a AA+ credit rating. |
| Growth | 31.0 | #33 of 50 | C+ | 7% | 38.8 | Population grew 0.4% last year; Census net domestic migration is -2 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series). |
| Transportation | 61.4 | #3 of 50 | A+ | 7% | 49.8 | The average commute is 25.7 minutes, 1.7% of workers use public transit, and 19.9% work from home. |
| Livability | 34.2 | #24 of 50 | B | 7% | 34.3 | It has 1.934 restaurants and 0.034 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.147 bars and 0.075 social associations per 1,000. |
| Outdoor Access | 44.5 | #9 of 50 | A | 6% | 29.4 | 36.2% of its land is public, with 2.74 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents. |
| Environment | 45.9 | #20 of 50 | B | 4% | 42.5 | Its median air quality index is 42, 39% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 17.9. |
Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.
Category shape
Colorado's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; Colorado bulges toward transportation and dips at safety.
How expensive is Colorado?
Colorado's cost of living index is 103.1 against a national baseline of 100, 3% above the national average and #39 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $532,748 (44% above the national average); buying it takes an income of about $138,758, $41,645 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Pueblo is cheapest (index 91.8) and Parker priciest (105.8).
Housing market snapshot · August
Cool marketRanked #7 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #40 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $41,645 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.
Full Colorado housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →What a household keeps at $75,000
| Household | Colorado | Median state | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare | −$35,330 | −$11,758 | #43 of 50 |
| Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare | +$25,165 | +$31,418 | #39 of 50 |
| Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax | +$28,486 | +$35,970 | #39 of 50 |
Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.
What are taxes like in Colorado?
Colorado's tax mix is low property tax, with income and sales taxes in the middle of the pack. The total state and local tax burden comes to 8.73% of income, in line with the national average (#25 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 0.49% of home value (#3), and combined sales tax averages 7.89% (#35).
Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.
Can the state pay its bills?
Fiscal health scores 60.4 out of 100, #22 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.
Is Colorado safe?
Colorado reports 422 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 29% above the national average and #43 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 2,144 per 100,000, 40% above the national average (#49 of 50). The safety score is 50.4 out of 100, #46 of 50; among tracked cities, Castle Rock has the lowest violent crime rate.
Colorado vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents
FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.
Safest tracked cities in Colorado
| City | Population | Violent / 100K | Property / 100K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Rock | 79,123 | 30 | 943 |
| Broomfield | 76,304 | 152 | 1,498 |
| Loveland | 78,410 | 163 | 1,442 |
| Centennial | 108,201 | 192 | 1,422 |
| Parker | 61,783 | 192 | 1,077 |
Lowest violent crime among the 20 Colorado cities we track with 50,000 or more residents. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.
What is the job market like in Colorado?
Colorado's unemployment rate is 4%, in line with the national average and #26 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $97,113, 20% above the national median. Real GDP grew +2.6% in the latest year (#11 of 50) and GDP per capita is $75,024, 17% above the national average. The population is growing 0.4% a year, 0.1 points below the national average. The economy score is 60.3 out of 100, #9 of 50.
Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.
Highest-paying tracked occupations in Colorado, adjusted for cost of living
| Occupation | Cost-adjusted | Median wage | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $247,948 | $250,427 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood |
| Lawyers | $151,994 | $153,514 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood |
| Software Developers | $150,821 | $152,329 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $115,156 | $116,308 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood |
| General & Operations Managers | $109,441 | $110,535 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.
How are Colorado's schools and healthcare?
Colorado's education score is 65.3 out of 100, #18 of 50. Eighth graders average 278 in NAEP math (#15 of 50) and 265 in reading (#3 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 82.3%, 3.3 points below the national average (#40 of 50).
Colorado is #7 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 78.5 years, 1.6 years above the national average. 25% of adults have obesity (#1 of 50) and 7.9% of residents have no health insurance (#30 of 50). The health score is 75.4 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.
CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.
Who is moving to Colorado, and who is leaving?
Colorado gained a net 11,341 households from other states in the latest IRS release: 121,390 moved in and 110,049 moved out, +1.9 per 1,000 residents (#11 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $82,532 against $84,540 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net -25.0K people (181.7K in, 206.7K out, ±17.3K), pointing the other way, so treat the direction as uncertain.
Where they come from
- 1Texas14,923 · $88,895
- 2California14,044 · $102,714
- 3Florida8,639 · $75,973
- 4Arizona5,683 · $82,116
- 5Illinois4,686 · $102,087
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.
Where they go
- 1Texas12,275 · $88,673
- 2California9,699 · $90,437
- 3Florida9,070 · $105,196
- 4Arizona6,012 · $97,216
- 5Washington3,935 · $86,638
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.
Where should you live in Colorado?
By composite score, the best of the 20 Colorado cities we track are Broomfield (68.1), Highlands Ranch (68), and Castle Rock (66.8). Pueblo is the cheapest (cost index 91.8), Highlands Ranch the richest ($159,307), and Grand Junction the fastest growing (+1.8% a year). City ranks are among the 20 Colorado cities we cover, not every city in the state.
Standout cities in Colorado
| Best for | City | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Safest | Castle Rock | 30 violent crimes per 100K |
| Cheapest | Pueblo | cost of living index 91.8 |
| Most walkable | Boulder | walkability 14.6 of 20 |
| Cleanest air | Pueblo | median AQI 45 (county) |
| Best schools | Pueblo | 93% graduation rate |
| Richest | Highlands Ranch | $159,307 |
Among the 20 Colorado cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.
Regions of Colorado
The jobs, the transit, the property crime and the priciest rentals in the state; Aurora and Lakewood are cheaper and rougher, Broomfield and Arvada quieter and dearer.
Castle Rock, Parker and Highlands Ranch: the highest incomes and lowest crime in Colorado, master-planned, car-dependent, and growing faster than Denver itself.
Boulder is the priciest tracked city in the state; Fort Collins and Longmont are college and tech towns; Greeley is oil, cattle and the cheapest homes nearby.
Military-anchored Colorado Springs, then blue-collar Pueblo with the lowest home prices among tracked cities; the eastern plains and San Luis Valley are rural and far poorer.
Grand Junction is the only city west of the Divide, cheaper than the Front Range; the ski counties price like resorts, and the water headed east starts here.
All 20 tracked cities, best to worst
| # | City | Grade | Score | Population | Income | Violent / 100K | Cost index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broomfield | A+ | 68.1 | 76,304 | $123,874 | 152 | 105.8 |
| 2 | Highlands Ranch | A+ | 68.0 | 102,257 | $159,307 | — | 105.8 |
| 3 | Castle Rock | A | 66.8 | 79,123 | $145,197 | 30 | 105.8 |
| 4 | Centennial | A | 65.5 | 108,201 | $131,928 | 192 | 105.8 |
| 5 | Parker | A | 63.3 | 61,783 | $133,369 | 192 | 105.8 |
| 6 | Arvada | B+ | 62.1 | 122,634 | $117,348 | 307 | 105.8 |
| 7 | Longmont | B+ | 60.8 | 99,406 | $90,671 | 350 | 105.2 |
| 8 | Loveland | B+ | 60.1 | 78,410 | $84,604 | 163 | 101.1 |
| 9 | Fort Collins | B+ | 59.7 | 170,229 | $85,070 | 289 | 101.1 |
| 10 | Boulder | B+ | 59.0 | 106,433 | $87,493 | 354 | 105.2 |
| 11 | Thornton | B | 58.5 | 144,187 | $103,088 | 251 | 105.8 |
| 12 | Westminster | B | 58.5 | 115,484 | $100,272 | 288 | 105.8 |
| 13 | Commerce City | C+ | 54.8 | 66,445 | $111,972 | 742 | 105.8 |
| 14 | Denver | C+ | 54.6 | 718,877 | $94,718 | 882 | 105.8 |
| 15 | Grand Junction | C+ | 54.5 | 68,142 | $70,080 | 536 | 95.5 |
| 16 | Lakewood | C+ | 53.7 | 156,583 | $89,792 | 675 | 105.8 |
| 17 | Aurora | C | 51.5 | 394,432 | $88,368 | 763 | 105.8 |
| 18 | Colorado Springs | C | 51.2 | 487,887 | $84,818 | 690 | 100.7 |
| 19 | Greeley | D | 46.4 | 110,806 | $69,881 | 630 | 100.2 |
| 20 | Pueblo | F | 42.6 | 111,561 | $56,664 | 1,177 | 91.8 |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 Colorado cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.
Best cities in Colorado for…
| # | City | Score | Education | Safety | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broomfield | 65.7 | 54.3 | 86.3 | 40.5 |
| 2 | Castle Rock | 64.0 | 40.9 | 96.8 | 42.5 |
| 3 | Centennial | 63.4 | 45.3 | 84.3 | 40.5 |
| 4 | Loveland | 61.3 | 52.1 | 86.0 | 55.9 |
| 5 | Fort Collins | 60.2 | 47.5 | 75.7 | 52.2 |
Who is Colorado best for?
The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best Colorado cities for each.
Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →
How does Colorado compare with its neighbors?
Colorado ranks #18. Among its bordering states, Wyoming ranks highest (#2) and New Mexico lowest (#49). Nebraska is the most similar on the composite score and New Mexico the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.
| State | Overall | Score | Median income | Typical home | Cost index | Violent crime | Tax burden | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | #18 | 64.7 | $97,113 | $532,748 | 103.1 | 422 | 8.73% | |
| Wyoming | #2 | 79.9 | $75,532 | $371,854 | 92.7 | 180 | 5.79% | Compare → |
| Utah | #6 | 75.4 | $96,658 | $534,582 | 98.9 | 236 | 9.46% | Compare → |
| Nebraska | #10 | 71.1 | $76,376 | $280,673 | 90.1 | 218 | 8.78% | Compare → |
| Kansas | #27 | 55.1 | $75,514 | $249,603 | 90.1 | 457 | 9.33% | Compare → |
| Oklahoma | #43 | 43.0 | $66,148 | $223,261 | 87.8 | 408 | 7.01% | Compare → |
| New Mexico | #49 | 30.6 | $67,816 | $318,241 | 92.2 | 622 | 9.62% | Compare → |
| United States | — | 57.9 | $80,903 | $368,697 | 100 | 328 | 8.74% |
Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.
How the score works
Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.
The weights
Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.
From raw numbers to scores
Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.
Letter grades
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.
Cities, budgets and neighbors
The 20 Colorado city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.
Editor's notes
Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.
Always the latest release
Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.
What the score cannot tell you
Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.
Category briefs
Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →
Key takeaways
What the Colorado numbers say when read together.
Transportation is Colorado's strongest suit
Colorado is a #18 state overall but #3 of 50 for transportation, 15 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 61.4 against a national average of 49.8. Health (#7) is next. Transportation carries 7% of the composite.
Safety is where Colorado falls furthest behind
Colorado ranks #46 of 50 for safety, 28 places below its overall #18, with a score of 50.4 against a national average of 68.9. At 12% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.
Median household income is 20% above the national median
Colorado's median household income is $97,113, 20% above the national median of $80,903, #8 of 50 (1 = highest). The largest gap in the other direction is typical home value: $532,748, 44% above the national average. Source: Census Bureau ACS, latest release.
More households arrive than leave
Colorado ranks #11 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (+1.9). The households arriving report $2,008 less in average income than those leaving ($82,532 against $84,540), so the state is trading down on income even as the headcount grows. Texas is both the largest source and the largest destination.
A middle income is squeezed harder here than in most states
A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $35,330 shortfall after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#43 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $25,165 surplus; a retiree couple at a $28,486 surplus. Infant childcare runs $20,978 a year, 34% above the national average.
Colorado sits 4th among its 7-state neighborhood
3 of Colorado's 6 bordering states rank above its #18; the closest match on the composite is Nebraska. Median income among them runs from $66,148 in Oklahoma to $96,658 in Utah; Colorado is at $97,113.
Frequently asked questions about living in Colorado
Is Colorado a good place to live?
Colorado ranks #18 of 50 with a B+ grade, #6 of 13 in the West. It is top 10 in transportation, health, economy, and outdoor access and bottom 10 in safety. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 2 of 6 (income and tax burden) and trails on home prices, cost of living, violent crime, and unemployment. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.
Where does Colorado rank among US states?
Colorado ranks #18 of 50 overall with a composite score of 64.7 (grade B+), and #6 of 13 states in the West. Its best category rank is #3 (transportation) and its worst #46 (safety). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so B+ means rank 11–18.
Is it expensive to live in Colorado?
At #39 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), Colorado is 3% above the national average: its index is 103.1 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $532,748 (44% above the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $138,758 against a median household income of $97,113. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $35,330 shortfall after all costs, #43 of 50 (1 = most left over).
Does Colorado have a state income tax?
Yes. Colorado's top state income tax rate is 4.4% (#17 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 8.73% of income, in line with the national average. Property tax is 0.49% of home value and combined sales tax 7.89%.
What is the crime rate in Colorado?
Colorado reports 422 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 29% above the national average and #43 of 50 (1 = safest), and 2,144 property crimes per 100,000, 40% above the national average (#49). Its safety score is 50.4 out of 100, #46 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.
Does Colorado have good schools?
Colorado is #18 of 50 for education (score 65.3 out of 100). Its public school students average 278 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#15) and 265 in eighth-grade reading (#3), and the high school graduation rate is 82.3%, 3.3 points below the national average (#40). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Pueblo has the highest graduation rate at 93%.
Why are people moving to Colorado?
Colorado gained a net 11,341 households in the latest IRS release: 121,390 moved in and 110,049 moved out, +1.9 per 1,000 residents (#11 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is Texas (14,923 households) and the most common destination is Texas (12,275). Arriving households report an average income of $82,532 against $84,540 for those leaving, so movers out earn more than movers in. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.
Is Colorado a red or blue state?
Colorado leans blue: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is D+5, meaning it votes about 5 points more Democratic than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.
What are the downsides of living in Colorado?
Housing and property crime, in that order. Price to income is 5.5x (#40) and property crime is 40% above the national average. Beyond the table: foothill wildfire insurance is hard to get, hail on the plains is a routine roof claim, and the graduation rate of 82.3% is weak for a state this rich. Water is the long-term one; the Front Range imports supply from the Western Slope.
Where in Colorado should I live?
Depends on whether you need the airport. Families wanting low crime and strong districts pick Douglas County (Castle Rock, Parker, Highlands Ranch) and pay for it. Young professionals land in Denver, Arvada and Broomfield; Colorado Springs is the military middle option. Remote workers wanting a smaller city pick Fort Collins. Anyone priced out looks at Pueblo, homes under half of Boulder's, or Grand Junction.
Is Colorado a good place to retire?
Colorado ranks #16 for retirees; the case is mixed. Retirement income gets a sizable subtraction, property tax is 0.49%, and long-time owners past sixty-five can exempt part of the home's value. A retiree couple at $75,000 ends the year at a $28,486 surplus, $7,484 below the national median, since housing eats the savings. Retirees who already own do well; those buying at Front Range prices usually do not.
Does Colorado get wildfires?
Yes, and increasingly where nobody expected them. The FEMA risk index of 17.9 is 40% below the national average, which understates it: grass fires on the Front Range edge matter as much as forest fires in the high country, and insurers price foothill ZIP codes accordingly. Hail is the other insurance driver, and flash flooding in burn scars follows the fires. Tornadoes touch the eastern plains.
How is the air quality in Colorado?
Worse than the postcards suggest. The median AQI of 42 ranks #35 of 50, 8% above the national average. The Denver-Boulder-Fort Collins corridor is an ozone nonattainment area with summer alert days, and wildfire smoke from the West blankets the Front Range in late summer. Winter inversions add a brown cloud over Denver on still days. The mountains and Western Slope are cleaner most of the year.
Is Colorado cheaper than Utah?
No, on almost every line. Colorado's cost index is 103.1 against Utah's below-average figure, the typical home costs about the same in both, and Colorado's median income is higher, the one thing that closes the gap. Utah wins on electricity, natural gas, childcare and violent crime; Colorado wins on income and property tax. Colorado ranks #18 overall to Utah's place just outside the top five.
All the numbers
Every metric behind Colorado's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.