Best Cities for Families in Colorado
Colorado ranks #22 of 50 for families, with a families score of 66.1. Broomfield is its best city for families at 65.7.
- Colorado, all states
- #22 of 50
- Population
- 76,304
Colorado for Families: The Full Picture
Colorado lands in the middle of the pack for families at #22 out of 50 states. The state has genuine strengths — health scores excellent at 75/100 — but also areas that may give parents pause. The 82.3% high school graduation rate leaves room for improvement, and a typical home value of $532,748 may stretch family budgets.
Education is the single most important factor for families choosing where to live, and Colorado shows mixed results on this front. The state's high school graduation rate stands at 82.3%, trailing the national average. School quality has been a consistent strength, reflected in an education score of 65/100. At $20,978 a year for center-based infant care, childcare is a significant budget item that families need to plan for.
Safety is the other pillar of family-friendly living. Colorado faces elevated crime rates that families should factor into neighborhood selection at 421.7 incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI estimate). The higher cost of living (index: 103.1) means families typically need above-average incomes to maintain a comfortable standard of living.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Families
| # City | Grade | Families score | Overall | Education | Safety | Affordability | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Broomfield | A+ | 65.7 | 68.1 | 54 | 86 | 41 | 76,304 |
| 2Castle Rock | A | 64.0 | 66.8 | 41 | 97 | 43 | 79,123 |
| 3Centennial | A | 63.4 | 65.5 | 45 | 84 | 41 | 108,201 |
| 4Loveland | B+ | 61.3 | 60.1 | 52 | 86 | 56 | 78,410 |
| 5Fort Collins | B+ | 60.2 | 59.7 | 48 | 76 | 52 | 170,229 |
| 6Parker | A | 59.8 | 63.3 | 26 | 87 | 42 | 61,783 |
| 7Thornton | B | 59.6 | 58.5 | 50 | 74 | 50 | 144,187 |
| 8Longmont | B+ | 58.9 | 60.8 | 57 | 67 | 49 | 99,406 |
| 9Highlands Ranch | A+ | 58.2 | 68.0 | 39 | — | 34 | 102,257 |
| 10Boulder | B+ | 58.2 | 59.0 | 62 | 67 | 32 | 106,433 |
| 11Arvada | B+ | 57.9 | 62.1 | 48 | 70 | 45 | 122,634 |
| 12Westminster | B | 55.5 | 58.5 | 49 | 67 | 49 | 115,484 |
| 13Grand Junction | C+ | 55.2 | 54.5 | 39 | 56 | 70 | 68,142 |
| 14Commerce City | C+ | 52.3 | 54.8 | 40 | 42 | 51 | 66,445 |
| 15Aurora | C | 49.9 | 51.5 | 36 | 41 | 52 | 394,432 |
| 16Lakewood | C+ | 49.5 | 53.7 | 53 | 31 | 48 | 156,583 |
| 17Denver | C+ | 49.4 | 54.6 | 49 | 21 | 46 | 718,877 |
| 18Colorado Springs | C | 49.1 | 51.2 | 27 | 41 | 58 | 487,887 |
| 19Greeley | D | 48.7 | 46.4 | 39 | 46 | 64 | 110,806 |
| 20Pueblo | F | 47.0 | 42.6 | 58 | 12 | 79 | 111,561 |
City families scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out. City scores for families also weigh the county's expected yearly building losses from natural hazards (FEMA), lower is better; the share of adults without health insurance (CDC PLACES), lower is better; the share of households with someone under 18 (Census ACS), higher is better.
Compare: States with Similar Families Rankings
Also See: Colorado for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Colorado a good state for families?
Colorado ranks #22 out of 50 for families with a persona-weighted score of 66.1/100. Its strongest relevant category is Health (75/100) and its weakest is Livability (34/100).
What is the best city for families in Colorado?
Broomfield ranks #1 in Colorado for families with a score of 65.7/100, followed by Castle Rock and Centennial.
What factors are most important for families in Colorado?
Rankings weighted toward education quality, public safety, affordable housing, healthcare, and community livability — the factors that matter most to families with children.