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Government Data Sources

All rankings computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets. No proprietary, synthetic, or estimated data is used.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025) Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 Β· FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024 Β· America's Health Rankings, 2025 Β· WalletHub/NAEP, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Β· Cook Political Report, PVI 2024 Β· Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025 Β· ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025 Β· WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 Β· EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024 Β· FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025 Β· National Park Service API, 2024 Β· USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting) Β· FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024 Β· DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023 Β· NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24 Β· EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22 Β· NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23 Β· BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023 Β· NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023 Β· Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022 Β· S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025 Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023) Β· IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022

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AMERICA'S DASHBOARDRank & Score Every US State
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REAL DATA
National/CO/Best for Retirees
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Best Cities for Retirees in Colorado

#21 of 50Β·Retirees Score: 65.4Β·See all 50 states β†’
Tax Burden
8.73%
% of income
Income Tax
4.4%
State + local
Life Expectancy
79.3 yr
CDC NCHS
Median Home Price
$582,000
Census / FHFA
Cost of Living
101
BEA RPP Β· 100 = avg

Colorado for Retirees: The Full Picture

Colorado sits at #21 out of 50 for retirees β€” solidly in the middle tier. The state offers above-average healthcare infrastructure alongside living costs that track near or above the national average (cost-of-living index: 101). It's a state where retirement can work well with proper planning, though it lacks the standout advantages of top-tier retirement destinations.

For retirees, healthcare access and tax friendliness are non-negotiable. Colorado's health score of 67/100 reflects strong medical infrastructure β€” life expectancy here is 79.3 years, above the national average. On the tax front, the overall burden stands at 8.73% of income. The 4.4% income tax rate is relatively modest. Property taxes run 0.49% (effective rate), which is among the lowest in the nation.

At $582,000, median home prices are above the national average β€” retirees relocating from lower-cost areas may face sticker shock. Safety is worth researching at the local level β€” the statewide safety score of 52/100 suggests some areas perform better than others. Livability amenities are more limited compared to top-ranked states, so retirees who value a vibrant social scene should focus their search on the state's larger metro areas.

All 20 Cities Ranked for Retirees

#CityGradeRetirees ScoreOverallHealthFiscal HealthAffordabilityPopulation
1Parker
A+
71.166.179915560,115
2Castle Rock
A+
69.969.877934781,401
3Broomfield
A+
67.164.283805076,860
4Centennial
A+
66.864.8848751106,873
5Highlands Ranch
A+
66.264.28310042103,195
6Arvada
B+
64.460.1797954123,517
7Loveland
B+
59.056.674605479,353
8Thornton
B
59.056.3637157144,889
9Longmont
B
58.656.183615199,306
10Westminster
B
58.554.5716757114,882
11Fort Collins
B
57.555.9754658170,368
12Commerce City
B
56.955.155775468,248
13Grand Junction
C+
55.252.164466969,406
14Colorado Springs
C
54.348.9655963488,670
15Lakewood
C+
54.250.1766056155,973
16Boulder
B
54.055.3833345105,893
17Denver
C+
53.951.8836154716,577
18Aurora
C
51.648.5645859394,701
19Greeley
C
47.949.6514166112,614
20Pueblo
D
41.339.8493074111,081

Compare: States with Similar Retirees Rankings

Connecticut
#1667.8
Oregon
#1767.7
Wisconsin
#1867.0
Massachusetts
#1966.3

Also See: Colorado for Other Lifestyles

🏠
Families
#20
πŸ’»
Remote Workers
#15
πŸ’Ό
Young Professionals
#15
πŸͺ
Small Business
#12
🌲
Outdoor Enthusiasts
#15

Data Sources

πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024πŸ“ŽFBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024πŸ“ŽAmerica's Health Rankings, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub/NAEP, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024πŸ“ŽCook Political Report, PVI 2024πŸ“ŽTax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025πŸ“ŽALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities, 2023πŸ“ŽEPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽFEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024πŸ“ŽFCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025πŸ“ŽNational Park Service API, 2024πŸ“ŽUSGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)πŸ“ŽFHWA Highway Statistics, 2023πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽEIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024πŸ“ŽDOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023πŸ“ŽNCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24πŸ“ŽEDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22πŸ“ŽNCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23πŸ“ŽBEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023πŸ“ŽNASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023πŸ“ŽCensus Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts, FY2022πŸ“ŽS&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)πŸ“ŽIRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022