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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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National/CO/Best for Young Professionals
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Best Cities for Young Professionals in Colorado

#15 of 50Β·Young Professionals Score: 65.4Β·See all 50 states β†’
Unemployment
3.8%
BLS LAUS
Median Income
$91,340
Census ACS 2024
Pop. Growth
+1.1%
Census 2023-2024
Cost of Living
101
BEA RPP Β· 100 = avg
Livability
45/100
Dining, arts, nightlife

Why Colorado Works for Young Professionals

Colorado ranks #15 out of 50 for young professionals, placing it in the upper tier for career-oriented relocators. The state's economy scores 64/100, with 3.8% unemployment and a median household income of $91,340. Population growth of 1.1% signals that people β€” and employers β€” are actively choosing Colorado.

For young professionals, the equation comes down to earning potential versus cost of living. With a cost-of-living index of 101, expenses are near the national norm β€” what you earn is roughly what you keep. Growth metrics are moderate, so career advancement may depend more on specific industries than broad market expansion.

Beyond the paycheck, livability matters. Colorado's livability score of 45/100 is adequate β€” metro areas have decent options, though the state isn't known as a cultural hub. Transportation infrastructure scores well (63/100), with options beyond car dependency.

All 20 Cities Ranked for Young Professionals

#CityGradeYoung Professionals ScoreOverallEconomyGrowthLivabilityPopulation
1Parker
A+
72.566.177836660,115
2Castle Rock
A+
66.869.880615181,401
3Broomfield
A+
63.664.268584976,860
4Highlands Ranch
A+
61.064.2755048103,195
5Commerce City
B
60.755.171645568,248
6Centennial
A+
59.264.8733936106,873
7Arvada
B+
58.260.1694238123,517
8Loveland
B+
56.456.651605179,353
9Thornton
B
55.356.3634843144,889
10Fort Collins
B
55.355.9564338170,368
11Grand Junction
C+
55.252.148564869,406
12Boulder
B
54.255.3514238105,893
13Longmont
B
54.056.155484299,306
14Denver
C+
53.751.8595145716,577
15Westminster
B
53.154.5584037114,882
16Colorado Springs
C
52.148.9564641488,670
17Aurora
C
52.148.5575447394,701
18Lakewood
C+
50.950.1554439155,973
19Greeley
C
48.149.6425348112,614
20Pueblo
D
39.139.8323236111,081

Compare: States with Similar Young Professionals Rankings

Maine
#1069.2
Vermont
#1168.0
Iowa
#1266.5
Wyoming
#1366.3

Also See: Colorado for Other Lifestyles

🏠
Families
#20
πŸ–οΈ
Retirees
#21
πŸ’»
Remote Workers
#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