Retire in
Colorado,
retirement at altitude
To retire in Colorado would be heaven for an outdoorsy person who
perhaps likes to ski, downhill or cross country. If this is you this is
the place.
By saying you enjoy skiing removes the primary
obstacle to retire in Colorado...the winters are cold, that's
where the snow comes from.
Think
Butch and Sundance on the Durango /Silverton narrow gauge railroad. one
of many scenic rides you can take when you are a retiree in Colorado.
Durango is close to great skiing and cliff dwellings, at Mesa
Verde national park.
Colorado Facts
- How
much altitude? Colorado boasts the highest average altitude of any
state, since 75% of all US land over 10,000 feet is in Colorado.
- Colorado is the home of the United
States Air Force Academy, located north of Colorado Springs.
- Colorado
has a bit of maverick in it's citizens. They voted down hosting the
1976 Winter Olympics, not wanting the influx of construction that the
Olympics brings, they like it just the way it is...it's waiting for you
to enjoy.
- The largest natural hot springs in
the world is located in Glenwood Springs.
- The highest, 1043 feet, suspension bridge in
the world is located in Canon City...also where the state prison is
located.
Where in
Colorado
According to Money Magazine it
would be
Fort Collins,
Money
was
very impressed with the overall lifestyle of the Fort Collins area. A
town with a population of 142,000.
It
is a university town, Colorado State University, and contains all the
sports and culture that comes along with being around a major campus,
there are 25,000 students, 80% Colorado residents.
Denver
The
largest city, 2.3 million in the Greater Denver area making it the 10th
largest city in America. Denver is "the mile high city", 5,260 above
sea level.
What you might be surprised at, is Denver doesn't get
that much rain or snow being in the foothills of the Rockies. Annual
precipitation is 8 to 15 inches per year, about
the same as LA .
The
city receives 300 days of sunshine as well. Winter temperatures average
a high of 45 degree...too cold for me, but for the skiers, Yahoo.
There are also 200 parks in Denver, that's a bunch.
Colorado
Springs
My
old stomping grounds...last 2 years of high school. Colorado Springs
has grown to over half a million in the city and suburbs. It is the
home of the Air Force Academy. it is also home to Focus on the Family,
making it a center for Christian worship, if that is your preference.
Gets
the same amount of rainfall as Denver, around 17 inches a year. I can
almost promise you rain in the late afternoon during the summer. It
seems you get all the annual rainfall in one day, but it cools you off
and the air smells great when it is over.
Retire in Colorado to the mountains
This would include the pricier Aspen and Vail, but take a look at
Grand Junction, Durango, and
Steamboat Springs. They all offer great opportunities for
recreation if you don't want to drive too far to ski.
That
is a big attraction to live in Steamboat due to it's about an hour and
a half further from Denver than say Vail. This keeps the weekend
population down a bit, and helps it retain a small town feel.
We
go to Steamboat every summer to fly fish the Yampa and White rivers, as
well as Lake Dumont for lake fishing. The locals say it is like Vail 15
years ago, it's catching up but I would take a look and see what you
think.
If you want a little bigger town to retire in
Colorado try, Grand Junction, it's the largest city in western Colorado
at 50,000. Lots of retirees call this home. Believe it or not the area
has a growing wine industry and you can spend a some great times
visiting the wineries.
It's Healthy
to retire in Colorado
According
to the US government, 50% of Americans are overweight, not so in
Colorado, where only 20% of the population is considered overweight,
making it a very healthy place to live by the weight criteria.
This
should not be too surprising since there is so many outdoor activities
that you can choose from in Colorful Colorado. If skiing is not your
thing, there is always hiking, camping, hunting, and my
favorite
fly fishing.
Since the government owns 33% of all
the land in Colorado it is not likely that the opportunities for
outdoor recreation, and the subsequent health benefits will disappear
anytime soon.
Frugal
Lifestyles in Colorado
Colorado is
not a cheap state to live in due to it being a tourist mecca especially
in the winter for ski season. To reduce costs I would take a look at
Park
Model Living as the best way to frugally retire in Colorado.
Tax stuff
- Income tax...4.63% of you Federal
Income, Social Security is taxed over $20,000 or $24,000 depending on
age
- Property taxes...Suggest you go
here for details, it really varies.
- Inheritance tax...none at state level
- Sales tax...varies by county, up to
9.9%
Conclusion
Retire
in Colorado is great for the outdoor type and/or skier. It is a young
feeling state and the 20% overweight figure speaks volumes for the
lifestyle opportunities it offers. If this is you I would
check
it out. But remember try before you buy, always.
Retire in Colorado...where is your special place?
Do you have a great Colorado story? One of the most beautiful places in the world. What is your favorite and why? Share it with us!
What Other Visitors Have Said about Colorado
Click below to see Colorado contributions from other visitors to this page...
Colorado...the State That Has It All
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If you ask a group of people where is the best place to retire you will probably get a different answer from each person. But if you ask me you couldn’...
Colorado the best state to retire
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***z-c2ads.shtml***I retired 5 years ago, and had many options; I had the freedom to move practically anywhere in the country.
I decided on Colorado,...
