Colorado has a cost of living index of 114 (US average = 100) with a median household income of $88,558 and a population of 5,049,752. We ranked 15 cities based on affordability, income, housing value, and climate to find the best places to call home in Colorado.
Pueblo West is 3% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $95,419 and a population of 34,992.
Federal Heights is 5% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $57,957 and a population of 14,160.
Johnstown is 28% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $130,851 and a population of 18,075.
Pueblo is 18% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $55,305 and a population of 111,514.
Colorado Springs is 16% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $83,198 and a population of 483,099.
Commerce City is 24% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $106,756 and a population of 64,640.
Fruita is 1% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $77,680 and a population of 13,578.
Cañon City is 14% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $66,068 and a population of 17,098.
Grand Junction is 5% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $66,676 and a population of 67,027.
Cimarron Hills is 5% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $75,853 and a population of 18,808.
Greeley is 5% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $68,650 and a population of 109,421.
Rifle is 4% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $80,629 and a population of 10,466.
Evans is 6% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $72,926 and a population of 22,265.
Security-Widefield is 15% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $83,916 and a population of 38,659.
Castle Rock is 47% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $143,031 and a population of 76,614.
Our livability score combines four data-driven factors: affordability (35% — cost of living index relative to national average), income (25% — median household income from the Census Bureau), housing value (15% — home price to income ratio), and climate (15% — NOAA temperature normals favoring moderate climates). Population serves as a proxy for amenities (10%).
Only cities with at least 5,000–10,000 residents are included. Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, Zillow, HUD, and NOAA.