Best places to live in Colorado
CityLedger tracks 7 Colorado metros, led by Denver. Cost of living runs from about 92 to 106 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 7 metros in Colorado, the largest being the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Metro Area (around 3,050,512 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $62,128 in Pueblo to $108,046 in Denver, and typical rent from $1,128 a month in Pueblo upward — a reminder that "Colorado" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Pueblo has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 92 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Denver delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $102,140.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Colorado levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 7.9% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Colorado state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Denver earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 83/100; Greeley is the fastest-growing, up 13.9% over the latest population estimate; Grand Junction carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $8 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 83 | 106 | $108,046 | $1,943/mo |
| Boulder, CO | 83 | 105 | $102,697 | $1,966/mo |
| Fort Collins, CO | 75 | 101 | $93,276 | $1,751/mo |
| Greeley, CO | 70 | 100 | $101,563 | $1,579/mo |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 63 | 101 | $90,760 | $1,761/mo |
| Grand Junction, CO | 50 | 95 | $75,231 | $1,259/mo |
| Pueblo, CO | 37 | 92 | $62,128 | $1,128/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Colorado — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Colorado?
- By overall price level, Pueblo is the most affordable metro in Colorado, at about 92 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Colorado?
- Denver has the highest cost-adjusted income in Colorado — a median of about $102,140 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Colorado have a state income tax?
- Yes. Colorado levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 7.9%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Colorado metro has the highest livability score?
- Denver, at 83/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.