With tons of variety in landscapes, there are plenty of must-see places in Colorado. Photo Credit: Jesse Stephens (iStock; file photo). Population: 2,614 Cost of Living Index: 11% Below Colorado Average Median Home Price: $350,000. Because of its size, the town boasts access to some. The waterway is saluted during the FibArk (First in Boating on the Arkansas) festival and there's a hot springs pool in town, too . If youre into history, theres also the Trinidad History Museum that is packed with unique stories and features. You can buy a home that cost around $179,100, which is very less compared to the national median home value. Estes is well known for its elk herds and their bugling calls in the fall during mating season. Yes,Paonia is known as Tree City USA because of the abundance of green space. Crested Butte is a remote town in Gunnison County where you can only breathe the fresh mountain air and no industrial population. While its an easy day trip from Denver, you could easily spend a long weekend exploring around Nederland. where all the residents know each other, feel connected, and help each other out. Youll find cowboys and cattle roaming in the streets! 11. You can also enjoy some excellent cuisine here, including a Mexican restaurant, some Chinese and Vietnamese food, and a great pizzeria. Visitors are easily charmed by the town's natural beauty. Thischeapest mountain town in Coloradois not only my favorite but everyones. At only 2.5 hours from the Mile High City, its a great weekend trip from Denver. Alamosa. Vail also offers plenty of summertime activities including golfing, hiking, festivals, farmers markets, and concerts in the square. .css-2x3ibz{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Kepler,Helvetica,Arial,Serif;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:normal;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-2x3ibz:hover{color:link-hover;}}The Best Spring Getaway in Every State, Road Trip Books to Inspire You to Hit the Highway, A Nostalgic Look Back at Summer Through the Years, 15 Campsites in the U.S. Worth the Road Trip, Big Easy Livin' Beckons in Covington, Louisiana, The Most Beautiful Castles to Visit in America, These Beach Boardwalks Evoke Summertime Nostalgia. From here you can explore Clear Creek, either by rafting down the river or climbing the rock walls of the canyon. Believe it or not, Keystone is a favorite Colorado mountain town among locals since it is home to epic skiing (for all types of skiers) and wicked awesome summer activities. Afterward, enjoy a day trip to Mesa Verde National Park before exploring the San Juan National Forest and checking out the Animas River Trail too. In Fairplay,a median home value cost $186,400, which is less than the national median home value of $204,900. Whatever you do though, dont miss BrewSki in March. Most jobs are in the hospitality sector. Manitou Springs. Telluride, Colorado. Coined the "Gateway to the San Juans," Ridgway is perhaps the only town on this list to appear in a film: It was the main filming location for the 1969 John Wayne western "True Grit . Photo Credit: kojihirano (iStock). You can learn more about my privacy policy here. 21. Youll never regret starting a family here as youll live a more organic and sustainable life. On the other hand, the health care cost is around $5,020 per year, higher than in other places in Colorado. Fairplay is a Statutory Town in South Park sitting at an elevation of 9,954 feet above sea level. Less than 100 miles from Denver, Fairplay offers agood nightlife and a nice variety of rural and suburban neighborhoods. Breckenridge. The funkily named Fruita is home to Dinosaur Hill and The Trail Through Time at Rabbit Valley, both of which feature fossils of the long-gone critters, as well as the Museum of Western Colorado: Dinosaur Journey, where visitors can check out skeletons, robotic dinosaurs, and scientists preparing bones for display in a real laboratory. You can also have some fun with llama trekking and the town even has a little theater, too. If youre looking for a quick getaway from Denver, then youll want to check out some of these beautiful mountain towns less than two hours from the Mile High City. Population: 8,280 Cost of Living Index: 20% Below Colorado Average Median Home Price: $182,000. Worry not though, magazine House Beautiful has listed the most affordable mountain towns in the USA to make that dream a reality. Of all the affordable mountain towns in Colorado, this might be one of the best for getting out into nature. Also, if youre searchingfor cheapvacation spots in Colorado,it can be the best as you can spread out in the great outdoor activities. There was an error processing your request. Ive been to Westcliffe six times in my lifetime. If youre into off-roading, youll find some sick 44 roads to get rowdy on in Ouray. It sits an hour west of Colorado Springs in Teller County at the base of the backside of Pikes Peak with amazing vistas. Living in a mountain town is the best way to achieve the ski-bum dream, but unfortunately, mountain homes don't tend to fit a ski-bum budget. The snow, the skiing, Christmas celebration were all amazing. Westminster. Heres. Its less than an hour drive from, ts historic architecture and a great artistic culture. Durango is one of those magical Colorado Mountain towns that is hidden away in the Southwestern part of the state, right near the New Mexico border. Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. Tiny Creede couldn't get any bigger even if it wanted tothe town is perched in what was once a volcanic caldera, with sheer cliffs rising up around it. Located in North Colorados Yampa Valley, Steamboat Springs is one of the best mountain towns in Colorado if you want to relax, ski, or enjoy the great outdoors all summer long. A lesser known, eastern Colorado city, Brush is only an hour and a half from Denver and just over an hour to Denver International Airport. Found in the southwest corner of the state in one of the most remote spots, the historic mining town of Silverton is one spot for an epic trip. If you happen to see a herd, just remember to keep your distance. Outdoor enthusiasts love this town that is tucked away just north of the Gunnison National Park. 2. Your email address will not be published. Incredible mountain views can be seen from the town, which features a number of cobbled streets in a newly developed area and a colorful collection of summer vacation stays and year-round homes. You can also go for a hike from Monarch Lake Trailhead which takes you to the gorgeous Lone Eagle Peak. Dont you think it is one of thecheap places to live in Colorado? Yes, from there it got its name Paonia. A median home value is around $183,300, less than the national median home value of $204,900. The medical facilities of Gunnison Valley Health or Crested Butte Medical centers are up-to-the-mark. It is also just an hour and a half from Colorado Springs. A dozen of Colorado's "14ers" (mountain peaks exceeding 14,000 feet) encircle the town, and the Arkansas River runs right through it, providing kayaking, rafting, and tubing enthusiasts a good time all summer long. This gorgeous town is a must-see. What is the best small town to live in Colorado? However, because of the towns location deep within the Rocky Mountains, visitors can also stop by the Curecanti National Recreation Area and see the Blue Mesa Reservoir. What is the most affordable area of Colorado? In summer, the temperature rose to make me feel happy and energetic. Be sure to bundle up if you visit Leadville in the winter. Nearest mega resorts: None. What is the most affordable mountain town in Colorado? Its cost of living index is 15% below the Colorado average. Fort Collins. What isnt to love about being able to ride side by sides and snowmobiles down Mainstreet? Population: 5,217. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Fraser is located within the Rocky Mountains, in Middle Park, and is a part of Grand County. Im sure youll have some great memories here! This mountain town just north of Boulder is home to Eldora Mountain and Eldora Nordic Center, so you can get your skiing fix. It is nestled between Chicken Creek and the Mancos River, and if you fancy a trip out of town to go camping, you wont have a long drive to handle. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. , Trinidad is conveniently located on the I-25, and it offers some extraordinary surrounding views. Photo Credit: Wild Frog Photography (Flickr). And be sure to visit the Breckenridge troll at the end of the Trollstigen Trail before you leave town! These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Northern Colorado's Fort Collins was named one of the 100 Best Places to Live in part due to the strength of its business community, which features a mix of major employers like Anheuser Busch, Hewlett-Packard, Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo and Xcel Energy, as well as innovative . Some of the most affordable retirement mountain towns include: Asheville, North Carolina . I hope in many movies youve seen the famous Silver Dollar Saloon, it is one of the oldest operating saloons. Glenwood Hot Springs is family-friendly, while Iron Mountain, right on the Colorado River, has a good vibe and a more relaxing ambiance. It is the most affordable Colorado mountain town in Larimer County sitting at an elevation of 7,522 feet. Breakdown by City & Salary Levels, 9 Best Places to Live in South Carolina Near the Beach 2023 Edition, Discover 10 Affordable Mountain Towns in Colorado in 2023. The byway to the top of the pass is one of the best scenic drives near Denver as you head through aspen groves and alpine terrain and take in amazing views of Mount Bierstadt. Visiting Silverton in the summer means there's plenty of natural wonders to explore. Here is our terms & conditions that stipulates how you can use this site. Lamar is a small plains town about 3 hours east of Pueblo and southeast of Colorado Springs. As one of the best mountain towns in Colorado to live in, Salida is a happening place. So, if you decide to spend some time in this tiny resort town, youll have no problem finding a place to stay since you can easily book a room at Keystone Resort and enjoy a bit of family ski fun. 4. A single adult needs to spend $ 40,522 annually to afford a good standard of living. Heres were you can find the top attractions in Colorado: Planning a trip to Colorado? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. While Woodland Park is considered a suburb of Colorado Springs it definitely deserves a spot on the best places to retire in Colorado list. . You have permission to edit this collection. You can buy a home with an average cost of around $205,800. Estes Park is home to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Stop by the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum and then take the Route of the Silver Kings to learn some mining history. You can ski and golf in one of Colorados most picturesque towns. Colorado mountain resort towns offer great escapes for skiers and snowboarders, but let me tell you a local secret: visiting these idyllic places outside of ski season can be much more affordable and much less crowded.Contrary to popular belief, mountain resort towns aren't just skiing destinations; there are also plenty of things to do in the warmer months to cater to various interests . The Continental Divide runs straight through Colorado, along the crests of the Any local will tell you there's no better spot for tubing in the summer than the Yampa River. If youre looking for cheap mountain towns in Colorado where you can combine, in the summer seasons, Buena Vista is a great place to live. However if youre looking for the prettiest mountain town in Colorado, youll certainly want to scope out these amazing gems: The best Colorado mountains towns to visit in the fall are: The best Colorado mountain towns to visit in the winter are: The best Colorado mountains towns to visit in the summer are: Looking for amazing Colorado mountain towns? What gives Fort Collins the edge in 2023 is its relatively affordable cost of living. Be sure to pay a visit to the Breckenridge troll. It is a National Historic Landmark due to its mining history, and you can learn all about it at the Telluride Historical Museum. Massive, two of Colorados highest peaks. You can hit the trail on the best Vail hikes, backpack to Gore Lake, bike the ski hills, or take a scenic gondola ride. There is no way youll feel a harsh sun ray piercing through your skin. If you want to fall in love with some amazing scenery and try some great hiking trails, this is a fantastic place to live for all country-loving souls that want to escape from the chaotic rush of living in the big city, making it one of the best cheap mountain towns in Colorado. Not only these, but Colorado also maintains a steady graph of job opportunities, especially in the software, high-tech, aviation, and healthcare industries. Maybe the most famous mountain town in Colorado, Vail is located in the Rocky Mountains about two hours west of Denver (if youre lucky enough not to hit the notorious traffic on I-70). They might be located in or near the mountains, making it easy to access and enjoy the beautiful landscape. Just under a2 hour drive from Colorado Springs, Trinidad is conveniently located on the I-25, and it offers some extraordinary surrounding views. We start off our list of the most affordable mountain towns in Colorado with Manitou Springs. Thornton. It is voted #1 Most Affordable Town in Colorado as well as one of the Safest Cities in the state.