USA Today: These are the best and worst cities in Colorado to live in

DENVER (KDVR) — Coloradans know the Centennial State is a great place to live, but it may come as a surprise that USA Today said the best cities to move to in the state aren’t the most popular.

USA Today Homefront researchers ranked 22 cities across the state in 16 different data-driven metrics that measure the quality of life in each of the areas.

While the best and worst cities were lined up along the Front Range, the best city to move to in Colorado, according to the study, is Grand Junction on the Western Slope.

The best cities to move to in Colorado

According to the study, Grand Junction, Littleton and Loveland were great places for safety, education and access to health care, earning them their respective positions as the top 3 cities to move to in Colorado.

Here’s an overview of the top five cities on USA Today’s list.

No. 1: Grand Junction

USA Today described Grand Junction as “Colorado’s best-kept secret,” noting that it has diverse landscapes, affordable housing, and low climate risks.

Low climate risk also plays a role in affordability — Grand Junction has the lowest annual homeowners insurance premiums, according to the study, which it says is likely due to the area’s mild weather.

Grand Junction ranked as the second most affordable place for homebuyers and the third most affordable for renters.

No. 2: Littleton

Littleton was the smallest city by population in the top five and the second largest overall, with 45,500 residents. USA Today said despite its small population, there are plenty of things to do and benefits of living there.

Littleton is conveniently located for city activities and outdoor adventures, about a 25 minute drive south of downtown Denver and about a 20 to 30 minute drive from Red Rocks Amphitheater. But there’s plenty to do in Littleton itself, the city that had the most restaurants and activities per capita, according to USA Today’s analysis.

USA Today said Littleton is also home to one of the top-rated school districts in the Centennial State, ranking first in the study with Highlands Ranch and Boulder. USA Today also noted that Littleton has excellent access to healthcare, with nearly 10 primary care physicians for every 1,000 residents.

So what’s the downside to living in Littleton? According to USA Today, Littleton is one of the most expensive places to live in the state, which kept the city from No. 1. The typical rent there is $1,994 and the median home value is $641,076.

No. 3: Loveland

Loveland is located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, just a few miles south of Fort Collins. USA Today said the city has all the convenience of a big city with all the charm of a small town.

According to USA Today, Loveland has the fifth lowest crime rate of all cities in the study, with fewer than 30 crimes per 1,000 residents, below the state average of 36 crimes per 1,000 residents.

Loveland had the lowest unemployment rate and ranked third for access to primary care providers.

Loveland also had the fourth lowest rent price among the 22 cities analyzed, with a typical rent of about $1,751.

No. 4: Fort Collins

Fort Collins is described by USA Today as a “historical paradise” thanks to its vintage trolley, ghost tours and historic buildings dating back to the 1800s.

According to the study, Fort Collins is one of the most educated cities in the state, with 58 percent of adults holding a bachelor’s degree, far higher than the statewide average of 36 percent.

It was also one of the most affordable cities to live in among the 22 analyzed in the study, with a typical rent of $1,853 and a typical home value of $554,647.

No. 5: Longmont

USA Today said Longmont’s population of just under 100,000 is expected to surpass that mark soon.

Located just 20 minutes from downtown Boulder and 45 minutes from Denver and Rocky Mountain National Park, USA Today noted that it’s a convenient option for those who work in the metro area but want affordable housing.

The average life expectancy in Longmont is 82.6 years, according to the study, higher than the statewide life expectancy of 80 years.

Longmont is located in Boulder County, which is tied with Larimer and Douglas counties for the lowest unemployment rate at 3.4 percent.

List: Best and worst cities to move to in Colorado

The cities that ranked lowest were both in Adams County — USA Today said Brighton and Commerce City both ranked lowest because of high cost of living and poorly rated schools.

Popular cities like Denver and Aurora ranked poorly because of high crime rates and high homeowner’s insurance premiums, USA Today said.

Here is the full list of the 22 cities analyzed:

Rank	Town	Life expectancy	Average income	Typical rent	Typical home value	Unemployment rate
1	Grand Junction	78.3	$62,993	$1,467	$383,283	4.5%
2	Littleton	80.6	$90,273	$1,994	$641,076	3.7%
3	The land of love	81.7	$81,898	$1,751	$495,821	3.4%
4	Fort Collins	81.7	$78,977	$1,853	$554,647	3.4%
5	Longmont	82.6	$89,720	$1,868	$563,227	3.4%
6	Greeley	80.3	$65,525	$1,428	$413,326	4.0%
7	Broomfield	81.8	$117,541	$2,090	$645,535	3.6%
8	Boulder	82.6	$80,243	$2,442	$984,011	3.4%
9	Colorado Springs	78.1	$79,026	$1,806	$449,123	3.9%
10	Parker	83.4	$126,615	$2,199	$693,812	3.4%
11	Centenary	80.6	$124,617	$2,206	$648,128	3.7%
12	wife	80.3	$106,014	$2,135	$611,384	3.6%
13	castle rock	83.4	$135,985	$2,380	$667,836	3.4%
14	Lakewood	80.3	$82,786	$1,893	$571,584	3.6%
15	Highlands Ranch	83.4	$148,227	$2,505	$715,975	3.4%
16	Westminster	80.3	$90,651	$1,928	$533,794	3.6%
17	Aurora	80.6	$78,685	$1,935	$483,228	3.7%
18	Pueblo	75.1	$52,794	$1,341	$283,725	5.3%
19	Denver	78.9	$85,853	$1,984	$563,372	4.2%
20	Thornton	78.6	$95,064	$1,946	$524,041	4.2%
21	Brighton	78.6	$86,975	$2,143	$506,195	4.2%
22	Commerce City	78.6	$96,484	$2,485	$506,397	4.2%

In 2022, about 264,500 people moved to Colorado, according to data from the US Census Bureau.