No surprise here: Several Colorado cities—including Denver—have once again been deemed some of the best places to live in America.
Boulder was ranked No. 10 by U.S. News & World Report on its 2024-2025 list of best places to live, which included 150 destinations across the country. Boulder also ranked No. 132 on the U.S. News & World Report’s list of best places to retire.
“I’m incredibly proud that Boulder has been recognized as one of the best places to live in the country,” says Aaron Brocket, mayor of Boulder. “This ranking is a testament to our community’s dedication to maintaining a high quality of life, supported by our environmental stewardship, unparalleled outdoor recreation opportunities, vibrant arts community and entrepreneurial spirit that make Boulder a fantastic place to call home.”
U.S. News & World Report experts narrowed down the list by looking at livability factors like quality of life, affordability, desirability and job opportunities. These measures were weighted, in part, based on a survey of thousands of people in the U.S.
U.S. News & World Report also considered data from the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, Sharecare, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other U.S. News & World Report rankings, including best high schools and best hospitals.
More specifically, the experts looked at things like crime rates, quality of education, commute times, air quality index, health care availability, household income and unemployment rates, among other factors.
“Deciding where to live is a significant decision many people make based on a number of factors that mean most to them,” says Erika Giovanetti, a loans expert and reporter for U.S. News & World Report. “The Best Places to Live rankings identifies cities that are most likely to meet the wants and needs of those considering where to call home next.”
Boulder scored high marks for quality of life, including its abundant open space, its nice weather, the strong arts community and the plethora of wellness-focused activities. In fact, when looking only at scores for quality of life, Boulder was No. 2.
But the city got dinged for affordability. The publication cited the limited availability of land for new construction, high taxes and strong demand for housing.
“Living ‘in the Boulder bubble,’ as it’s sometimes called, comes at a steep price,” according to the report.
Several other Colorado cities also made the list of best places to live. Colorado Springs was the highest-rated city in the Centennial State, coming in at No. 3. The city trailed behind Boulder for quality of life, but scored better on affordability.
“Pikes Peak, inspiration for the song ‘America the Beautiful,’ is the backdrop for Colorado Springs,” according to the report. “Here, you’ll find a city that blends colorful nature with rugged history and metropolitan spoils.”
Fort Collins was ranked No. 39, while Denver was ranked No. 40.
For Denver, this year’s ranking is a major improvement from last year, when it came in at No. 99.
Experts loved Denver’s music scene, craft beer industry and the more than 5,000 acres of parks, trails, golf courses and playgrounds. But, as with Boulder, they scrutinized the city’s high cost of living.
“Over the last few years, Denver has experienced a population boom, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon,” according to the report. “As a result, the cost of living has dramatically increased, with housing costs seeing one of the biggest hikes. The median home sale price in Denver is now significantly higher than the national median.”
Here’s the full breakdown of the scoring. All scores are out of a total of 10.
Colorado Springs
Overall score: 7.0
Quality of life: 6.5
Value: 7.0
Boulder
Overall score: 6.7
Quality of life: 7,4
Value: 5.5
Fort Collins
Overall score: 6.5
Quality of life: 6.7
Value: 6.5
Denver
Overall score: 6.5
Quality of life 6.5
Value: 5.8
