Moving to Colorado in 2023? Complete Moving Guide

If you love skiing, camping, hunting, fishing, off-road tours, mountain climbing and other outdoor recreations, you'd love moving to Colorado.

Colorado is one of the states that enjoys more sunshine than wet days every year. The state has the highest elevation in the country and is home to several breathtaking mountains, rivers, plateaus, and canyons that makes it a prime tourist destination.

Colorado's economy is powered by several leading industries including aerospace, bioscience, defense and homeland security, food and agriculture, financial services, energy and natural resources amongst several others. The unemployment rate in Colorado is lower than the national average.

Also, if you enjoy smoking recreational marijuana, Colorado is among the first states to legalize it across the country. This means you can legitimately get "high" in Colorado.

If you're considering moving to Colorado and wondering if the state is the right place for you or not, we have collated key things you should know about the state to make the right choice.

Let's get started!

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  Colorado Demographics

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  Quick Facts of Colorado

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  Top 10 Reasons to move to Colorado

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  Pros and Cons of Living in Colorado

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  Best Places to Live in Colorado

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  Cost of living in Colorado

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  Colorado Job Market

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  Taxes in Colorado

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  Colorado Most Known For?

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  Schools in Colorado

Colorado Demographics

A quick look at the population and other demographics of Colorado.

Male vs Female Population of Colorado 2021

Male vs Female Population by Age Groups in Colorado 2021

Population distribution by Ethnicity in Colorado 2021

Quick facts to know before moving to Colorado

• Colorado got its name after the Colorado River and in Spanish; Colorado means ‘colored Red
• Colorado’s mountainous area is six times the size of Switzerland and contains 9,600 miles of fishing streams, 2,850 lakes, and over 1,000 peaks that are at least two miles high.
• About 75% of the land area of the US with an altitude of over 10,000 feet is in Colorado
• The state is nicknamed ‘the Centennial State' because it became a state in 1876, exactly 100 years after signing the Declaration of Independence
• The highest suspension bridge in the world is over the Royal Gorge near Canon City at a height of 1,053 feet
• The world's largest flat-top mountain can be found in Grand Mesa
• The Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado State is the highest auto tunnel in the world
• The world's largest natural hot springs pool is located in Glenwood Springs

What are the top 10 reasons to move to Colorado?

There are hundreds of reasons why moving to Colorado could be a great idea. We've handpicked ten of those reasons here from various spheres of life to help you make the right decision.

• Great healthcare system, rated among the best in the U.S.

  Coloradans are the healthiest in the US. It is no surprise that the state ranks the best in healthcare. As per the latest medical studies, almost every county in the state has positive health indicators and the state also has the lowest obesity rates. Among the hospitals in Colorado, about 9 hold a berth in the list of the country’s best hospitals.

  Here’s a list of the top-rated hospitals in Colorado

  • UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora
  • UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies, Loveland
  • SCL Health Saint Joseph Hospital, Denver
  • UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital, Fort Collins
  • Sky Ridge Medical Center, Lone Tree
  • SCL Health Good Samaritan Medical Center, Lafayette
  • Parkview Medical Center, Pueblo
  • Porter Adventist Hospital, Denver
  • SCL Health St. Mary's Medical Center, Grand Junction
  • Animas Surgical Hospital, Durango

• Easy access to amazing outdoor recreations

  Colorado is an outdoor adventure Mecca with unlimited options to unwind. From fun-filled ski trips in winter to summer whitewater rafting, you’ve got everything on the itinerary. To help you, we’ve collated a list of some of the best outdoor attractions in Colorado

  • Explore Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Take a scenic drive on the Million Dollar Highway
  • Board down a dune at Great Sand Dunes National Park
  • Experience the thrill of white water rafting
  • Do apple picking at many of the apple farms
  • Get lost in the Corn Maze at Anderson Farms
  • Go ziplining at the Royal Gorge
  • Enjoy Oktober-FEAST in Breckenridge
  • Take off-road trails
  • Hike through the Aspen Grove near Crested Butte
  • Explore Denver Zoo
  • Take a step back in time at Mesa Verde National Park

• The public-school system is rated higher than average

  Colorado is the 5th most educated state in the US and the major credit goes to the public school system. Colorado boasts of some of the best schools and colleges in the country and 38 percent of Coloradans have at least a bachelor's degree, the second-highest college attainment rate in the country, and 14 percent hold a graduate or professional degree.

• Marijuana is legalized

  If you are 21 or more, you can legally get stoned in Colorado. The state is famous for its progressive stance on recreational usage of marijuana and possession of up to 28 grams of the drug is approved.

• Colorado's property and income taxes are relatively low

  Colorado is one of the most tax-friendly states in the US and has one of the lowest property taxes – 0.55%. While the state taxes your income at a flat rate of 4.63%, sales tax ranges from 2.90% to 11.20%. The tax-friendly policy is a major factor alluring businesses to the state.

• Stable economic growth and booming job market

  The tax-friendly policy plus positive economic climate has made Colorado one of the richest states. The economy is booming and it is predicted to further shoot up, opening more job opportunities for the next 10 years. The unemployment rate is just 3.1%, lower than the national average. This means, moving to Colorado for a job is a great idea. Aerospace, defense, energy & natural resources, finance, agriculture, tourism, and electronics contribute to the Colorado economy.

• Colorado is a sports fan haven

  In Colorado, sports have a major role in civil life. While basketball, American football, and soccer are most popular in the state, baseball and ice hockey also have got its fan base. The state has five major professional leagues, all based in the Denver metropolitan area.

• You'll enjoy all four seasons in Colorado

  Colorado has got all four seasons – spring, summer, fall, and winter – with each having something of a bit to offer. Winter in Colorado is bitterly cold, especially in the mountains. The average winter temperature would be between 5 ℉ and 43 ℉. In summer, the daytime temperature touches about 80 ℉

• Easy access to breathtaking mountains

  Colorado's landscape is breathtaking with majestic mountains all around. Moving to Colorado is also an option to explore the most mesmerizing mountain ranges. Some of the best mountains include:

  • Maroon Bells
  • Longs Peak
  • The Crestone Needle
  • Capitol Peak
  • Mount Princeton
  • San Juan Mountains
  • Mount Evans
  • Sangre de Cristo Mountains

• You'll enjoy a diverse social and entertainment lifestyle

  Colorado is a melting pot of multiple cultures and the state celebrates its diversity through many fests year around. You will come across every culture in the world on Colorado streets and the state takes pride in it. This means, you never feel lost in Colorado

What are the pros and cons of living in Colorado?

How does Colorado compare to where you are right now? One of the easiest ways to find out is to consider the pros and cons of living in Colorado. While you're mulling over moving to Colorado, you should consider the pros and cons of living in the state before making up your mind.

Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. Know the top-rated moving companies in Colorado.

What are the Best Places to Live in Colorado

Colorado is home to many beautiful places including cities, towns, and neighborhoods. If you're contemplating moving to Colorado, you should be interested in the best places to live in the state. We've compiled a list of the ten best places to live in Colorado to help you make the right choice.

Here are the 10 best places to live in Colorado:

Colorado Cities Moving Guides

What's the cost of living in Colorado?

The cost of living in Colorado is higher than the U.S. average. Colorado's cost of living is rated 121.1. The United States average is rated 100.

Median House Price in Colorado vs USA 2021

Median Rent Price in Colorado vs USA 2021

Cost of Living by Categories in Colorado vs USA 2021

What's the cost of renting a home in Colorado?

Renting a home could be your housing option if you're moving to Colorado. About 31.4% of Colorado residents are renters. However, finding a home to rent in Colorado isn't that easy. Only 1.6% of apartments and houses in Colorado are open to rent.

• Average rent price in Colorado is $1,846, US is $1,470
• Average cost of a studio Apartment in Colorado is $902. The U.S. average is $821
• Average cost of a 1 Bedroom in Colorado is $1,040. The U.S. average is $930
• Average cost of a 2 Bedroom in Colorado is $1,306. The U.S. average is $1,148
• Average cost of a 3 Bedroom in Colorado is $1,839. The U.S. average is $1,537
• Average cost of a 4 Bedroom in Colorado is $2,148. The U.S. average is $1791

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Are homes affordable in Colorado?

Buying a home in Colorado is fairly expensive. The median price of homes in Colorado is higher than the U.S. average. The state's booming job market, beautiful landscapes and great outdoors amongst several other things are constantly attracting people to the state.

More than 65% of Colorado residents are homeowners. If you're considering moving to Colorado and buying a home, we've compiled key information about the state's housing market to help you get started:

• The median home value in Colorado is $408,794
• Home values in Colorado has increased by 3.1% over the past year
• Home values in Colorado are predicted to fall by 1.7% within the next year
• The median list price per square foot in Colorado is $259
• The median price of homes currently listed in Colorado is $428,364
• The median price of homes that sold in Colorado is $388,700
• The median rent price in Colorado is $2,000
• In Colorado 0.1 homes are foreclosed (per 10,000). The US average is 1.2
• The percent of delinquent mortgages in Colorado is 0.4%. The U.S. average is 1.1%.
• Up to 4.5% of Colorado homeowners are underwater on their mortgage

How is the job market in Colorado?

The job market in Colorado is booming. The unemployment rate in the state is lower than the U.S. average. Colorado's future job growth in the next ten years is also higher than the United States average. Colorado is home to over 20 Fortune 500 companies and several other large companies. If you're considering moving to Colorado to get a new job, you're on the right path.

What's the median salary in Colorado?

What's the average salary you'll most likely earn if you move to Colorado? If you're interested in starting a new job after moving to Colorado, we've collated the key average income in the state. This will give you an idea of what to expect if you move to Colorado:

• The median household income in Colorado is $68,811
• The average household income in Colorado is $92,520
• The Per Capita Income in Colorado is $36,415
• High income households in Colorado is 7.9% (making over $200,000 a year)
• The minimum hourly wage in Colorado is $11 per hour
• The average annual salary in Colorado is $62,631 per year
• The average hourly pay for average jobs in Colorado is $30

10 largest companies in Colorado

Several large companies in the United States are headquartered in Colorado. If you're mulling over moving to Colorado, you should be interested in the largest companies in the state. We've made a top 10 list of the largest companies in Colorado and here they are:

• Pepsi Center
• RE/MAX
• JBS USA
• Catholic Health Initiatives
• DaVita
• Chipotle Mexican Grill
• Teletech Holdings
• Pilgrim's Pride
• The Anschutz
• Red Robin

10 fastest growing jobs in Colorado

If you're considering a career change in Colorado, these are the fastest growing jobs in the state:

• Interpreter And Translator
• Miner
• Personal Care Assistant
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
• Home Health Aid
• Esthetician
• Information Security Analyst
• Cement Mason
• Physician Assistant
• Insulation Installer

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What are the Top Industries in Colorado

Colorado's economy is driven by several large industries. From aerospace to financial services, tourism and outdoor recreation etc. While you're considering moving to Colorado, we've compiled a list of the largest companies in the state to give you an idea of what to estate.

• Advanced manufacturing
• Aerospace
• Bioscience, health, and wellness
• Creative industries
• Defense and homeland security
• Electronics, Technology and information
• Energy and natural resources
• Financial services
• Food and agriculture
• Infrastructure engineering
• Tourism and outdoor recreation
• Transportation and logistics

10 best places to get a job in Colorado

Colorado is home to many beautiful places. If you're looking to get a job after moving to Colorado, these are the best places to consider based on low unemployment rates and high future job growth.

• Durango
• Aspen
• Avon
• Gypsum
• Eagle
• Wellington
• Gunnison
• Loveland
• Rifle
• Parker

Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in Colorado, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

What's the unemployment rate in Colorado?

Colorado has a booming job market. The unemployment rate in Colorado is lower than the national average. Also, future job growth in Colorado is predicted to hit 46.0%. This is higher than the national average of 33.5%.

While the unemployment rate in Colorado is 3.1%, the United States average is 3.9%. If you're interested in getting a new job, moving to Colorado is a great idea.

Is Colorado a tax-friendly state?

Colorado has one of the lowest average effective property tax rates in the country. If you're moving to Colorado, you should be aware of the key taxes you'll most likely pay in the state. Here's a simple breakdown of the taxes in Colorado:

• Colorado's income tax is a flat rate of 4.63%
• Sales tax in Colorado range from 2.90% - 11.20%
• Colorado's average effective property tax rate is 0.55%
• Gas tax is 22.0 cents per gallon of regular gasoline
• Diesel tax is 20.5 cents per gallon of diesel

What is Colorado most known for?

The beautiful state of Colorado is known for so many things. If you're considering moving to Colorado, you'll most likely be interested in what the state is mostly known for. While it's impossible to list everything Colorado is known for, we've made a top 10 list to give you an idea. If you're contemplating moving to Colorado, here are the top 10 things the state is known for:

• World-Class Skiing

  Colorado is heaven for ski lovers as it is home to unlimited first-class skiing venues. Unlike some other US states, the skiing resorts in Colorado are open to both skiers and snowboarders.

  Here’s a list of some of the best skiing venues in Colorado:

  • Vail Mountain Resort
  • Aspen Snowmass
  • Telluride Ski Resort
  • Beaver Creek Resort
  • Breckenridge Ski Resort
  • Keystone Resort
  • Purgatory Resort
  • Steamboat Ski Resort
  • Copper Mountain

• Legal Marijuana

  Colorado permits you to smoke pot for recreational purposes. The state is highly progressive when it comes to recreational drugs and anyone above 21 can smoke marijuana. However, that doesn’t mean you can smoke anywhere in public. The guidelines are strict and you need to check them before lighting the grass.

• Breathtaking Mountains

  One of Colorado’s biggest claims to fame is the spectacular mountains here. These mountain peaks lure hikers and photographers anxious for that amazing photo and bragging rights for summiting their heights.

  Some of the best mountains in Colorado are:

  • Mount Elbert
  • Maroon Bells
  • Pikes Peak
  • Longs Peak
  • Mount Evans
  • Mount Sneffels
  • Collegiate Peaks
  • Mount Bierstadt
  • Mount Crested Butte

• Beautiful Scenery

  Drenched in scenic beauty, Colorado is home to some of the most scenic landscape views in the world. It offers such a myriad of beautiful places to discover and four seasons to pick from. There are four national parks, dozens of scenic towns, and an infinite amount of breathtaking terrain and unforgettable vistas in Colorado.

• Remarkable Outdoor Life

  Colorado takes pride in its mesmerizing outdoor life. There is a lot to explore here, including mountains, national parks, skiing resorts, spectacular small towns, and breathtaking terrains.

• Rocky Mountain National Park

  Spread over 265,461 acres, Rocky Mountain National Park features mountains, alpine lakes, and a wide variety of wildlife within various climates and environments, from wooded forests to mountain tundra. UNESCO designated the park as one of the first World Biosphere Reserves in 1976 and it attracts about 4 million tourists a year.

• Dinosaur National Monuments

  The American national monument spread over 853.26 km2 is on the border between Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers. There are over 800 paleontological sites and has fossils of dinosaurs including Allosaurus, Deinonychus, Abydosaurus, and various sauropods.

• Amazing Cultural Experiences

  Colorado is formed by a variety of cultures and races and it is an amazing melting pot of cultures from different parts of the globe. It celebrates diversity with much fanfare and moving to Colorado, you never feel lost.

• The Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Monument

  The 30,750-acre American national park is home to the deepest and most dramatic section of the Grand Canyon and about 12 miles of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River flows through it. The monument is a hot spot for adventure lovers and there are restrictions for vehicles of different sizes.

• Colorado is known for canyons, plateaus, rivers, and snows

  Colorado is famous for its unmatched beauty packed with canyons, plateaus, rivers, and snows. Its diverse geography is complemented with alpine mountains, high plains, deserts with huge sand dunes, and deep canyons. The state is also home to four national parks.

Tip: Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.

What are the Best Schools & Universities in Colorado

Moving to Colorado gives you access to some of the best schools in the country. Colorado has 4,570 public and private PK-12 schools. The state is also home to 62 colleges and universities that enrolls over two hundred thousand students.

We've made a list of some of the best schools in Colorado to help you get started.