15 Things you Should Know Before Moving to Colorado

So, you’re thinking of moving to Colorado, but you’re not sure where to start?

Colorado is a beautiful land, so much so that “America the Beautiful'' was inspired by Pike’s Peak in the Rocky Mountains.

Many love Colorado for that beautiful scenery and hiking opportunities, but there is much more to the Centennial State. Here are our favorite things about the Centennial State.

9 Reasons to Move to Colorado

1. You can enjoy many outdoor activities.

Some of the best hiking trails and backcountry hiking is in Rocky Mountain National Park. See beautiful wildflowers in Roxborough State Park near Denver, the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway or Lory State Park. It’s important to note that it’s illegal to pick wildflowers in Colorado’s National and State Parks!  

And don't forget the plethora of winter activities you can do, too! From skiing or snowboarding in Telluride or Aspen to winter hikes in St. Mary's Glacier or Emerald Mountain, Colorado's wide, open scenery is incredible year-round.

2. Colorado has dozens of hot springs.

You’ll find developed hot springs, spa resorts and even undeveloped pools all around the state. Not only does Colorado have the largest mineral hot springs pool in the world, but it also has the deepest geothermal hot spring, too.

Glenwood Springs is not only the largest mineral pool in Colorado, but the entire world. It’s also the hottest in Colorado. The deepest geothermal hot spring, Pagosa Springs, is over 1000-feet deep and is on record in the Guinness World Record as the deepest geothermal pool hot spring.

3. Colorado is a beer-lover’s paradise.

Colorado has more beer per capita than any other state and has over 300 registered breweries. Denver alone is home to over 90 of those breweries. Enjoy a cold one at some of the state’s most well-known breweries, such as Great Divide and Crooked Stave in Denver or Bierstadt Lagerhaus in RiNo.

4. Colorado has world-class national parks and hiking trails.

Consider Great Sands National Park, where you can sled down a 755-foot tall sand dune or experience a night full of stars under a certified Dark Sky Park. 

Garden of the Gods is a free, city-owned park in Colorado Springs. You'll find spectacular red rock formations and a stunning view of Pikes Peak. Easy, paved and unpaved hiking paths take you into this beautiful park that's on the National Register for Historic Places.

Rocky Mountain National Park spans many different hiking environments, from meadows to shining lakes and mountains. It's a beautiful park with over 300 miles of trails to explore for all hiking skill levels.

5. The Winter X Games World Cup ski races and other winter sports competitions happen throughout Colorado.

Winter in Colorado is beautiful and filled with many opportunities to get out and get involved in winter sports.  If you love winter sports, you're going to love The Winter X Games that happen in Aspen. These games have various awards for skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling. And then there are the Birds of Prey World Cup ski races that occur in Beaver Creek every year, bringing a slew of talented athletes.

If you’re more interested in the casual side of winter sports, winter resorts and local sports centers throughout Colorado offer skiing classes,  mountain biking expeditions and snowshoe exploration.

6. Colorado consistently ranks well for education.

24/7 Wall Street ranks the state #17 on their States with the Best and Worst Schools list and Colorado can also be found on WalletHub’s Most and  Least Educated States in America. Even U.S. News ranks Colorado #5 in educational rankings.

The cost of in-state college in Colorado is approximately $12,000, which is a little over $2,000 less than the U.S. average.  

7. Colorado has many award-winning, pro-level athletics teams.

Football fans will love watching Colorado's award-winning football, soccer and baseball teams. The Colorado Rockies play their home baseball games at the Coors Stadium and soccer fans can cheer on the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. 

The Denver Broncos have won the Super Bowl three times, while the Colorado Avalanche (“the Avs”) ice hockey team has won the Stanley Cup twice.

8. Colorado averagesThere’s a lack of humidity and many sunny summer days.

Colorado averages 300 sunny days a year, so it’s the perfect state if you enjoy doing outdoor activities, whether that’s hiking, eating a picnic in the park or just taking an afternoon walk with your pup.

It’s no wonder that it’s considered one of the sunniest states in the U.S.!

9. Colorado is within half a day’s drive (12-hours) of many states and parks.

Its proximity to many states makes it an excellent place to live if you enjoy road trips.

In the Southwest part of Colorado, you can be in four different states at once at the Four Corners Monument: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. 

• Colorado Springs to Santa Fe, NM is less than five hours.

• It’s about six hours from Denver to Hot Springs State Park in Wyoming.

• From Denver to Mount Rushmore, it’s about six hours.

• Denver to Arches National Parks in Utah is seven and a half hours.

• It’s about an eight-and-a-half-hour drive from Denver to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

• Denver to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, UT is about eleven hours.

• Colorado Springs to the Grand Canyon, AZ, can be done in about eleven hours.

4 Things to Know Before Moving to Colorado:

1. The summers can get very hot and the winters can get very cold.

Residents throughout the state think it has very mercurial weather. One minute it'll be sunny and warm, then it might rain a few minutes, then you'll get hail, and then it's sunny again. In the winter, it's common for snow to stick on the ground for the day, then be gone by the next. 

2. Altitude sickness is common among visitors or new residents.

The most common cause of this sickness is when you suddenly travel to a high altitude quickly, usually around 8,000+ feet above sea level. Denver, often called the Mile High City, is a little over 5,000 feet but can still cause mild symptoms in some people.

Rocky Mountain National Park is 10,000 feet above sea level and has a 75% chance of causing mild symptoms of altitude sickness to visitors.   

Altitude sickness is characterized by:

• Headaches or migraines

• Dizziness

• Shortness of breath

• Loss of appetite

• Feeling nauseated

It's important to note that your gender, physical condition and age don't have any bearing on who gets altitude sickness and who doesn't. And even if you didn't experience it the last time you visited Colorado, that doesn't mean you won't get symptoms when visiting the next time. 

3. Changes in the temperature are affecting the climate in Colorado.

In the past century, Colorado has warmed a few degrees [2]. Though this may not seem like a lot, it's enough to make snowmelt earlier in the spring and decrease the water flowing to the Colorado River. Higher temperatures can often lead to increased droughts and wildfires and decreasing agriculture growth.

4. The Colorado population tends to skew young and educated.

23.7% of the population are millennials, which amounts to about 1.36 million. Over half the new transplants in Denver alone are in this age group [4]. That can add a competitive edge to the job market or may not be what you're looking for in a new city. 

What’s it like living in Colorado?

Here are a few more interesting facts about Colorado. 

Key Colorado stats:

• Population: 5,812,069*

• Annual Median Household Salary: $77,790**

• Average Monthly Rent: $1,335**

• Median Value of Owned Homes: $369,900**

• Average Travel Time to Work: 25.8 minutes

*Population estimates, July 1, 2021
**2016-2020

[Source: United States Census Bureau]

Best of List:

• Boulder was ranked #1 on U.S. News’ Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2021-2022.

• Breckenridge is listed as #2 in the Best Ski Vacations in the U.S.

• Aspen was ranked #3 on the Best Christmas Vacations list in the entire world by U.S. News.

• Colorado is considered the 4th Most Educated State in America.

• According to U.S. News, the Best Mountain Towns to Visit in the U.S. are #3 Telluride, #4 Breckenridge, #7 Aspen, and #12 Estes Park.

• Colorado is #6 on WalletHub’s Best & Worst State Economies list.

• Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge and Telluride were voted #4-7 Best Ski Vacations by U.S. News.

• Colorado has its fair share of charming small towns, too. Telluride, Steamboat Springs and Breckenridge are all listed in the top 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA.

• Colorado Springs was #9 on Livability’s 2021 Best Places to Live in America list.

• Sharecare’s Community Wellbeing Index 2020 survey ranked Colorado #9.

[Source: Housing Market Sortable Statistics – Single Family, Colorado Association of Realtors, February 2021]

How much are utilities per month in Colorado?

If you’re wondering about the cost of utilities in Colorado, we’ve researched them for you!

• Electricity: $87.88

• Natural Gas: $9.19 (per one thousand cubic feet; not to be confused with square feet)

• Internet (50 Mbps; national average): $52.37

• Cable: $217.42 (national average)

• Basic streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+): $36.96

• Water varies from city to city. Here are a few examples:

• South Adams County Water: $5.24 (per 1,000 gallons)

• Crested Butte Water and Waste Water Combined: $108.95

• Denver County Water: $17.20 (3/4” meter)

6 must-eat foods to try in Colorado

Colorado has a wide range of exciting foods. Here are a few you should try next time you're in the Centennial State.

1. Rocky Ford is considered the “Sweet Melon Capital of the World,” for its delicious, sweet cantaloupes.

2. The Denver Omelet.

3. Rocky Mountain Oysters.

4. Green chili.

5. Palisades peaches.

6. Legend has it that the cheeseburger was invented in 1935 at the Denver Humpty Dumpty Drive-In by Louis Ballast. And even though Kentucky claims it was created in Louisville at Kaeline's in 1934, Denver has a 1944 trademark to prove it.

ADT has home security options for your new home.

Are you thinking of moving to Colorado? ADT has home security solutions to help protect you and the things you love. 

Our security experts are standing by and ready to help you pick a custom security solution that fits your needs.

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