Money Magazine's Best Small Cities: Five Colorado Cities Are Named 'Best Places To Live'

Five Colorado cities ranked on Money magazine's recently published list of America's 100 best small cities. These cities, dubbed the "best places to live," were determined by complex calculation of financial, housing, education, quality of life statistics, as well as factors like leisure activities, culture and weather.

For example, quality of life was evaluated by the city's air quality index, personal crime incidents, median commute time, the percentage of the population with a commute over 45 minutes, and the percentage of the population that walk or bike to work. Eden Prairie, MN took the top spot on the list, followed by Columbia/Ellicott City, MD and Newton, MA.

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# 58. Arvada

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Money magazine emphasizes the historic feel of the city, where gold was first spotted in Colorado in the 1850s. The magazine also recognizes the city’s noteworthy tourist attractions including the annual Gold Strike Festival, the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, and the city's celebrated cultural center.

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Money magazine emphasizes the historic feel of the city, where gold was first spotted in Colorado in the 1850s. The magazine also recognizes the city’s noteworthy tourist attractions including the annual Gold Strike Festival, the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, and the city's celebrated cultural center.

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Comments

[Eric McCrery]

06:13 PM on 07/19/2010

Fort Collins really is a great place to live. We have been in the top 10 on this list for a few years and were #1 a couple years ago. For more information about Fort Collins or a free relocation packet, feel free to contact me at:

Eric McCrery – GRI, CRS

Partner/Broker Associate

The Group Inc | 2803 E. Harmony Rd. | Ft.Collins, CO 80528 | USA
c: 970.218.7620 | o: 970.377.4969 | f: 970.223.7887

email: [e-mail] | web: www.ericmccrery.com

[laxfamily]

08:56 AM on 07/15/2010

I love FOCO. My sons go to school there and it has been a real treat over the years to visit 4 or 5 times a year and hang out. Great small town with college provides for a lively town.

[hellboundtrain]

04:59 AM on 07/14/2010

Wouldn't it be better to have some communities with greater racial diversity?

[Alpha11]

05:37 PM on 07/14/2010

I like Boulder the most and it is more diverse.

[ilovemyprez]

08:00 PM on 07/14/2010

I think a lot of people in Boulder would disagree with you about the diversity, but I do love it.

[Tsalco]

03:39 AM on 07/14/2010

I love these lists as it distracts people from the really great places to live. Most of the great places have already been ruined by growth they need less people, not more. Please, by all means move to Highlands Ranch and Arvada. And, if you know a great spot, please don't tell anybody.

[Tsalco]

04:12 AM on 07/14/2010

Come to think of it, we need another list to distract people from Colorado altogether as it does NOT need ANY growth. Please consider Michigan.

It already has a built up infrastructure. Real estate prices are incredible and there are many existing homes available. A friend just got back from Detroit where someone he knows just bought a house for $1200, (less than 1% of the cost in Colorado) and it is very common to find homes well under 10 grand. The commute is shorter. Running a business is great in MI as there is an abundance of cheap office and factory space and lots of skilled labor.

Summers are nice with some of the best recreation right nearby with nearly 3300 miles of shoreline (greater than the distance of Miami to Seattle). The small and large lakes are gorgeous with forested shores, beautiful dunes, and National Parks, and the sailing is often better than the ocean. The produce is abundant and great, especially the locally grown cherries. In winter there are lots of outdoor activities with quite a few ski areas. The people are friendly and bicycling is much easier than in Colorado. I have family that moved from Highlands Ranch to the shore of Lake Michigan and they love it there.

[JacksonJones]

12:25 PM on 07/14/2010

Exactly. Colorado, too many people fail to realize before trying to rellocate, is pretty much frozen year-round, and looks just like those pictures from Loveland Pass that they always show during nationally televised Broncos games. Stay away, unless you really like COLD weather, and even then, Alaska is probably a better choice for you, what with all that oil rebate money you get.

[ShambalaMountain]

02:13 AM on 07/14/2010

If you have money, yes, these suburban wastelands will appeal to you.

[LisaCACO]

12:20 AM on 07/14/2010

I lived in HR for a year. omg, too scary. I like the burbs myself but HR is just frightening. stepford doesn't even begin to describe it...

[rbchilds]

10:07 AM on 07/16/2010

Just what is scary about HR?

[TazoWolf]

12:19 AM on 07/14/2010

I like Fort Collins, but in some ways, Golden is even better, I think. Fort Collins has grown too much lately with urban sprawl. One thing's certain, they're ALL friendly to us cyclists... Except Black Hawk, but they didn't make the list, of course.

[MISTERUNCONVENTIONAL]

12:13 AM on 07/14/2010

Ha ha ha! They don't even LIST Durango!

That's GREAT! We don't need any more Denverites moving here. Or Texans!

[J0E1]

10:38 AM on 07/14/2010

That's probably because it's a list of cities, not small towns in the middle of nowhere. The only "Denverites" in Durango have a second house there.

[bleubunny]

06:11 AM on 07/15/2010

Well Durango is nice but it's not in the list. And it's kind of small and in the middle of nowhere.

[denier denier]

08:44 PM on 07/13/2010

I like Fort Collins but the rest suck.

[jcinco]

06:57 PM on 07/13/2010

Manitou Springs

[Patricia C Mulkey]

09:18 AM on 07/14/2010

Shhhh! Don't tell anyone! They'll all want to come.

[FrictionSoul]

06:00 PM on 07/13/2010

Nothing against Highlands Ranch nor Broomfield, but I prefer my hiking to have strenuous uphills. Else it would be no different than hiking in Kansas: the mountains would be just a little further away.

[SusPiShus]

07:42 PM on 07/13/2010

I cannot believe these 2 were on the list, but for other reasons. Highly developed suburbs with cookie-cutter houses and too few small local businesses. Also, not ped friendly (as far as to walk to the grocery store or to local restaurants).

[J0E1]

10:42 AM on 07/14/2010

There are sidewalks everywhere in highlands ranch. I walk to the movie theater and restaurants all the time. What more do you need to become "ped friendly"?

[Donna1224]

04:52 PM on 07/13/2010

It's really sad that Colorado Springs has fallen so far down that they didn't make the list! Thanks to Doug Bruce and the Republicans running the show, we are about as popular as BP is right now and noone wants to visit here with their family.

[badger2196]

05:10 PM on 07/13/2010

I like the Springs, esp downtown. Most people's impression of it (even up here in Denver) is what they see when passing through on the highway, which isn't very pretty. I encourage everyone to get off the highway and head downtown.

[Alpha11]

05:39 PM on 07/14/2010

Colorado Springs isn't very well run.

[bleubunny]

06:14 AM on 07/15/2010

It has clean air! And also wind...:S

[J0E1]

04:46 PM on 07/13/2010

Man I cannot believe the hate for highlands ranch. Have any of you lived there? I'm guessing not. I currently do and I love it. Great community, clean city, huge rec centers included in HOA (cheaper then a gym membership), activities every weekend, beautiful parks, great library, and on and on... 20 min shot to downtown or a couple minutes to the nearest light rail.

[badger2196]

05:08 PM on 07/13/2010

...and just like any other development of its type - soulless. It obviously suits a certain type of person though, as it is very popular. You pays your money and you takes your choice so I'm not knocking your decision to be there - it's just not for me.

[JacksonJones]

06:55 PM on 07/13/2010

With the Ranch, its all about the people, not the architecture (such as it is). If you've got a family and don't wan to or can't send your kids to private school, its a place where you can get your kids a great education, and have a house that works for a family, even if it doesn't have the charm of a Wash Park victorian (which I love, btw).

So I think you're right, its a choice that works for some people, and if you don't fit the demographic, there are probably other places that would work better.

[rbchilds]

10:27 AM on 07/16/2010

Souless, guess that depends on your definition of soul. Highlands Ranch may be the only true community in the country where democracy is at its highest form. No city government spending us into debt and no politicians telling us how we should live. We have a board, we vote for, a community manager who we hire and can fire if he doesn't produce. We have 5 recreation centers (including the senior center) with activities for everyone in the Ranch to enjoy. An equestian center, 2 golf courses, bike and ped paths galore. Small regional parks for the young ones. Our bonds for building the latest recreation centers were rated higher than DIA. Home prices have remained relatively stable as they did during the oil bust in the mid-late 80's. I have met a lot of people who look down on HR or believe that the community is a little snooty over the years. My conclusion is they are in envy that the residents can actually do better for their community without politicians than their paid politicians can do for them.

[Tsalco]

05:39 AM on 07/14/2010

20 minutes to downtown?? I think not. I have driven the route from the east, central, and west parts of Highlands Ranch many times. It is impossible to make it in 20 minutes considering that it is a 17-23 mile route with stop lights and speed limits generally below 50 (except for I-25 which is a longer route and often clogged). Don't take my word for it. Google maps and Mapquest generally put the time at more than a half hour (at least 50% greater than 20 min.) Rush hour is MUCH more time and that is when most people commute.

As for "a couple minutes to the nearest light rail", also impossible. How about at 5 minutes minimum and over 10 minutes for most people? It can take 10 or more minutes to just get across the sprawl of Highlands Ranch itself and the nearest light light rail station is a few miles outside of HR.

[J0E1]

10:49 AM on 07/14/2010

Alright alright, so I exagerated the figures a bit. However I do live in a part of Highlands Ranch close to 470 so it is a pretty quick hop to the highway for me at least. Anyway when we were looking for homes we searched all over the denver metro area. We wanted a decent size plot not TOO far from the city or a light rail stop. We quickly realized that anywhere within a 10min shot of downtown was either ghetto, or very expensive. After looking at endless numbers of houses we found a nice reasonable one in Highlands Ranch. I guess it isn't for everyone but thats why I feel that its a nice place to live if your job takes you to the Denver metro area.

[markopolio]

04:37 PM on 07/13/2010

Highlands Ranch? That town is 1/100 as interesting as vanilla pudding.

[badger2196]

05:05 PM on 07/13/2010

Couldn't agree more - nothing but cookie cutter houses 12 feet form each other. Ick.

[koalaholik]

09:24 PM on 07/13/2010

Highlands Ranch - where the homes are beige and so are the people.

[J0E1]

02:49 PM on 07/15/2010

Very few housing areas of highlands ranch are tightly packed which is the reason I chose to live there. You can't fault them for the cookie cutter housing. Find me housing built in the last 20 years that isn't. My sister in law has a single family in ft collins. You can shake hands with the neighbor from their driveways.

[Imagineer]

04:19 PM on 07/13/2010

Yech. These guys most definitely weigh statistics very differently than I do when determining the best places to live.