Why is Everyone Moving to Colorado?

I moved to Colorado about 6 months ago from upstate New York. Longing for a change after grad school, my partner and I found Colorado at the top of our list of states we’d be interested in moving to. For us, it checked all the boxes, and after half a year of living in Colorado I’m so glad we made the trek out west to the Rocky Mountain state. 

Here are the top 3 reasons why most people are moving to Colorado based on my personal experience and the perspective of other recent transplants I’ve spoken to. 

1. Easy access to the mountains and outdoor activities all year round

The majority of people moving here love the great outdoors. And it makes complete sense if you’re an outdoor adventure lover or an aspiring mountain girly, because the Rocky Mountains are on your doorstep. Whether you live in Boulder, Colorado Springs, or Denver there’s something to do outside all year round. In the winter, you have access to some of the best ski resorts in the country in addition to other winter sports like snow shoeing, tubing, and ice climbing. In the warmer months the outdoor activities you can do here are endless! It’s the perfect place for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, trail running, and camping. Depending on where you live, you may not even have to drive that far to get to these places. From where I live in Golden, some hiking trails are no more than 10 minutes away! If this is the type of lifestyle you’re craving, look no further than Colorado. 

2. Proximity to big cities like Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs

I can’t speak for Boulder or Colorado Springs, but Denver has everything any other big city would offer. It has your rooftop bars, it has all the major sport teams, it has rock climbing gyms, cat cafes, up scale restaurants downtown, breweries, you name it. You’ll never run out of things to do in the city. One of the reasons why Denver was at the top of my list is because I couldn’t choose between living near the mountains or the city. In Denver, Colorado, you don’t have to choose because you have both! Each neighborhood has a different vibe, so if you’re planning on moving here, be sure to visit the different neighborhoods before settling in. Some of my favorite areas of Denver are LoHi, RiNo, and Wash Park. However, if want to live in Denver and plan on frequently spending time in the mountains, I would recommend living on the western half of the city so you have a shorter commute to the outdoor places you love.

3. Relatively young population with an abundance of social opportunities

Denver has a ton of young people moving to the city with a large portion being in the 20’s and 30’s age range. Because there are so many people who have recently moved to Colorado, everyone is desperately wanting to connect. I’ve found that people are much more open and friendlier here, compared to the northeast. There are SO many social events that take place every week that welcome newcomers and people wanting to expand their social circle. There’s also a ton of sport leagues and clubs to join, like Volo Sports or MTN KDS. If you love outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or skiing, you’re bound to meet others who share the same interest as you. Meeting people here is so much easier that in other places I lived.

Check out my other blog post HERE on how to actually make friends in Denver, which highlights several social groups that makes meeting people super easy and fun!