Fort Collins Named Best Place to Live in Colorado in 2022
State demographer says new job creation should exceed net migration; more workers wanted
Larimer and Weld counties are some of the fastest-growing counties in Colorado and their county seats, Fort Collins and Greeley, were recently named two of the top four places to live in the state.
And according to the state demographer, through 2025, new job creation should once again exceed net migration. Between 2020 and 2021, Colorado added 27,700 residents for a net migration of 14,700 people, ranking 11th in total growth and 17th in growth percentage nationally. The state ranked seventh in 2021 for the most one-way rentals, according to U-Haul data.
Bankrate.com selected these cities based on the four criteria and comments listed as the best places to live in Colorado for 2022.
- Fort Collins
Affordability: 6/10
Job market: 8/10
Safety: 8/10
Wellness: 9/10
“More than 960 acres of public parks, more than 20 craft breweries, more than 200 miles of bike lanes — the numbers in Fort Collins all add up to the best place to call home in Colorado. Home to Colorado State University, this is a young city — the median age is 29 — with a bright future ahead. By 2030, Larimer County and neighboring Weld County are expected to grow by 45 percent, so now might be a good time to invest in property in the area.
You won’t have to wait for that investment to pay off in terms of your quality of life, either. From rafting the Cache la Poudre River to savoring the flavors of more than 70 food trucks, Fort Collins is the ultimate place to enjoy the laid-back culture of Colorado. Also, if you’re looking to enjoy the Front Range lifestyle while saving a little bit of money, consider Loveland — 15 miles away from Fort Collins, and where the median home price was around $40,000 cheaper as of the end of 2021, according to Redfin.”
- Greeley
Affordability: 8/10
Job market: 6/10
Safety: 7/10
Wellness: 6/10
“Remember that 45 percent growth figure under Fort Collins? The other county — Weld — is home to Greeley. The University of Northern Colorado is located here. The city is giving more of those students reasons to stay once they graduate with jobs in healthcare, agriculture, oil and gas and renewable energy.
Greeley is making strides toward establishing its own identity with a designated downtown Creative District, an impressive public art collection, a philharmonic orchestra and a cast of local breweries and distilleries. Give it some more time to mature, and you might not ever need to make the drive south to Denver in search of fun.”
The 2020 Census revealed Weld County increased its population by 76,156 – the most people in the state – and 30.1 percent, was second in percentage only to Broomfield County, which increased by 32.6%. However, this smaller county only added 18,223 people. Larimer increased by 19.8%, which was equal to 59,436 people.
If you are considering relocating, there are jobs for you in some of the best places to live in the country! Also, check out workinnortherncolorado.com/jobs/ for job listings and opportunities.