8 Safest Towns In Colorado For Senior Living
No words can describe the prospect of retiring in a small, relaxing mountain town with clear lakes, razor-thin ridges, and pine-speckled forests. Bonus points if that town provides easy access to a number of good hospitals so that your healthcare needs are well taken care of. For this kind of life, Colorado is a dream. But as a retiree, you also want a safe neighborhood or community, a place where you don't worry about potential break-ins or someone yanking your handbag when you are strolling down the streets. From Severance to Superior, discover the eight safest towns in Colorado for senior living.
Severance
Severance is a small, charming town ideal for retirees who love quiet and calm settings. It reclines on the Colorado Eastern Plains, 15 miles northwest of Greeley. Life in Severance is slow-paced and relaxed, laid back and safe. According to statistics gleaned from FBI Data Explorer, its burglary rate is 2.8 per 100,000, significantly lower than the statewide rate of 28.98. No wonder Safewise ranks Severance as Colorado's safest town.
Aside from safety, a retiree here will be a short drive from several towns, including Greeley, Windsor, and Fort Collins. What's more? A retiree here can spend time at the Blue Spruce Park, which has a pond for fishing and shade trees for relaxing. There is also Franklin Lake, a fantastic spot for catching spotted bass. Alternatively, Windsor Reservoir provides opportunities for mingling with ducks and flocks of gulls.
On healthcare access, UCHealth Greeley Hospital is down the road in Greeley. But you can also opt for the highly rated Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, a three-time winner of the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement Award.
Montrose
Montrose is another neat, safe town any retiree will readily fall in love with. Its burglary rate is just 9.3 per 100,000 residents, way lower than the statewide rate of 28.98. It may not boast a high-octane entertainment scene, but its outdoor offerings more than compensate for that. A retiree here will enjoy the fresh mountain air while exploring awe-inspiring sites such as the Montrose Botanic Gardens, a swoon-worthy space with a great variety of plants and flowers. There is the Ute Trail if you are looking for a dose of healthy exercise—and the Flying Iron Ranch Alpacas—where residents enjoy mingling with sweet, adorable animals loved for their coy grins.
Montrose Regional Health, a 2023 recipient of the Outstanding Patient Experience Award, is right in town. Finally, Montrose residents have a median age of 48.7, meaning one will find folks in the same age bracket with whom to interact and plot adventures.
Salida
Chances are, you already know that Salida boasts the finest collection of historically significant buildings in Colorado. It is also the state’s largest historic district. But more than that, a retiree here has the Salida Hot Springs Pool, the nation's largest indoor hot springs facility. Besides, there is the meandering presence of the Arkansas River, known for its world-class rafting opportunities. Browns Canyon National Monument, about an hour out of town, offers solitude and a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking. It is Colorado's newest national monument.
Salida is safe and offers doorstep access to the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, a long-running facility established about 140 years ago in 1885. With a virtually zero burglary rate, Salida is a sweet, safe venue for retirement. Finally, residents here have a median age of 44.3.
Superior
Superior provides retirees with the opportunity to enjoy Denver but from a quieter and safer location. For perspective, downtown Denver is just 22 miles down the road, meaning a range of excellent healthcare facilities, including the HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke's, ranked among the best in the nation for spine surgeries, is a heartbeat away.
Outdoor lovers have the nearby Standley Lake Regional Park and Wildlife Refuge (if fishing or boating is up your alley), the trail-laden Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm, and Founders Park, which boasts a beautiful, paved walking trail. Superior residents have a median age of 36.9, meaning the town leans more on the youthful, burbly side of life.
Erie
Erie is quiet and peaceful and provides the serenity that every retiree dreams of. An empty nester will enjoy patronizing Erie Farmers Market, the hub of locally grown fruits and vegetables. This market is also a great place to interact with townmates. Erie is also just off of the highway, meaning it scores big on accessibility. The most exciting part is that Boulder is just 14 miles to the west, meaning a comforting range of top-tier hospitals is just a heartbeat away.
The Boneyard at Reliance Park is a fantastic spot to get the dogs out and running—while Lil' Buckaroo's Petting Zoo is a warm, friendly space for mingling with wild animals. That said, the show stopper here is the Erie Singletrack, an awesome place for downhill mountain biking, complete with delicious views on every side.
In terms of safety, Erie's burglary rate is just 5.79 per 100,000 residents, way lower than the statewide rate of 28.98. Finally, Erie residents have a median age of 37.4, indicating one will enjoy a whiff of youthful exuberance and cheerfulness.
Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs is a top-level skiing destination known for its "Champagne Powder" snow. Steamboat Ski Resort, with its 23 lifts, offers a delightful range of trails for almost every level of ability. Meanwhile, Fish Creek is a quick and easy hike and features a stunning waterfall and refreshing creek.
Avid golfers have the Haymaker Golf Course, beautifully framed by the snow-capped Mount Werner.
On healthcare access, the highly ranked UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center is right in town and has been in business since 1999. Residents of Steamboat Springs have a median age of 41.9, meaning a retiree here will find similarly aged folks to network with. Finally, FBI statistics show Steamboat Springs has a burglary rate of 7.49, which compares favorably with the statewide rate of 28.98.
Durango
A well-known outdoor lover's paradise, Durango is in the Four Corners region where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. A retiree here will be encircled by breathtaking landscapes and enjoy whitewater rafting on the 126-mile-long Animas River. Several scenic trails traverse the landscape, some of which provide stunning views of the San Juan Mountains. Moreover, a retiree has the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train to enjoy on a whim—and the trail-laden San Juan National Forest.
The good news is that Durango is also safe. According to statistics from the FBI, its burglary rate per 100,000 is virtually zero, while the statewide rate is 28.98. There is also great access to healthcare. CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital is right in town and has been feted with the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention Award. Finally, Durango residents have a median age of 36.6, a sweet spot between old and young.
Carbondale
Carbondale is a dainty, storybook town quietly nestled in the Roaring Fork Valley. There are several picturesque trails here for keeping fit, including Mushroom Rock, a short out-and-back trail popular with hikers and rock climbers. This trail provides access to Mushroom Rock, where visitors are rewarded with beautiful views of Mount Sopris at the top. There is the chance to snowshoe at the nearby Avalance Ranch—or enjoy awesome scenery at the White River National Forest. The burglary rate here is virtually non-existent, meaning Carbondale dabbles up as one of the safest Colorado towns to retire.
If you are worried about healthcare access, Valley View Hospital is down the road in Glenwood Springs. It is a 2025 recipient of the Coronary Intervention Excellence Award. Finally, Carbondale residents have a median age of 42, the decade when life starts.
Retirement is the time of shutting down a work laptop forever, sliding into flip-flops, and exploring the hidden delights of Mother Nature. You will want to fish in calm ponds and clear streams, enjoy epic hikes, and inhale spectacular views at every turn. If you are wondering where to enjoy all these, it is probably because you have not given Colorado a serious consideration. You will find beautiful mountain towns with fresh air and enjoy living in safe, peaceful settings. These towns are some of the safest to retire in Colorado.
