Affordable Colorado Mountain Towns

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Find the Best Small Colorado Mountain Towns

There are many small affordable Colorado towns once you look beyond Colorado's resort communities. Many of these Rocky Mountain towns are rich in history, culture, and recreational attractions. The cost of living in these quaint mountain towns is much lower than in Colorado’s high-profile resort towns. Depending on where a town is located there can be a variety of attractions nearby.

If skiing or riding is what brings you to Colorado, look at the map of Colorado’s ski resorts and investigate the towns between the resorts. Consider your other priorities, as skiing is only 5 months out of the year. Perhaps you like to fish, sail, mountain bike, or access hiking trails. Silverthorne is an example of an area surrounded by ski resorts that has access to lake Dillion, plenty of forest service access, and a variety of mountain communities. However, the cost of living in this area is still higher than average, indexed at 141. Higher than the national average but way cheaper than Aspen, which is 305.

The easiest way to find a Colorado town that will fit your needs is to start off by understanding where you fit into the national cost of living index. The index of 100 represents the national average cost of living. Anything higher than 100 is that percent more expensive and visa-versa.

If you’re willing to be a little more out of the way, towns like Pueblo, Colorado, which has an index of only 87, and Hartsel Co., is 109 are options.

What is a good inexpensive mountain town in Colorado?

Finding that affordable Colorado town, to move into, that lives up to your expectations is about evaluating what’s important to you and your financial situation. Start by prioritizing what‘s important to you, that could be:

1. Community, schools, arts, and culture.

2. Outdoor opportunities, resorts, lakes, and public lands.

3. Cost of living, job opportunities, and types of jobs.

Buying a house or even renting a place in Colorado’s highest-profile resort towns is mostly off-limits unless you are in the top financial percentile. Or, you have an opportunity to live there.

Affordable Colorado Mountain Towns

Below is just a sample of Rocky Mountain Colorado cities and small towns. A quick glance lets you know that there are plenty of small towns and cities that are affordable to live in. 

Find the Best Colorado Mountain Town

Once you have narrowed down Colorado’s affordable mountain towns and cities by the cost of living index. It’s time to take a closer look at what these towns have to offer. Understanding what’s important to you will help you find that special place. Many of Colorado’s small mountain communities have much more to offer than you might think. 

Try touring Colorado when you’re ready to do some exploring. The summer months are the easiest time to travel around as driving conditions are best then. Have fun and work in some camping, backpacking, hiking, 4x4 adventures, rafting, visiting small museums, or whatever sparks your interest. Colorado is a diverse place from farming to ski areas, coal mining to mountain climbing, it’s a place that welcomes people of many types.