Denver, Colorado
What It Is Like to Retire in Denver
Denver, Colorado, the "Mile High City", offers just about every type of living arrangement, recreational opportunity, and cultural program that an active adult could want. All of this is in an unusually beautiful setting with the Rocky Mountains towering overhead. The City and the County of Denver has over 715000 residents (2020), and about 2.4 million in the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area. The city got its start in 1858 as part of the Pikes Peak Gold Rush and seems have to exploded with growth ever since. Outdoor recreation is superb, and there are many cultural things to do when the sun, which shines here 300 days a year, goes down. The area has a relatively mild climate compared to the mountains nearby. It stands at exactly one mile above sea level - 5,280 ft. Photo of Denver City Center Park courtesy of Wikipedia and Vertigo700, photo of Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL), courtesy of Wikipedia and David Shankbone, Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/ Here is information on retirement in Colorado.
Where to Retire in Denver and Home Prices
Denver offers many neighborhoods including those that are walkable, or the most gentrified, trendy, or offer more apartment homes and single family homes. According to The National Association of Realtors, the median home value was $674,500 in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood area, during the 2nd quarter of 2023.
What Is Special about Denver
City in a mountain setting, unusually beautiful and extensive parks (200 of them!), over 25 recreation centers, parks outside of the city such as Red Rocks Park and Winter Park Resort ski area, the Rocky Mountains overhead, the Brown Palace Hotel, a full range of cultural and sporting opportunities, one of the world's best airports, every type of active adult housing choice.
What Is Not Special about Denver
Very rapid growth and a big city.
Who Will Like Retirement in Denver
Denver attracts a community of retirees who would like to live in a big but manageable city, near the Rocky Mountains.
Local Economy Is Driven by
The economy is driven by its location as the most important city for 600 miles, and is an important distribution center. The Colorado Convention Center is one of the largest in the country. Oil and minerals have been important but cyclical. Many telecommunications and high tech companies are here. Retirees over 65 can exclude up to $24,000 of social security and some other retirement income.
Climate and Physical Environment
Denver at 5280 ft. elevation is located in the South Platte River Valley where it meets Cherry Creek. It is just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The approach from the flat ground of the east is quite dramatic - at first you just see the mountains and then you see the city nestled at their base. The city gets about 250 days of sunshine a year and can be quite warm even in winter.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
A Scientific and Cultural Facilities Tax helps fund cultural and scientific facilities in the city. There are opera companies and dance companies operating in Denver. Prominent cultural and scientific institutions include the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Mint, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and the Denver Zoo. The LODO area has an active music scene. The University of Denver offer a number of cultural programs. Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a world famous outdoor concert venue on Denver’s western edge. Denver also has a great library.
Crime
Crime in Denver is slightly above the national average.
Medical facilities
There are more than 25 hospitals in the Denver area, many of them leading research institutions.
Transportation
The Regional Transportation District operates more than 1000 buses and several light rail lines. Amtrak has service to Chicago and Los Angeles. Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airport in the world, with discount Discount airlines operating out of Denver. Many sections of Denver are very walkable.
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