Most Coloradans realize that we live in a special place. A variety of news outlets and national organizations also know a good thing when they see it, and they continue to rank Colorado high on many lists for reasons ranging from quality of life to meaningful employment. Here’s a sampling of the latest distinctions and awards that have cast a spotlight on the Front Range.
150 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2020-2021
US News & World Report ranked Boulder as the best place to live in the U.S., followed by Denver #2, Colorado Springs #4, and Fort Collins #5. It's truly astounding that four of the top five best places to live in the U.S. are in Colorado. Boulder also ranked #1 in the U.S. for quality of life.
50 Best Places to Live 2020
Money ranked Parker #2 and Broomfield #18 in its top 50 best places to live in the U.S. The study considered local economy, housing, cost of living, diversity, public education, health and safety, weather and location, and amenities.
Life sciences
For the first time, Denver/Boulder made the top 15 on CBRE's ranking of leading life sciences hubs in the U.S., driven by an influx of funding, health professionals, lab space, and investment in pandemic research.
Real estate
A study by the Urban Land Institute and accounting firm PwC ranked Denver #13 in the nation for real estate investment and development potential. "Charlotte, Denver, Dallas, Nashville, Portland and Seattle are six favorite boomtowns," the report said.
Housing
TCNBC reported recently that Denver is now one of the hottest housing markets in the nation and "is experiencing the most competitive housing market in history" with inventory of available homes cut nearly in half from a year ago. The new work-from-anywhere culture is fueling the boom as workers flee congested coastal areas.