Colorado

Nestled on the high plains at the base of the Rocky Mountains in north central Colorado, pretty Fort Collins is a place enthused with possibility and is home to educated residents who enjoy a casual Western lifestyle.  Originally a military post, the city today has a population of 135,000 and often tops lists of the best places to live, thanks to its low crime rate, plentiful restaurants, excellent medical care, great senior services, beautiful setting, relatively mild climate and respect for the environment.  It is full of parks (40), bicycle paths (along nearly any street) and close to all that the nearby Rockies have to offer (skiing, hiking, fishing, backpacking, rafting, bird watching, etc.).  Residents here, including retirees, tend to lead active lives (Colorado has the lowest obesity rate in the country). The cost of living is 3% above the national average, and the median home price is $210,000, also above the national median.   Of the population, 25% is age 45 or better.
	The lifeblood of Fort Collins is Colorado State University (population 25,000), Colorado's second largest public institution (after the University of Colorado in Boulder), and its presence cannot be overstated.  While most of northern Colorado is generally conservative, Fort Collins tilts left, and the city government is progressive.  There always seems to be something going on, from the annual Greek festival to CSU football games to performances by the Fort Collins Symphony.  Small art galleries, breweries, bookstores, pubs, coffee houses, restaurants and shops are nestled in Old Town (downtown), and malls and other shopping venues are sprinkled throughout the city.   X
Award-winning Poudre Valley Hospital is the local medical center and is a recipient of the 2008 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award – "the highest Presidential honor given to United States businesses and organizations that demonstrate performance excellence."   It was also named a Top 100 Hospital from 2003-2007 has won HealthGrades'  "Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence" for three years in a row.  More medical care is located in Denver (population 2.7 million in metro-area), just an hour south via a major interstate.
The Fort Collins Senior Center is located in a lovely building and has been named one of the top twelve senior centers in the country by the National Council on Aging and the National Institute of Senior Centers (fewer than 200 senior centers in the country receive the award).  The Center offers an impressive selection of services and activities, from a theater troupe to life long learning through the Front Range Forum, and it has a pool, a spa, a gym, a library and more.  Membership ($25 per year) is required for many of the programs. Transfort is the local bus system (people age 60+ ride for $.60), and there is a Dial-a-Ride option.  Internet service is provided by CenturyLink and Infinity (Comcast), among others.   Poudre River Public Library has three branches and offers interlibrary loan, computer classes, downloadable books and much more.
Summer temperatures are in the 70s, 80s and 90s, with blue, dappled skies and very low humidity.  Winters bring temperatures in the 20s, 30s and 40s with, on average, several inches of snow per month (but it melts quickly). The elevation is 5,000 feet, and the sun shines 300+ days a year.   The air quality is below the national average (due primarily to automobile emissions, dust particles and temperature inversions), but the water quality is outstanding.  While Fort Collins is almost perfect, there are a few things to keep in mind.  College students are just about everywhere, and the city is not particularly ethnically diverse.  Some long-time residents bemoan the influx of new residents, particularly those from California and Texas.   Traffic congestion and suburban sprawl on city outskirts are growing problems.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes Have a town in mind for retirement?  Write to us and we will review it in a weekly issue!

The sometimes poor air quality and crowds of college students should be considered, but Fort Collins is a safe, clean, vibrant, progressive city and offers a relaxed Western lifestyle in a pretty, four season locale.

---

---