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Short Profiles of Reader Requested Towns

In their search for a great retirement spot, readers ask us to profile all kinds of towns, from the places they grew up or attended college to places they have visited in their travels or just heard about from other people.  This page is where we address these profile requests.



Montrose, Colorado

1/6/2010

Founded in 1882, Montrose, Colorado (population 18,000) started out as a railroad hub and for much of its history was an unassuming, rustic, high altitude (5,800 feet) small town off the beaten path.  Today, though, Montrose has become a magnet for retirees (and others), growing nearly 50% in the last 10 years.   Why do they come?    The conservative values, clean, dry, crisp air, below average cost of living, mountain views, nearby recreation venues, 300+ days of sunshine and low crime rate are big reasons.     Of the population, 22% is age 45 to 64, and 20% is age 65 or better.  The median age is 41, above the national average.   The median home price is $150,000 and everything from older manufactured homes to Victorians to new ranch-style construction in master-planned neighborhoods (not to mention actual working cattle ranches on the outskirts of town) can be found.  The median cost of living is roughly 5% below the national average.  

Although Montrose is more than a mile above sea level, it actually sits in a high plain valley with mountains in the distance.  The city itself is very flat, and the sky, bluer than blue, stretches endlessly.  To the east is the spectacular Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Forest, and to the north is the Grand Mesa National Forest.   To the south in the Uncompahgre National Forest are the San Juan Mountains and perhaps some of the most extraordinary mountain scenery in the United States, the kind that on a sparkling summer day makes one stop, inhale and whisper, "Wow."  

As would be expected, outdoor recreation opportunities in this area are nearly unlimited and include everything from river rafting to wildlife watching to snow skiing.  There are old mines to explore, jeep tours to enjoy and even five golf courses to test.  Montrose also has a growing assortment of good, if not five-star, restaurants and shopping venues.   The city sponsors a wonderful Christmas Parade of Lights, and there are craft shows, art walks, farmers' markets, festivals, mountain bike races and more throughout the year.  For a bit of culture, the Valley Symphony and Valley Symphony Chorus present an extensive schedule.

Montrose Memorial Hospital is a 75-bed, non-profit regional medical center and has a full range of services, including intensive care, cancer care, general surgery, emergency care, neurology, radiology, respiratory care and more.  The hospital has not won any particular quality awards but is fully accredited.  The San Juan Cancer Center and the Black Canyon Surgical Center provide further care.  Another hospital is within 25 miles and two more are within 50 miles.    To help Montrose's more mature set (age 50+) stay active, the city's Recreation District has a plethora of programs, from shopping trips to snow shoeing lessons.   There are seventy churches, and the Montrose Public Library has been operating since 1890.  Computers with internet access are available.  

Summers are hot (it can reach 100 degrees) but dry as the city does not receive more than an inch of precipitation each month.  Some of that comes in the form of up to eight inches of snow during winter months, and temperatures during December through March can dip into the teens, 20s and 30s.   Autumns are simply amazing.

For all of its positives, retirement in Montrose does have some drawbacks.  It is far from any major city (6 hours along pretty but mostly two lane roads to Denver).   There is an airport, though, with daily flights to Denver, Salt Lake, Utah, etc.   Jobs are hard to find and offer low pay.  Traffic has increased and the edges of town are seeing urban sprawl (such as it is in a city this size).    It can get very hot in the summer.  Some residents report that the town still has a bit of a backward, "good ole boy" feeling to it and that newcomers can sometimes have difficulty breaking into existing social circles.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot?

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Yes

 

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It is isolated, has few jobs and still has, some say, an aversion to outsiders, but Montrose offers a reasonable cost of living, a low crime rate, senior programs, adequate medical facilities, beautiful scenery, outstanding outdoor recreation and low humidity, potentially making it a great retirement spot.

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