Retire in Denver and you can have an amazing retirement, but Denver does have its challenges. I am going to review the pros and cons of Denver as a retirement city on twelve different factors. For each factor, I am going to give it a grade of Excellent, Good, Bad or Terrible.
PROS
Income Tax – Good
Couples who retire in Denver keep more of their income with below average income taxes. When ranking the states 1 – 50 from most expensive to least, Denver is ranked 33rd for income taxes. The state of Colorado has a flat income tax of 4.40%. Unlike other states, there are no city or local income taxes. Denver residents file one simple tax return with the state of Colorado. Retirees age 65 and older can deduct up to $24,000 dollars of their retirement income.
Lifestyle – Excellent
Denver retirees will find endless outdoor activities. Over 23 million acres in Colorado, which is more than a third of the state, are public land. Most of this public land is Federally owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. There are many ways people who retire in Denver use this land. Here is a sample of ideas: Hiking, camping, snow shoeing, fly fishing, skiing, hunting, boating, horseback riding, berry picking, dog walking, panning for gold, bird watching, ice fishing, biking, on and on. The opportunities are limitless and there are activities available all year long. Denver retirees will find a great music scene, golf courses, reservoirs, museums, shopping and plenty of restaurants.
Weather – Excellent
Retire in Denver and you will have over three hundred days a year of sunshine. Winters are not that bad. Retirees in Denver will appreciate how the sun warms you up even when the temperature is low. The snow rarely lasts more than a couple days before the sun melts it away. It is not uncommon to see people dining on an outdoor patio in the month of December. Retirees in Denver will enjoy our dry climate which means no bugs.
Healthcare – Excellent
Denver retirees have a number of options for healthcare. The top five hospital systems in the Denver metro are: 1. University of Colorado which is nationally ranked in four specialties including cancer. 2. HCA HealthONE which is known for helping patients with strokes. 3. Intermountain Health which is known for cardiac care. 4. CommonSpirit Health which has a level one trauma center and 5. Advent Health which is highly regarded for transplant and orthopedic care.
Airport – Excellent
Retire in Denver and you will be close to the largest airport in the United States ranked by acreage and the fourth largest airport ranked by traffic. Denver International Airport is easy to get to with a dedicated highway and train going to the airport. Denver retirees will find ample airport parking that is easy to navigate. Due to its size and central location, Denver airport has an extensive list of direct flights for both national and international travel.
Estate Tax – Excellent
The state of Colorado does not have an estate tax. Families who retire in Denver can pass their wealth to their heirs with no state estate taxes owed.
Real Estate Tax – Excellent
Retire in Denver and you can save money on real estate taxes with a .49% average effective real estate tax rate. Out of 50 states, Colorado is the 3rd cheapest state for real estate tax. Denver retirees age 65 and older who have owned and occupied their home for ten consecutive years qualify for a property tax exemption of 50% on the first $200,000 dollars of home value.
CONS
Transportation – Bad
Denver retirees will find a vehicle centric, sprawling city with heavy traffic and congestion on the main highways, i-70, i-25 and C-470. Crashes, construction and delays are a daily occurrence. When you retire in Denver you will need to strategically plan your vehicle use on these highways; choosing times of the day when traffic will be the lightest. Denver retirees have access to a light rail system that has over 60 miles of track, 57 stations and six main lines. The light rail can take Denver retirees to suburbs like Golden, Lone Tree, Littleton, Aurora, Westminster and the airport.
Crime – Terrible
When evaluating if you should retire in Denver, you need to consider the crime situation. The state of Colorado has below average violent crime ranking number 35 for homicide with 3.7 homicides per 100,000 people. While violent crime is below average in Denver, theft is a significant problem. In 2025 Denver was the second worst city in the United States for vehicle theft with 730 vehicles stolen per 100,000 people. In 2025, Denver averaged 15 stolen cars per day which equates to over 5,000 stolen cars per year! When you retire in Denver, be sure to lock your car! Denver has one of the highest property crime rates in the United States with 4,762 crimes per 100,000 people vs the U.S. national average of 1,760 property crimes per 100,000 people. Denver’s total property crime rate is 170% higher than the U.S. National average. Denver also has a serious burglary problem with 708 burglaries per 100,000 people which is 209% higher than the U.S. National average of 229 burglaries per 100,000 people.
Real Estate Prices – Bad
Couples who retire in Denver face significant challenges for housing cost. Real estate prices in Denver are among the highest in the nation. Denver home prices are 45% higher than the U.S. national average. In Q1 2026 the median home price in Denver for a single-family detached home was $615,000 vs the U.S. national average detached single family home price of $425,000.
Homeowners Insurance – Bad
If you retire in Denver, plan to spend significantly more on homeowners insurance when compared to other states. According to Google, Colorado is the 6th most expensive state for homeowners insurance with average annual premium of $4,963. Extreme weather risks from fires and hail damage are major contributors to the high cost of homeowners insurance in Colorado.
Car Insurance – Bad
Retire in Denver and you will pay more for car insurance than retirees in other states. Colorado is the 8th most expensive state for car insurance with an estimated average annual premium of $3,745 per year in 2026. The extremely high rate of vehicle theft in Denver contributes to the high cost of car insurance for Denver retirees.
Summary
If we add it all up, we have seven positive grades and five negative grades. The scale tips in favor of choosing to retire in Denver for a quality retirement destination. The benefits of an amazing lifestyle, great healthcare, low income taxes, no estate taxes, low real estate taxes, a great airport, and amazing weather are all very compelling reasons to retire in Denver.
Ethan S. Braid, CFA
President
HighPass Asset Management
Denver, Colorado
This article is for education and illustrative purposes and is not tax, legal or financial advice. Your broker or advisor will charge you fees or commissions to make investments and therefore your returns will be less than indexes. For example, if you invest in the S&P 500 ETF, SPY, you will pay a fee to the company managing the ETF, State Street Global Advisors. Your return on the S&P 500 ETF, SPY, will be less than the SS&P 500 Index TR because of the fee paid to State Street Global Advisors. Additionally, you may pay a fee or a commission to your broker or financial advisor, further reducing your return, below the index. Consult your advisor or broker for a detailed list of their fees or commissions before you invest. Investing involves risk and you can lose money.