Fort collins : Colorado

What Fort Collins is like for active adults

When a city is chosen by Money Magazine as the best small city to live in in the U.S., it is going to be special. Fort Collins, Colorado (population 123,000) is a popular retirement community for obvious reasons – it features low crime rates, fantastic outdoor life, small town ambiance, and for those who want them - ample jobs in a high tech business environment.

The city’s great schools and outstanding outdoor life have led to its vibrant development and a place where many active adults 55+ have moved to find their retirement community. Many high tech companies locate in Fort Collins to escape California and its high prices. Like many fast-growing towns the city has a wide array of restaurants and cultural opportunities for active adults 55+. Many come because of the recreational opportunities such as exploring the nearby Rocky Mountains. The city has 60 miles of hiking and biking trails, and most major roads have bicycle lanes.

Formerly known “the lamb feeding capital of the world”, Fort Collins became very successful early in the 20th century as an agricultural center, in particular for sugar beets. A number of historical structures from this period have been preserved and give the town a unique character.

Fort Collins has many options in retirement communities. The average price of a home in Fort Collins was about $210,000 in mid 2009, according to City-Data.com and Zillow.com

Use this link to find out more about what it is like to retire in Colorado , including other great Colorado retirement towns. Photo of downtown Fort Collins courtesy of Wikipedia and Citycommunications

Edit | History

What is special about this retirement community

• Rocky Mountains and attendant recreational opportunities • Diverse community with young and old • Money Magazine’s #1 Small City in America • Many diverse housing opportunities for retirees • Fort Collins has 4,300 acres of green space, 25 miles of in-town trails, and 143 miles of bike lanes.

Edit | History

What is not special about this retirement community

Economy is high tech dependent

Edit | History

What kinds of people like retiring here

Fort Collins attracts a diverse community of young and old and is therefore quite vibrant. It tends to attract people who love the mountains and an outdoor life.

Edit | History

Local economy is driven by

It is headquarters for many high tech companies. Tourism, retail, and real estate are important to the economy.

Edit | History

Climate and Physical Environment

The city is situated 5,000 feet above sea level in the Rocky Mountains, just east of the Rocky Mountain foothills of the Northern Front Range and approximately 65 miles north of Denver. It has nearby natural attractions like nearby Horsetooth Reservoir for boating and swimming. There are 14 ski resorts in the area. The sun shines almost 300 days a year,snowfall averages 57 inches.

Edit | History

Cultural environment

Colorado State University (23,000 students) is in Fort Collins and is the center of many cultural events and attractions. The Lincoln Center has 1,180-seat performance hall, two theaters, as well as exhibit galleries. The center hosts nearly 1,750 events each year. There are a number of theater groups in the city including the Debut Theater Company, Fort Collins Children's Theater, the Front Range Chamber Players, and OpenStage Theater. Larimer Chorale, Opera Fort Collins, and the Fort Collins Symphony provide a variety of musical events. The Fort Collins Public Library is well-funded.

Edit | History

Medical facilities

The Poudre Valley Hospital is in Fort Collins.

Edit | History

Transportation

Fort Collins-Loveland Muni is about 10 miles away. The Denver Airport is 57 miles away.

Edit | History

Was this review helpful?

Yes

Please share your opinions on this community in the Forum
Register to become a Site Guide to Edit these sections or Add a Community If you have suggestions on how Topretirements.com could improve these reviews, contact us.
Suggest a community we want to know about your top retirement spots

Please note that all contributions to Topretirements may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you don't want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then don't submit it here. By submitting content and/or photographs here you agree to give Topretirements.com the rights to use them in any manner without cost or attribution.You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Project:Copyrights for details). DO NOT SUBMIT COPYRIGHTED WORK WITHOUT PERMISSION!

Forward to a Friend | print

Facts about FORT COLLINS

State: CO
Environment: Suburban,College Town,Mountains,
City Population: 100,001+
Median age of Population: 25-44
Avg Jan Temperature: 21-40
Median HH Income: 41,001-60,000
Average Home Price (MLS): $200,001-$300,000
Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house: Less than 2000
Total Crime Index: 81-90 (low)
Cost of Living Index: 101-110 (slightly above average)
Culture Index: 111-120 (high)
State Sales Tax: Yes
State Income Tax: Yes
Name of the Guide: jfb

Can you add to or correct these Facts? Or do you have a photo of this community we could use? If so, please click on Edit these facts

Vote on the Ratings for Fort Collins

Total Ratings

1. Overall Retirement Ratings Discuss

Currently 0.00>/5
1
2
3
4
5