Grand Junction : Colorado

Grand Junction, Colorado comes up near the top of many people's "best places to retire". For one thing, this fast-growing town perched on the border with Utah has a relatively low cost of living. It is also a college town (Colorado Mesa University has over 10,000 students on campus here). Natural beauty and recreation is abundant with the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado National Monument (see picture above). The town is the unofficial capital of the Western Slope. Although the city population was 65,560 during the 2022 census, there are over 126,000 in the metro area. Many people are very enthusiastic about the quality of lifestye here.

People who have retired to Grand Junction cite the nice downtown, abundant local fruit and wineries, and many outstanding recreational activities within a short drive. The climate is dry and sunny. Jobs are said to be plentiful here, a plus for anyone considering working in retirement. Nearby Fruita is another popular retirement town.

Watch this short Youtube video presented by Grand Junction Visitor Center (Visit Grand Junction)

There are at least 5 golf course communities here, including Redlands Mesa (see link to Active Communities at left). Because the area is growing so fast there are many choices for places to live.
Real estate prices in Grand Junction, although increasing, are much more reasonable than in Boulder.  According to Zillow.com, the median home value in Grand Junction was $367,800 in early 2022.

Colorado National Monument ; wineries ; stunning desert-mountain scenery and recreation; many golf courses; locally grown fruit; many available jobs; fast growing with new housing and communities; dry and sunny climate.

Remote; Grand Junction is well over 200 miles to either Salt Lake City or Denver; it can be windy; town could be growing too quickly. 

Mountain lovers. Outdoors people. Wine and agriculture buffs. The average age is 37, a few years younger than the statewide average. Colorado Mesa University offers Lifelong Learning and a Golden Scholars Program for seniors with access to their library, computers, and discounts to programs.

Located at altitude of 4600' with towering mountains above. Grand Junction is at the  junction of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers in west-central Colorado, near the border of Utah. The climate is dry, sunny, occasionally windswept. Canyons and mesas abound. The average July high temp is 92. The average January high is 37 and the low is 16. The wettest month is March (1").

There are a growing number of cultural activities, many of them connected to Colorado Mesa University . According to one reviewer, Il Bistro Italiano is the best restaurant in town.  Residents tend to criticize the quality and variety of GJ restaurants.  There is a downtown theater.