16 Best Small Towns to Live in Colorado

As a Colorado resident, I’ve spent my life exploring the highways and byways of this beautiful state. This has enabled me to discover many small and idyllic communities to live in.

[{"selector":"#anim-a201ac5d-a485-46e8-b039-767569f05676","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-97.86097%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b0e4290-4bdb-41f0-b3af-55dd55b27972","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62d8daf7-108e-4560-89cc-c3c0318b8c61","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99223699-bf5d-48db-bf90-8e70221e7d1f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7206c4f-7266-4658-9dd6-be2c13272566","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce51dd4b-ebd0-496b-9cf8-d720c7beceb8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32b97400-f36c-4d47-9f88-119c352c7399","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e45ded5-1740-47cf-b357-99d451017aab","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -175.13549%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

And many deserve to be considered the best small towns to live in Colorado. So I’m going to share a list of the best small towns to live in Colorado.

[{"selector":"#anim-8f857093-4306-475c-bdc0-686a09b9f76c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43e2cc14-a65e-454b-8139-7f5048863cd5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8dec5bd1-4aef-4c0c-b565-206148eeeaf8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0240e474-ac26-4aa8-bf1e-01f446abef12","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.02564%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a23e1f6-73fc-4343-a217-0aea48e1c701","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e979fc5-c8eb-41ca-abc9-b7b84fdb5ac6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

1. Buena Vista

[{"selector":"#anim-0b5bde39-994c-4653-b9de-46d20a73cca4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7805e71d-d39d-4128-ad8b-6c25a0743ae6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f73c5610-5f13-44be-8645-b911865ff159","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31db057c-ca53-47f0-92cc-1324ef94b772","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a3b7e32-95f8-419c-9c96-9ae80b4309a8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3cce6f0c-863a-4540-aa61-2d6f196958e8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.92064%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More If you like the idea of living in a quaint small town in Colorado but want a relatively large city within easy distance, check out Buena Vista.

2. Crested Butte

[{"selector":"#anim-f5250df1-363e-432c-9d0e-633ee48f2098","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7dfd01c2-dff3-4ac9-9b52-2fba9d333c57","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42e80e86-6b2b-4f31-851f-d946cacb7279","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29f42f05-e891-4f90-921d-c2010ebc974a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.28663%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b31b5136-2e7e-4328-9d7a-6f17eee8d0d3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23b8942d-1b4a-49b7-9a34-a42dcfe73162","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More Crested Butte is an incredibly charming ski town located in southwest Colorado. It’s nicknamed “The Wildflower Capital” of Colorado.

3. Steamboat Springs

[{"selector":"#anim-0444d2c7-06dc-4bbe-8158-861fd8eb641a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c3e10f0f-7a50-4c17-8d31-e6c31e8c7a43","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca80b29e-402c-42a6-b846-1fdd398ed322","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-499318bf-9133-41f6-80fc-fdec34e4e877","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72437266-992d-4399-8480-1b80d0ef4a7f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8705ca8-c5d2-42df-b8ea-4e8cb255ec11","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More This authentic mountain town is off-the-beaten-path yet so close to everything! It is most known for its famous hot springs like Strawberry Park Hot Springs.

4. Ouray

[{"selector":"#anim-03b5efed-aeae-465a-aa32-8162f85bbe81","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82e7928d-359f-4d7d-9426-08e5311ef9a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93c6ff7f-593d-4427-8c43-d73dd50db741","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc88cc87-8812-486d-a3eb-3425a0217d57","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.87898%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4710b131-abdb-43d3-a7e0-e96156052b66","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-300e01f6-69ea-43c1-81a2-3de0e94bdf39","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.71925%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More Surrounded by tall cliffs, Ouray is known as the “Switzerland of America” due to the incredible architecture and mountain scenery.

5. Paonia

[{"selector":"#anim-068bc553-54dc-47af-8a86-cab2d099799e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2874b990-4cba-44cd-8d70-9dd461c3a2d6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01fffcf6-0100-4912-9250-9b5e6eef3039","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5dfe6026-cf8e-439b-9a47-88fa704a6c0f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-835aa8df-dfee-48c7-88e1-6274f1d1507e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-777d68b1-3b2c-4b74-be1e-86c8e6ba5ee5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More Paonia has an abundance of outdoor activities available year-round. What really sets Paonia apart is its agriculture and the area is known for apple trees and peonies.

Swipe up for more!

[{"selector":"#anim-ded86a92-c7a0-4365-b432-7676608617ff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3790c8f2-1e11-4127-85d1-003a95e1f0ef","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 258.09908%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eab169e2-2561-47cf-afe0-6c11cfb6fe3b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(10.073528575616223%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

More places to explore

[{"selector":"#anim-445803ec-5099-4cf7-b555-aed674e415dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-201.46342%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe25cd7c-aab1-4313-a7d4-9db5d52724fd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b5ec99e-8183-4c21-8ae4-d995d408321b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c961a44-5196-4455-b827-8a2e91fa1561","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-201.46342%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":900,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd1b9e9b-2856-40ed-a50a-c5917015897c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a23434b-2492-4471-af6f-ffe00c19a14f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":900,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-811304c2-d665-44d4-b3d8-104a6c04ab18","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-234.83872%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ff6b6ed-a7a4-41af-b6cf-8da761325cb7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a82d40f8-64e9-4e78-86f4-ffcd1257f666","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8045fe99-34e7-4b79-b89f-46dcd60ab77d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-234.83872%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-830562cf-245e-4a81-8fdf-44151670dd6f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-708410ea-1416-4a6a-8ed8-40e746a7ec8c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":700,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b704417-cc57-42c0-9cf7-a8f27d01b380","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-229.01235%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":900,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0f6611db-b346-4a9c-9cb4-f1edfb293d3c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-024896c9-1fda-4fea-8464-935c34037fa1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":900,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c462513f-0f83-4205-8a1e-c2b7000c78aa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-432cd87f-c3db-42e9-8b3e-9088a053205d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.75562%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 17 Best Hikes in Colorado with Scenic Trails 10 Best Day Trips from Colorado Springs to Visit in 2023 13 Colorado Events and Outdoor Festivals That Locals Love