U.S. news names boulder no. 1 & denver no. 2 in new best places to live rankings
By CBS Denver | Published October 14, 2020
U.S. News & World Report says four Colorado cities are in the Top 5 best places to live in the country. Boulder and Denver came in at No. 1 and No. 2 and Colorado Springs and Fort Collins came in at No. 4 and No. 5 in the 150 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2020-21 list.
U.S. News used real estate, economic, education and crime measurements to come up with its rankings. They looked at the 150 most populous metro areas in the country and surveyed more than 3,000 people. Here’s the top 5:
1. Boulder
2. Denver
3. Austin, Texas
4. Colorado Springs
5. Fort Collins
Boulder, a “perpetual playground” according to U.S. News, the got high marks for its healthy living options, recreational opportunities, fun vibe, as well as the beauty of its natural setting.
“This city reveals its spectacle at the crest of a hill on U.S. Route 36 from Denver with its iconic sandstone slabs rising from the mountains, prefaced by pine-clad mesas and cradled within the backdrop of the snow-capped Indian Peaks,” said Katy Marquardt, writer at U.S. News & World Report.
Denver was hailed for having generally healthy and positive residents are progressive-minded and love nature. The profile on U.S. News’ website written by Katie Hearsum also goes into extensive detail about how robust the legal marijuana scene is.
“Denver has seen a surge in cannabis-related commerce, from dispensaries to magazines to high-tech paraphernalia like vaporizers, rolling papers, lotions and storage containers – and the industry is gaining speed,” Hearsum wrote.