Study: Happiest Cities in Colorado

By Rebecca Lake

People in the Centennial State have lots of reasons to be happy, but we'll focus on 7 important reasons in our study of the happiest cities in Colorado. Business is booming and unemployment is well below the national average. Between the Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos and the Colorado Avalanche heating up the ice, sports fans have plenty to cheer about. Last but not least, there's the near-perfect splendor of the Rocky Mountains. All in all, Colorado is pretty heavenly, especially for the residents living in the 10 cities we deemed the happiest.

Study Methodology

Life in the big city certainly has its perks, but we know that there's a lot to be said for small-town charm. To finalize our top 10, we started by gathering U.S. Census data for all of Colorado's cities with a population of 5,000 or more. From there, we assigned each city a ranking based on how it scored across these seven categories:

Restaurants
Crime rate
Commute
Departure time
Income
Divorce rate
Housing

Like birds of a feather, happy people tend to flock together and one of the places they do that is at their favorite bar or restaurant. To see where Coloradans have the most opportunities to socialize, we considered the number of restaurants per capita in each city.

When it comes to crime, Colorado is a pretty safe place to live, but some cities offer more peace of mind than others. If a sense of security is important to your happiness, check out how each city ranks based on the odds of being the victim of a violent crime.

If you settle down in or around a major city, traffic headaches may be a way of life. We think that the shorter your drive to work is, the better your mood will be when you get there, so we looked at the average commute.

Researchers have found that what time you get out of bed in the morning makes a difference in how the rest of your day goes. Under that assumption, our rankings are based partly on the percentage of residents who are on their way to work before 5 a.m.

Financial success can be measured in part by the size of your paycheck and in some ways, it may also influence your satisfaction level. To give you an idea of which cities have the most fiscally fit residents, we considered the median household income when determining our rankings.

Marriage is full of challenges and for some couples, a happy ending just isn't in the cards. We considered the percentage of men and women in each city who are divorced as we viewed stable marriages as an important factor to happiness.

Getting a deal on a home is sure to lift your spirits, but if your housing costs are through the roof, it probably won't help your mood. The final factor we considered is the percentage of income spent on housing in each city to see where residents save the most.

10 Happiest Cities in Colorado

10. Steamboat Springs

Restaurants per capita: 1 per 150 inhabitants
Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 346.2
Average commute time: 13.2 minutes
Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 2.3%
Median household income: $64,400
Percentage of residents who are divorced: 7.6% of males, 10.6% of females
Percentage of income spent on housing: 25.2%

Steamboat Springs is one of the most desirable locations in the Rocky Mountains, for both residents and visitors alike. Thousands of people come to hit the slopes on Mount Werner every winter, and about 12,000 chipper folks live here year-round. Tourism fuels the economy and workers reap the rewards, earning a median salary of over $64,000. If you're in the mood for a hearty breakfast complete with world-famous cinnamon rolls, Winona's is the place to go.

Did You Know: Although it's now known as Ski Town USA, Steamboat Springs was once recognized as the nation's largest cattle shipping point.

9. Estes Park

Restaurants per capita: 1 per 114 inhabitants
Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 550.8
Average commute time: 16.5 minutes
Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 0.5%
Median household income: $57,789
Percentage of residents who are divorced: 7.6% of males, 14.2% of females
Percentage of income spent on housing: 19.1%

With just a smidge over 6,000 residents, Estes Park is one of the smallest cities on our list in terms of population, but that doesn't take away from how happy people here seem to be. Getting to work isn't a time-waster, with an average commute of 16.5 minutes. And workers aren’t disappointed with their paydays. Home prices are a little higher compared to the nearby Fort Collins area, but residents still spend less than 20% of their income on housing.

Did You Know: The city's Stanley Hotel served as the inspiration for the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King's novel The Shining.

8. Windsor

Restaurants per capita: 1 per 494 inhabitants
Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 9,665
Average commute time: 23.5 minutes
Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 2.8%
Median household income: $79,948
Percentage of residents who are divorced: 8.3% of males, 10% of females
Percentage of income spent on housing: 22.4%

Windsor is the largest of our small towns, with close to 20,000 people calling the city home. And just what are they so chipper about? Well, for starters, there's the fact that violent crime is virtually unheard of. Add in a generous median income of nearly $80,000, affordable housing and restaurants like Chimney Park Bistro and it's easy to see why residents are so content.

Did You Know: One of Windsor's claims to fame is its proximity to the Kaplan-Hoover Bison Kill Site, where archaeologists have uncovered hundreds of bison fossils dating to the Archaic period.

7. Lone Tree

Restaurants per capita: 1 per 167 inhabitants
Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 1,914.7
Average commute time: 23.5 minutes
Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 1.3%
Median household income: $100,659
Percentage of residents who are divorced: 8.5% of males, 12.6% of females
Percentage of income spent on housing: 20.4%

The nearly 12,000 people who live in Lone Tree know that the city's a great place to turn your frown upside down. While its crime rate isn't as astoundingly low as Windsor's, the neighborhoods are still very safe, something families may find appealing. The average commute is slightly longer, at 23.5 minutes, but spending a few extra minutes in the car may be worth it when you're taking home a median income of over $100,000.

Did You Know: The Park Meadows Retail Resort in Lone Tree is the only retail shopping resort in Colorado.

6. Lamar

Restaurants per capita: 1 per 290 inhabitants
Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 892.8
Average commute time: 12.8 minutes
Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 9.8%
Median household income: $30,551
Percentage of residents who are divorced: 7.3% of males, 14.1% of females
Percentage of income spent on housing: 21.9%

Plenty of peace and quiet tops the list of reasons why Lamar's nearly 8,000 residents are so upbeat. This out-of-the-way spot comes in at number six on our list, thanks to its overall safety and affordable housing. It edged out the rest of our 10 cities in the commute category, clocking in at under 13 minutes on average. Lamar also has the highest percentage of early birds, with nearly 10% of workers heading out the door at the crack of dawn.

Did You Know: Lamar is close to the Camp Amache historic site, where thousands of Japanese Americans were interred during World War II.

5. Craig

Restaurants per capita: 1 per 411 inhabitants
Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 668.4
Average commute time: 19.2 minutes
Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 9%
Median household income: $49,058
Percentage of residents who are divorced: 11.8% of males, 10.6% of females
Percentage of income spent on housing: 20.7%

Craig is our fifth-place finisher and you won't have to look far to find residents who sing the city's praises. A little over 9,000 people make their home here, and some of the things they like best include the relatively low occurrence of violent crime and the healthy median income. If you're hitting the road first thing in the morning, you won't be alone; 9% of workers leave before 5 a.m., the second highest percentage on our list.

Did You Know: Craig is often referred to as the "Elk Hunting Capital of the World" because of its substantial elk population.

4. Vail

Restaurants per capita: 1 per 85 inhabitants
Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 242.9
Average commute time: 17.2 minutes
Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 3.1%
Median household income: $70,332
Percentage of residents who are divorced: 7.6% of males, 10.2% of females
Percentage of income spent on housing: 21.4%

Vail is synonymous with world-class skiing, but the towering mountain peaks and pristine powder aren't the only things that attract people. There's also the $70,000 median income and a daily drive that takes just 17 minutes on average. If enjoying a delicious meal puts a smile on your face, you're in the right place. Vail has the best rating in terms of number of restaurants per capita, with spots like The Little Diner and La Tour getting top marks from locals.

Did You Know: The Vail Ski Resort opened in 1962, but the town of Vail wasn't actually incorporated until four years later.

3. Fort Morgan

Restaurants per capita: 1 per 424 inhabitants
Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 827.6
Average commute time: 13.4 minutes
Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 5.8%
Median household income: $42,733
Percentage of residents who are divorced: 8.2% of males, 15.1% of females
Percentage of income spent on housing: 18.8%

Residents of Fort Morgan will be glad to see their hometown coming in at number three on our list. It's got an excellent violent crime rate and when it comes to housing, home prices are a steal. The trip to work averages just over 13 minutes and nearly 6% of workers like to get a head start on their day. A median income of almost $43,000 is just one more thing that pushed Fort Morgan so high in our rankings.

Did You Know: Famed bandleader Glenn Miller is Fort Morgan High school's most famous graduate.

2. Greenwood Village

Restaurants per capita: 1 per 105 inhabitants
Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 515.5
Average commute time: 21.2 minutes
Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 0.6%
Median household income: $113,596
Percentage of residents who are divorced: 5.4% of males, 10.7% of females
Percentage of income spent on housing: 17.5%

If you're wondering where your happy place is, it might just be Greenwood Village. This city of slightly more than 14,000 people comes in at our second top spot, largely due to its much higher median income of almost $114,000. Getting to work on time usually isn't a hassle, although it may take a little longer if you work in nearby Denver. While homes sell at the higher end of the price range, housing costs still average under 18% of residents' income.

Did You Know: Rufus Clark, one of Greenwood Village's earliest pioneers, was called the "Potato King of Colorado" after he developed the land around the city for potato farming.

1. Cherry Hills Village

Restaurants per capita: 1 per 1,038 inhabitants
Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 2,068.7
Average commute time: 19.6 minutes
Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 3%
Median household income: $231,774
Percentage of residents who are divorced: 5.5% of males, 4% of females
Percentage of income spent on housing: 17.8%

Cherry Hills Village is an upscale suburb of Denver that's home to about 6,200 very joyful people. When it comes to salaries, residents take home a median paycheck that's far and away higher than any of the other cities in our rankings. Worries about crime are minimal, and married couples appear to be pleased as punch, with a combined divorce rate of under 10%. Restaurants aren't quite as plentiful here, but you're less than 10 miles from the capital city's numerous culinary delights.

Did You Know: The Cherry Hills Country Club is famed for being the site of Arnold Palmer's 1960 U.S. Open victory.

You might be surprised that cities like Denver or Colorado Springs didn't make the cut; after all, they boast a combined total population of more than a million people, so obviously there's something that makes them so appealing. To be sure, both cities are excellent picks if you're trying to kickstart your career or raise a family. When it came down to compiling our rankings, however, the happiness scale tipped in favor of the cities that landed in our top 10 and scored high across all our categories.

The Top 30 Happiest Cities in Colorado

Rank	City	People per Restaurants and Bars	Violent Crime Odds	Average Commute Time	% Leaving Before 5am	Median Household Income	% Male Divorce¹	% Female Divorce¹	Income Spent on Housing
1	Cherry Hills Village	1,037.7	1 in 2,068.7	19.6	3.0%	$231,774	5.5%	4.0%	17.8%
2	Greenwood Village	104.7	1 in 515.5	21.2	0.6%	$113,596	5.4%	10.7%	17.5%
3	Fort Morgan	424.1	1 in 827.6	13.4	5.8%	$42,733	8.2%	15.1%	18.8%
4	Vail	84.7	1 in 242.9	17.2	3.1%	$70,332	7.6%	10.2%	21.4%
5	Craig	411.2	1 in 668.4	19.2	9.0%	$49,058	11.8%	10.6%	20.7%
6	Lamar	290.2	1 in 892.8	12.8	9.8%	$30,551	7.3%	14.1%	21.9%
7	Lone Tree	166.9	1 in 1,914.7	23.5	1.3%	$100,659	8.5%	12.6%	20.4%
8	Windsor	493.8	1 in 9,665.0	23.5	2.8%	$79,948	8.3%	10.0%	22.4%
9	Estes Park	113.5	1 in 550.8	16.5	0.5%	$57,789	7.6%	14.2%	19.1%
10	Steamboat Springs	150.4	1 in 346.2	13.2	2.3%	$64,400	7.6%	10.6%	25.2%
11	Fruita	793.5	1 in 756.0	25.7	6.8%	$61,024	7.2%	11.2%	22.4%
12	Cortez	223.0	1 in 329.5	15.5	4.6%	$39,696	9.7%	12.6%	21.2%
13	Broomfield	438.3	1 in 1,938.2	25.8	2.5%	$80,483	8.5%	12.4%	22.3%
14	Delta	367.4	1 in 467.9	22.6	8.2%	$41,785	12.5%	9.8%	21.5%
15	Erie	1,284.8	1 in 2,084.6	27.2	0.9%	$107,246	5.4%	8.8%	22.1%
16	Centennial	665.0	1 in 662.6	25.1	2.4%	$89,902	7.4%	12.8%	21.2%
17	Aspen	104.4	1 in 561.2	12.9	0.5%	$71,284	17.2%	18.8%	22.1%
18	Sterling	475.1	1 in 481.6	13.5	6.7%	$36,571	11.5%	19.1%	21%
19	Parker	491.3	1 in 796.7	27.6	3.0%	$95,618	7.7%	12.7%	22.7%
20	Firestone	641.4	1 in 2,632.3	35.8	7.1%	$81,987	8.0%	12.9%	26%
21	Golden	369.0	1 in 622.5	24.1	2.3%	$58,858	7.7%	13.8%	22.9%
22	Berthoud	405.2	1 in 2,639.0	30.7	3.2%	$70,301	10.8%	13.0%	23.2%
23	Brush	459.4	1 in 5,365.0	17.4	12.1%	$33,407	16.0%	13.7%	25.3%
24	Manitou Springs	215.5	1 in 370.3	20.8	2.0%	$49,432	8.5%	20.0%	19.9%
25	Fountain	814.9	1 in 394.7	22.5	6.8%	$57,015	10.0%	12.1%	26.9%
26	Salida	166.2	1 in 763.9	11.9	3.1%	$41,100	18.2%	24.5%	22.4%
27	Gunnison	184.1	1 in 213.1	10.4	0.6%	$39,181	6.4%	6.9%	25.2%
28	Castle Rock	604.1	1 in 1,112.0	28.7	3.6%	$84,781	8.5%	12.6%	25.3%
29	Montrose	327.3	1 in 458.9	20.8	3.8%	$45,461	11.3%	16.5%	22.3%
30	Boulder	275.2	1 in 402.6	19.2	1.1%	$56,206	6.0%	10.5%	27%

¹Treated as one combined metric for ranking purposes (at a 50:50 male to female ratio).

Rebecca Lake is a journalist at CreditDonkey, a credit card comparison and reviews website. Write to Rebecca Lake at rebecca@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

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