Study: Most Stressful Cities in Colorado

Colorado might be one of the most active and adventurous states in the country, but adrenaline isn't the only thing that's making Coloradans' blood pressure rise. Residents of “The Centennial State” deal with serious stress, just like anyone else.

When locals aren’t hitting the slopes or relaxing in wine country, they’re hitting the daily grind and dealing with traffic, crime, and mortgages. From the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to the open air of the Eastern Plains, no one is exempt from the problems of daily life. Of course, some cities deal with more stress than others, which is why the CreditDonkey team compiled this list of the most stressful cities in Colorado.

Study Methodology

1. Odds of being a victim of violent crime
   
2. Commute time
   
3. Average hours worked per week
   
4. Percentage of divorcees
   
5. Percentage of income spent on housing

We set out to find the most stressful cities in Colorado by first looking at FBI crime statistics in each city. Some people might have tougher skin than others, but everyone can agree that living in a safer city means one can sleep a little easier at night. Residents who live in cities with higher crime rates are probably more suspicious and on edge, which is never a good thing.

We also took into account the average daily commute and number of hours worked per week in each city using U.S. Census data. Working long hours and sitting behind the wheel for long stretches of time are bound to take a toll, emotionally, personally, and romantically.

Sometimes our personal lives can be the source of our stress, especially in cases when our romantic relationships aren’t what we hoped they would be. We looked at the percentage of divorcees in each city to find out where the larger proportion of residents have had bad luck in their romantic relationships.

Lastly, we calculated the percentage of income that residents spend on housing. If residents have to spend more than 30% of their income on housing, their overall budget is probably pinched and a constant source of concern.

Each city in our study was ranked in the above five measures and then assigned a cumulative score based on the average rating. Where a city falls on our list has to do with the combination of stressful factors, not any one type of stress in particular. Read on to find out which cities made our list of the most stressful cities in Colorado.

10 Most Stressful Cities in Colorado

10. Carbondale

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 928.7 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 27 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 36.5
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 14.4% of males, 21.3% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 32.6%

Carbondale is a small town 30 miles from Aspen in the heart of the majestic Rocky Mountains. Because of its close proximity to Aspen, Carbondale is an ideal base to go skiing, horseback riding, kayaking, and other outdoor sports. And the residents here need such outlets to unwind. They spend an average 32.6% of their monthly income on housing, which is higher than the norm (the town experienced a surge in development in the 1990s, which affected its population and property values). Aside from money woes, some residents might also be stressing over their romantic relationships. Carbondale is home to the highest percentage of divorced women on our list. However, residents here are putting in an average of 36.5 hours at the office each week, a relative low number compared to the other cities that made our list.

Did you know: Carbondale locals can relax after a long workweek at the Avalanche Ranch hot springs, where they’ll find a picturesque view of Mount Sopris.

9. Avon

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 293.3 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 18.7 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 40.3
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 9.6% of males, 14% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 38.4%

Avon, home of the Beaver Creek Resort, sits in the Eagle River Valley about 10 miles from Vail, one of the top ski resorts in the country. Although it’s a small mountain town, its location makes it a popular tourist destination for active and adventurous types who enjoy the great outdoors. The population is made up of 6,500 full-time residents and 3,500 part-time residents, suggesting that Avon is a prime location for vacation homes. Our data also supports the hypothesis that housing is in high demand, and therefore, quite costly in comparison to the local median income. Residents spend a whopping 38.4% of their income on housing, which is way above average. It’s safe to say that locals must make sacrifices to be able to afford the housing costs in Avon, and they probably pay for it with their time and labor. Avon residents put in more than 40 hours per week at their jobs. Hopefully the tradeoff of living in a beautiful mountain town is worth the time, labor, money, and stress.

Did you know: When a contest was held to name the new bridge in Avon, construction worker Louie Sullivan didn’t stress over a potential name. “It ain’t like I put any thought into it,” he said about his suggestion. The name “Bob the Bridge” stuck, and Avon earned the official nickname “Home of Bob the Bridge.”

8. Wheat Ridge

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 264 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 23.7 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 39.2
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 16.2% of males, 19.9% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 23.9%

Located about 5 miles outside of Denver, the city of Wheat Ridge served as a bedroom community to the capital up until its incorporation in 1969. As a small city of 30,717 residents, one can still see remnants of its agricultural past. Historically, the area was used to plant wheat, fruit, and carnations, but the city continues to encourage agriculture by allowing urban farming and community gardens. If Wheat Ridge residents are stressed out, it’s not because of crime or their daily commute. Wheat Ridge is a safe city, and residents commute only 23.7 minutes to get to work each morning. However, the long hours that residents spend at their occupations may be to blame for their high stress levels and marital problems. Locals work almost 40 hours a week, and a high percentage of residents of both genders are divorced. It must be stressful to experience pressure from both one’s professional life and love life.

Did you know: Wheat Ridge was once known as the “Carnation City” because it was the largest producer of carnations in the world. While carnations are used mostly for decorative purposes, when brewed in tea, they’ve been known to relieve stress and nervousness.

7. Englewood

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 514.1 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 25.3 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38.9
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 17.2% of males, 16.2% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 25.9%

Englewood is a suburb 6.3 miles south of Denver in Arapahoe County. Although Englewood is a small city, it plays an important role in the region because of the McLellan Reservoir, which provides water to cities in the southern part of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area. It’s easy to see why Englewood ranked #7 on our list of stressful cities. Our data shows that it ranked neither high nor low in most of our measures. With a crime rate of 1 in 514.1 inhabitants, Englewood residents don’t have to worry about crime in their hometown. Their daily commute, workweek, and housing costs all fall within the median range compared to other cities in our study. Where Englewood dominates our list is in its percentage of divorced men. We discovered that 17.2% of male residents in Englewood are divorced, which is the highest percentage on our list. While other factors may be moderately stressful for Englewood locals, the number of divorced men shows that some residents’ love lives have taken a beating.

Did you know: The development of Englewood as a city was a slow and stressful endeavor, but many citizens helped by taking things into their own hands. The founder of Englewood, Thomas Skerritt, made the first road between Denver and Englewood using his own plough.

6. Fountain

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 394.7 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 22.5 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 41.8
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 10% of males, 12.1% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 26.9%

Fountain is a small city south of Colorado Springs in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Like many other cities on our list, Fountain is an agricultural city with a small-town ambience and the convenience of big city amenities just a drive away. In 1999, The New York Times chose it as “America’s Millennium City” because its demographics mirrored that of the average American town at the turn of the millennium. Locals of Fountain are lucky when it comes to crime, traffic, and their love lives. The crime rate and percentage of divorcees are relatively low, and locals spend just 22.5 minutes in traffic each morning. Unfortunately, Fountain is #6 on our list for a reason, as our data shows that residents work the longest hours out of any other city on our list. If Fountain residents find themselves stressed out at the end of the week, the 41.8 hours they put in at the office may have something to do with it.

Did you know: A day at the spa can work wonders for stress, but sometimes a dose of adrenaline can do the trick. Fountain’s Pikes Peak International Raceway is one of the fastest oval racetracks in the U.S. One can learn how to drive a race car at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.

5. Aurora

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 235.1 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 28.3 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38.9
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 10.3% of males, 14.6% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 26.4%

If the tragic shooting of 2012 in Aurora had never happened, Aurora would probably still be known simply as a suburb of Denver rather than a city in its own right. With a population of 339,030 and located just 10 miles east of Denver, Aurora has lived in the capital’s shadow since its founding. Now the city of Aurora is working to win back its reputation as a peaceful and family-friendly community. Aurora is a perfect example of a city that didn’t top our list in any of the five measures we studied, but its cumulative score indicates that residents probably feel pressure from all five categories. Aurora ranked moderately high in the daily commute that residents endure, the average time that residents spend at work, and the percentage they spend on housing costs. Aurora is also relatively safe compared to other cities in the nation, but its crime rate is higher than many of the cities in our study. All of these factors add up to put it in fifth place.

Did you know: Of all the things that Aurora residents might stress about, health probably isn’t one of them. Aurora was ranked as one of the healthiest cities in the U.S. by Prevention Magazine because of the low rates of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

4. Fort Lupton

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 956.9 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 31.6 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 40
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 16.2% of males, 13.7% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 24.1%

For those looking for a small community where everybody’s on a first-name basis, Fort Lupton would be the place to put down roots. Located about 50 minutes from Denver in Weld County, Fort Lupton is quaint, rural, and relatively secluded. However, locals know better than anyone else that this small city isn’t for the lazy or faint of heart. Residents work 40 hours per week and suffer through 31.6 minutes of traffic each morning, which is the longest commute in our study. Fort Lupton is also home to a high percentage of divorced men, which doesn’t bode well for couples hoping to find marital bliss here. Fort Lupton might be the safest city on our list, but locals have lots to stress over besides crime.

Did you know: The Japanese art of bonsai can be a calming and contemplative hobby. John Naka was a Japanese-American bonsai grandmaster who was born in Fort Lupton.

3. Commerce City

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 279.9 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 29.1 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 39.7
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 11.4% of males, 9.7% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 28%

Commerce City might be 7 miles from Denver, but you’d be mistaken to call it just a suburb of the capital city. In 1952, Commerce City residents demonstrated their independent spirit by voting against the city’s annexation to Denver, and instead voted to incorporate the area as Commerce City. Over the years, the city has grown steadily, nearly doubling its population in the past decade. As an industrial city, some parts of Commerce City are rough around the edges, which is reflected in its crime rate of 1 in 279.9 residents. Crime might not be the only thing keeping locals up at night. They work around 39.7 hours weekly. They also spend a relatively high percentage of their income on their rent or mortgage. The long work hours, crime, and high housing costs probably puts a strain on their wallet, sense of safety, and personal lives.

Did you know: If Commerce City residents find themselves short of breath, it may not be from anxiety. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Colorado filed a lawsuit against Valero (Valero Energy Corporation) for violating the Clean Air Act, and in 2005, Valero agreed to reduce pollution from its refineries, one of which is based in Commerce City.

2. Federal Heights

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 146.7 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 28.3 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38.3
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 14.2% of males, 18.4% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 26.1%

Federal Heights, located in the Denver Metropolitan Area, may have grown in population since its simple beginnings in 1940, but it definitely hasn’t grown in size. The city started with just 31 residents and now boasts 11,794, densely packed onto the 1.78 square miles that make up the city of Federal Heights. With so many residents and so little space, it makes sense that there might be tension. In Federal Heights, the chance of becoming a victim of violent crime is just 1 in 146.7 residents, the highest crime rate on our list. Crime isn’t the only thing that’s putting pressure on locals in Federal Heights. Residents also suffer through a fairly long commute each day. The high percentage of divorced women is more evidence that some residents may be suffering in their love lives as well.

Did you know: Bad days are a given no matter where you live, but it can’t get much worse than the public humiliation that the mayor of Federal Heights experienced in 2006. Mayor Dale Sparks was caught working as a bouncer at a strip club during a prostitution raid. He kept his job as mayor but was forced to quit his job as a doorman.

1. Sheridan

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 167.7 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 29.8 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 37.8
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 11.3% of males, 18.8% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 30.6%

At first glance, Sheridan might seem like an inconspicuous small city, but our study found it to be the most stressful city in Colorado — and for good reason. It topped our list for many of the same reasons that gave Federal Heights its #9 ranking. Its crime rate is the second highest on our list, and residents commute nearly an hour each day to get to and from work. The high percentage of divorced women indicates that quite a few Sheridan residents suffered through stressful relationships in their past. The high cost of housing in comparison to the local median income sealed the deal for Sheridan. Residents spend more than 30% of their income on housing, which is higher than most cities in our study. We hope that residents can find some respite from the daily stress they endure in Sheridan.

Did you know: Modern life may be stressful, but our predecessors had a lot to worry about in their day, from the possibility of war to sudden illness. One of the first founders of Sheridan, Peter Magnes, died suddenly in 1902 from apoplexy. Apoplexy is currently defined as internal bleeding, but in his day, it meant a sudden loss of consciousness followed by immediate death, which could have been anything from a stroke to a heart attack.

Our study demonstrates that even residents of a state as beautiful as Colorado can find themselves in stress overload. Life is full of frustrations that stem from work, money, or personal relationships no matter where you live. Residents in these cities may find some relief by knowing their location is partly to blame for their unease.