Posted by: Richie Bernardo

Colorado is known for recreation: hiking, skiing and camping, to name a few. But as any native of the Centennial State will tell you, Colorado is much more diverse than it seems. And it’s all that diversity that makes Colorado an ideal place to raise children.

Filled with mountains, plains, valleys and deserts, Colorado boasts a much wider array of outdoor activities than most states. This abundance of natural beauty and fun has led to healthy living in the state: Coloradans are the least obese and most active people in the U.S., and their kids have access to some of the best health care, too.

Colorado even offers a diverse economy, filled with strong finance, real-estate and health-care industries, along with heavy federal investment into organizations such as the National Park System and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Add in the second lowest state unemployment rate and one of the best school systems in the nation, and you’ve got a fantastic place to settle with the kids. It’s no surprise that this mountain state came in at No. 15 on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst States to Raise a Family” ranking.

But not all corners of Colorado are created equal. To determine the places in Colorado that are most conducive to family life, WalletHub’s analysts compared more than 60 cities in the state across 21 key indicators of family-friendliness. Our data set ranges from housing affordability to number of attractions to quality of school system. Read on for our findings, additional insight from a panel of researchers and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

 

Best Places to Raise a Family in Colorado

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘Family Life & Fun’ Rank	‘Education, Health & Safety’ Rank	‘Affordability’ Rank	‘Socio-economics’ Rank
1	Windsor, CO	68.54	6	2	15	15
2	Castle Pines, CO	68.46	36	26	1	6
3	Erie, CO	68.44	35	4	9	2
4	Parker, CO	68.37	34	6	2	5
5	Louisville, CO	68.10	17	3	7	17
6	Frederick, CO	68.06	27	5	6	10
7	Superior, CO	67.81	5	11	8	8
8	Castle Rock, CO	66.74	29	10	5	7
9	Fort Collins, CO	62.04	2	17	18	34
10	Boulder, CO	61.59	3	12	34	33
11	Johnstown, CO	61.56	50	31	14	1
12	Lone Tree, CO	61.49	16	45	3	13
13	Broomfield, CO	61.31	38	16	11	12
14	Firestone, CO	60.91	51	8	19	14
15	Black Forest, CO	60.50	61	20	12	3
16	Highlands Ranch, CO	60.37	46	41	4	9
17	Lafayette, CO	58.82	26	7	23	24
18	The Pinery, CO	58.04	60	27	10	4
19	Littleton, CO	57.87	18	14	25	32
20	Centennial, CO	57.84	55	9	20	11
21	Fountain, CO	57.37	15	22	32	23
22	Cherry Creek, CO	57.20	12	47	17	29
23	Fort Carson, CO	55.99	1	28	59	27
24	Dakota Ridge, CO	55.37	48	38	16	20
25	Loveland, CO	55.32	25	29	28	21
26	Longmont, CO	54.62	8	42	26	38
27	Greenwood Village, CO	54.49	40	18	27	26
28	Ken Caryl, CO	54.33	59	46	13	18
29	Golden, CO	54.26	7	19	36	48
30	Durango, CO	54.04	9	21	44	36
31	Cimarron Hills, CO	54.04	13	25	31	40
32	Pueblo West, CO	53.99	44	13	22	28
33	Fruita, CO	53.88	19	23	35	39
34	Steamboat Springs, CO	53.36	4	1	57	47
35	Colorado Springs, CO	53.22	11	39	24	41
36	Arvada, CO	52.83	42	24	37	22
37	Columbine, CO	52.30	57	50	21	19
38	Security-Widefield, CO	51.93	28	44	29	35
39	Evans, CO	50.83	10	30	43	42
40	Westminster, CO	49.46	49	36	39	25
41	Redlands, CO	49.42	62	58	30	16
42	Greeley, CO	48.80	23	37	33	46
43	Thornton, CO	47.40	31	51	42	30
44	Grand Junction, CO	46.37	20	43	40	51
45	Brighton, CO	46.03	41	49	46	31
46	Commerce City, CO	45.64	30	48	52	37
47	Fort Morgan, CO	45.56	22	40	41	54
48	Montrose, CO	44.83	32	34	47	50
49	Sterling, CO	42.65	39	33	38	57
50	Northglenn, CO	42.50	58	32	49	43
51	Wheat Ridge, CO	42.08	43	35	53	49
52	Aurora, CO	40.91	54	52	51	44
53	Lakewood, CO	40.06	52	55	45	45
54	Denver, CO	39.79	21	53	56	52
55	Cañon City, CO	39.60	47	15	54	56
56	Clifton, CO	37.83	33	54	48	55
57	Pueblo, CO	35.89	14	57	50	58
58	Englewood, CO	33.33	53	56	58	53
59	Welby, CO	27.69	24	62	62	59
60	Federal Heights, CO	27.37	56	59	55	62
61	Sherrelwood, CO	26.31	45	60	61	60
62	Berkley, CO	25.93	37	61	60	61

Ask the Experts

Families share a number of common priorities when choosing a new place to call home. With that in mind, we asked a panel of experts in fields such as family studies and public health to share their insight regarding the process of evaluating prospective Colorado cities on a family’s shortlist. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What are some tips for young families looking for quality public schools and affordable housing in Colorado?
2. How can local officials in Colorado make their cities more attractive to young families?
3. Looking just within Colorado, to what degree is child development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the city they live in?

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• Tara K. Hammar Assistant Professor in the Human Services Department at the Metropolitan State University of Denver
• Tatiana Bailey Assistant Professor Attendant Rank, Resident Economist, and Director of UCCS Economic Forum in the College of Business at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
• Jennifer A. Reich Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado Denver

Tara K. Hammar Assistant Professor in the Human Services Department at the Metropolitan State University of Denver What are some tips for young families looking for quality public schools and affordable housing in Colorado? Tips for young families looking for quality public schools and affordable housing in Colorado include:

• Create a plan and a timeline to meet your goals. The housing market in some Colorado communities can be very competitive and the affordable housing market in Denver can create headaches for many working families; thus, it pays to start early and stay organized. Many schools offer a wait-list to families or the option to “choice in,” but these alternatives can require that families are very planful and intentional with their housing decisions.

• Educate yourself. Attend open houses, community gatherings and activities in your desired area to meet other parents and gain better insight into the local school community and its offerings.

• Get involved. Volunteering your time and talents in the community you hope to join sends an important message to your children about your values and priorities. It also offers you a unique vantage point into a school, agency or community that you might not gain simply as a consumer or visitor.

Looking just within Colorado, to what degree is child development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the city they live in? The cities we live in have an enormous impact on a family’s quality of life. Communities that provide easy access to diverse cultural opportunities facilitate curiosity, dialogue, and meaningful connections amongst children and families. Low- and no-cost recreational events and spaces encourage healthy behaviors and optimal choice for both children and their caregivers. Cities where museums, education centers, and outdoor activities are a part of the everyday fabric of children’s lives offer the best chance for children and families to reach their full physical, cognitive and socio-emotional potential. Here in Colorado, our physical environment and all its beauty create a backdrop where families can enjoy frequent, fun outings, with little or no cost attached to them. Our park systems, hiking trails, and open spaces offer lots of opportunities for families to connect in meaningful and healthy ways. As a parent, I work hard to instill in my daughter the “norm” of being active each day year-round, and living in Colorado makes that part of my job a bit easier. Tatiana Bailey Assistant Professor Attendant Rank, Resident Economist, and Director of UCCS Economic Forum in the College of Business at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs What are some tips for young families looking for quality public schools and affordable housing in Colorado? The unique thing about Colorado is that despite being a relatively large state, it only has 5.5 million people. A lot of educated, young Millennials are discovering Colorado, and we will likely continue having double the population growth rate as compared to the U.S. Nonetheless, it’s still possible to find affordable housing in great neighborhoods with high quality schools. This alone was a huge factor in my family’s decision to move here from Michigan three years ago. Another huge perk is, of course, the high accessibility to trails directly in the Rockies. Much of our family time is in some of the most beautiful spots on the planet. For a family, in particular, there is a complete package in Colorado: not nearly as expensive as California, not nearly as crowded, many (medium and large) cities with a small-town feel, and plenty of options for quality schools. Colorado allows families to have their children attend schools in other districts than where they live, which makes it easier for parents to find a school that is a good fit for their child. In terms of the academic outcomes of specific schools, as always, parents should do their homework. Test scores are not everything, but they are a general indicator of whether a school is performing above, below or at national standards. For both state-wide and school district results, parents can go to the Colorado Department of Education website to view scores. Looking just within Colorado, to what degree is child development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the city they live in? I think most parents feel that if they are not in a favorable environment for their children, their family is not thriving. I think a family is more likely to thrive if they are in a natural setting and culture that promotes physical fitness, appreciation of the outdoors, and a healthy work-life balance. As my kids made new friends when we moved to Colorado Springs, they started getting invitations from friends whose parents were taking a group of kids to hike in the mountains. Sounds nice, right? Well, a lot of those hikes take you from 6,000 feet to 9,000 feet -- you’d better be in shape, and that’s just the expectation. We first joked about the Coloradans with their highly engineered sandals and ropey arms and legs, but now we live and breathe that culture and love it. Inherent in this culture is a balanced perception of work and the importance of time with your family. I have never lived in a U.S. city where professionals do not routinely work on the weekends. In fact, by Friday at noon, email has come to a screeching halt; most people have headed into the mountains. On Monday, people exchange stories about the “14ers” (mountains that are above 14,000 feet) they have tackled or the new mountain biking trail they have discovered and traversed. Yet, Colorado has consistently been outperforming the nation in terms of economic growth. We also have the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. Maybe fresh air, exercise in a natural setting and a balanced and smart approach to work is the secret sauce for family and professional success. Jennifer A. Reich Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado Denver What are some tips for young families looking for quality public schools and affordable housing in Colorado? Parents of young children often feel overwhelmed by the number of decisions they are asked to make. We put so much pressure on parents to make seemingly perfect decisions, that we imagine indelibly influence their child’s future. It turns out that there are many paths to success and that most of these decisions don’t matter as much as parents assume. Research actually doesn’t find a big difference in things like college readiness between students from high-performing elite schools and schools that are rated as more average. Rather, student work ethic, support, and performance within their school seem to matter most. If kids are struggling, parents want to make sure they have the resources and assistance they need. But for most children, the differences in schools are not as significant as imagined. So, rather than simply looking at rankings or test scores, which are not the best measure of what is actually happening in a school, parents should look at the rate of teacher turnover, access to experiential learning, and supports offered to kids who most need them. These factors may better give parents a sense of the kinds of support and learning opportunities their kids will have. In responding to these pressures, parents don’t always consider what is most important to them. I would encourage parents to think about what their family priorities are. Less time commuting? Access to cultural resources in urban areas? Knowing your neighbors? Time with your kids? Shared or separate spaces within your house? Things for teens to do in the area? Public transportation? As the average size of houses has grown in the last 50 years, families are trading off increased space for other resources, including time together. There is no one perfect answer, but families should be deliberate in what is most important to them. How can local officials in Colorado make their cities more attractive to young families? Colorado is a unique state in terms of its commitment to outdoor space. Since 1994, lottery money in the state has been invested in protecting outdoor and wilderness areas, including state parks, trails, and improvements to local facilities. These funds provide great opportunities for Colorado families. Additionally, there are other innovative ways to get kids out using public resources. For example, in Denver, all children are eligible for the My Denver Card, which provides free access to recreation centers throughout the city, serves as a library card, and offers free or discounted entry to more than a dozen places, including museums and the zoo. These investments, which were approved by voters, are excellent ways cities can make families feel supported, and expose children to the wealth of resources around them. Looking just within Colorado, to what degree is child development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the city they live in? One of the greatest predictors in children’s healthy development is living in a stable home with low levels of stress. As parents set their priorities, they should consider the well-being of their whole family, not just the children. It turns out that happy parents are more likely to have happy children. Sacrificing parental happiness in exchange for the promise of child success is actually not a good trade. We are lucky in Colorado to have so many beautiful communities with a great quality of life. Choosing a city or community that works for everyone in the family is a key part of that.

Methodology

In order to determine the best places to live in Colorado for families, WalletHub’s analysts compared a sample of 62 cities in the state across four key dimensions: 1) Family Life & Fun, 2) Education, Health & Safety, 3) Affordability and 4) Socio-economics. Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

We evaluated the four dimensions using 21 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most suitable conditions for family life.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the cities in our sample.

Family Life & Fun – Total Points: 25

• Playgrounds per Capita: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
• Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)Note: “Attractions” includes, for instance, museums, theaters and zoos.
• Share of Families with Children Aged 0 to 17: Double Weight (~8.33 Points)
• Weather: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)Note: Based on WalletHub’s Cities with the Best & Worst Weather ranking.
• Average Commute Time: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)

Education, Health & Safety – Total Points: 25

• Quality of School System: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
• High School Graduation Rate: Half Weight (~1.47 Points)
• Air Quality: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
• Pediatricians per Capita: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
• Share of Uninsured Children: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)Note: “Children” include the population aged 0 to 17.
• Violent-Crime Rate per Capita: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)
• Property-Crime Rate per Capita: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)

Affordability – Total Points: 25

• Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~12.50 Points)Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Housing Costs (accounts for both rental and sale prices) / Median Annual Family Income.
• General Affordability: Full Weight (~12.50 Points)Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Median Annual Family Income / Cost-of-Living Index.

Socio-economics – Total Points: 25

• Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
• Share of Two-Parent Families: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
• Share of Families Living Below Poverty Level: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
• Share of Households Receiving Food Stamps: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
• Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
• Wealth Gap: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
• Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Environmental Protection Agency, County Health Rankings, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Renwood RealtyTrac, SchoolDigger.com, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Areavibes and WalletHub research.

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