July 2024 | June 2024 | May 2024
July 2024
Colorado communities named Best Places to Live
U.S. News & World Report recently released their 2024-25 Best Places to Live and several Colorado communities topped the list. Out of 150 U.S. cities measured, Colorado Springs ranked #3, Boulder #10, Fort Collins #39 and Denver #40. All cities were assessed in regard to affordability, job market, desirability, net migration and quality of life. Click here to read the full report.
Grand Lake receives 10Best Readers Choice Award
USA Today turned to their readers to select the 10 best lakes for swimming in the US. Colorado’s Grand Lake made the list, joining iconic destinations like Geneva Lake, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Grand Lake is mostly surrounded by Rocky Mountain National Park, and is located approximate 50 miles west of Estes Park. The lake was noted for being a great place for people to kayak, paddleboard and swim. Click here to read the full article.
The Taffy Shop named #1 Candy Store
Great news for Coloradoans with a sweet tooth! USA Today released their list of the 10 Best Candy Stores across the U.S. and The Taffy Shop in Estes Park ranked #1. Established in 1935, this beloved candy store uses a secret recipe secured in a safety deposit box that hasn’t changed since the store doors opened. Pop by to get the renowned Estes Park Salt Water Taffy or try one of the featured flavors of the day!
June 2024
USA Today: Colorado 5 Best Cities
The Homefront research team at USA Today recently released rankings of the best cities to move to in Colorado. Approximately 16 livability and economic metrics were used to evaluate 22 Colorado cities. The following took the Top 5 spots, in rank order: Grand Junction, Littleton, Loveland, Fort Collins, and Longmont. The report also highlighted top reasons people are moving to the Centennial State, including fewer climate change risks and affordability compared to states like Texas, Florida and California. Click here to view the complete set of findings.
Windsor #1 for % population growth in Colorado
According to data recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau, Windsor topped the Colorado chart for population growth from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023. The community added 7,637 residents during that time, reaching 40,349 residents. This placed the community at #23 nationwide in terms of % of population growth for communities over 20,000 residents. Weld County experienced more growth than any other county in the state, with Larimer County coming in at #5. Click here to read more.
Greeley fueling startups with new gBETA program
The city of Greeley has created a gBETA accelerator program through gener8tor to help launch and accelerate local startups. The program is part of the city’s initiative to introduce potential new sectors into the area, while continuing to nurture their staple industries of agriculture, energy and food production. Visit the gBETA website to learn more.
May 2024
USA Today: Old Town Square wins 10Best Award
USA Today recently released their 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards for best public squares and Fort Collins ranked #4 in the country. 10 public squares were nominated by an expert panel and then voted on by readers. Factors taken into consideration were aesthetics, historical significance and communal importance. Click here to read the full article.
Colorado Business Leader confidence hits 2-year high
The Leeds Business Confidence Index (LBCI), a metric calculated by University of Colorado economists, rose from overall pessimism to optimism looking ahead to the second quarter of 2024. All components of the LBCI increased ahead of Q2 2024, including outlook, economic conditions, politics and interest rates. Click here to read the full report.
IRES 1st Quarter Report
Information and Real Estate Services (IRES) recently released their Q1 2024 MarketWatch Report. In Larimer County, the median sales price was $580,535 for Q1-2024, a 1.8% change year-over-year. The number of closed sales was down 12.3% dropping to 905. In Weld County, the median sales price was $497,680 for Q1-2024, a 1.8% increase year-over-year. The number of closed sales was down 10.4%, coming in at 1,156. In Boulder County, the median sales price was $800,000 for Q1-2024, a 5.9% year-over-year decrease. The number of closed sales was up 29.6%, coming in at 692.
