Home > Where to Live Now > 8 Reasons to Move to Greeley, CO

8 Reasons to Move to Greeley, CO

Find out why Greeley is a place you don't want to pass up.

By Jessica Walker Boehm on April 6, 2016

Downtown Greeley, CO
Greeley / City of Greeley
Downtown Greeley, Colo., has several entertainment destinations, including The Kress and the Moxi Theater.

There’s no denying it: Greeley is a great place to live. With its many amenities and advantages – like easy access to top-notch health care, great schools, cultural attractions and recreational opportunities – it’s an ideal choice for anyone eager to enjoy a high quality of life. The city’s thriving, fast-growing economy doesn’t hurt either.

If you’re still not sure whether Greeley is right for you, here are eight of the best reasons to call it home:

1. Affordability

Money goes a long way in Greeley. Residents pay less for just about everything than many other Coloradoans, and the city’s median income of $47,342 shows it doesn’t take much to enjoy the good life in Greeley. It makes sense that it scored a spot on our list of Top 10 Affordable Places to Live in 2016, right?

2. Proximity to Denver and other destinations

Greeley is just an hour’s drive away from both Denver and Cheyenne, Wyo., and it’s within three hours of 10 awesome ski resorts. The city is also only an hour and a half from Rocky Mountain National Park, a favorite destination for hikers and climbers. Plus, Greeley is two hours from Roosevelt National Forest, and three hours from Arapaho National Forest.

3. University of Northern Colorado

The University of Northern Colorado’s presence creates a college town vibe in Greeley, which is something many people look for in a city, and it’s easy to see why. The college’s 12,000 students have helped draw restaurants, bars and coffee shops, plus fun attractions and events for the entire community to enjoy. Plus, UNC contributes to Greeley’s well-educated population by offering more than 200 programs.

4. Breweries

Greeley’s five craft breweries make it the perfect place to grab a beer. The city is home to Crabtree Brewing Co., Brix Taphouse and Brewery, Wiley Roots Brewing Co., WeldWorks Brewing Co. and Broken Plow Brewery, each serving up flavorful brews created with quality in mind. The breweries all host weekly events, and while they don’t all serve food, they typically encourage customers to bring their own or order in from local restaurants.

5. Live entertainment

Want to catch a concert or a play? Greeley has you covered. Downtown’s Moxi Theater is a small, intimate venue that attracts top musicians from all genres, and the Union Colony Civic Theater showcases Broadway musicals, comedy shows and performances by local acts like the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra and the Greeley Chorale. In addition, the University of Colorado’s Little Theatre of the Rockies – the oldest professional summer stock theater west of the Mississippi River – produces 10 weeks of performances from June to early August.

6. Excellent restaurants

There are dozens of delicious places to grab a bite in Greeley. The Greeley Chophouse is a favorite choice for fine dining, while Fat Albert’s, which Thrillist.com included in its list of The 11 Best Colorado Restaurants Outside of Denver, is known for its mouth-watering sandwiches. Lucky Fins is a popular seafood spot, and Taqueria Los Comales is a hidden gem offering authentic Mexican food. For more options, check out our list of The 10 Best Restaurants in Greeley.

7. Fabulous events

No matter the season, there’s a fun festival or event to attend in Greeley. For example, fall brings the OktoBREWfest, a downtown festival with food, live entertainment, contests and – of course – beer. During the holiday season, residents celebrate with the Festival of Trees and the Greeley Lights the Night Parade. With springtime comes the Greeley Beer & Sprits Festival, and a popular summer event is the Greeley Stampede.

8. Outdoor opportunities

Take it Greeley’s gorgeous scenery at one of its parks, or go for a walk along the 21-mile Poudre River Trail. Located in the nearby community of Grover, Pawnee National Grassland covers 193,000 acres and is a preferred destination for birding, hiking, horseback riding, hunting and fishing. Those who enjoy golf have three courses to choose from: Boomerang Links, Highland Hills and the Greeley Country Club.

Array ( )
Array ( )
Array ( )
Array ( )

Newsletter Sign Up

Keep up to date with our latest rankings and articles!
Enter your email to be added to our mailing list.