UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.
#5. Wheat Ridge
Bike trails, parks, fitness centers, and nearby mountains and ski resorts help keep residents of Wheat Ridge, CO, active. Retirees looking for motivation to get outdoors will find plenty in Wheat Ridge, which has the highest percentage of residents who exercise out of all the cities on this list. It’s also one of the healthiest cities we examined as we determined the best places to retire.
Beyond great natural amenities retirees will find a variety of support groups, lots of shopping opportunities, great restaurants, low crime and excellent health care. While we couldn’t find a golf course in Wheat Ridge, there are more than 40 within an 45-minute drive. And speaking of short drives, Denver is just minutes away. Wheat Ridge residents take advantage of more urban conveniences and culture found in downtown Denver while enjoying the small-town character of their city.
Colorado residents pay a 4.63 percent tax on federal taxable income, but those 55 and over receive a generous retirement-income exclusion from state taxes. Residents 65 and over can qualify for a homestead exemption, as well as various rebates of property tax and heating expenses.