Meet the 3 Cities of Grand Valley, CO
Find out why living in Grand Junction, Fruita or Palisade may make sense for you.
Nestled between the snow-capped Rocky Mountains and the awe-inspiring Moab desert, the Grand Valley of Colorado includes the communities of Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade. Let’s take a tour of these three outstanding communities.
Grand Junction, CO
POPULATION: 65,560 • MEDIAN HOME VALUE: $327,000
The hub of the Grand Valley is Grand Junction, which boasts a downtown district that includes the Museum of the West, Avalon Theatre, boutiques, art galleries, a performing arts center and diverse restaurants. Grand Junction offers access to recreation hot spots such as Colorado National Monument and Grand Mesa, which are ideal for hiking, biking, rafting, fishing and camping. The city is also a mountain biking destination. A popular single-track spot is the Lunch Loop Bike Park, which accommodates riders of all skill levels.
Fruita, CO
POPULATION: 13,395 • MEDIAN HOME VALUE: $369,000
With quick access to the Colorado National Monument, the Book Cliffs and the Colorado River, Fruita delivers for those who want an outdoor-oriented lifestyle. The city is known as a mountain-biking haven, with challenging routes that have names like Chutes & Ladders, and Zippity Do Da. Fruita is the trailhead for the Kokopelli, the 142-mile trail. Residents who enjoy fishing, boating, waterskiing or jet skiing can drive 5 miles to Highline Lake State Park. The spacious Fruita Community Center celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2021. Another popular attraction is the Imondi Wake Zone wakeboarding park.
Palisade, CO
POPULATION: 2,696 • MEDIAN HOME VALUE: $441,000
Palisade, nicknamed “The Peach Capital of Colorado,” is known for its many peach groves. The town is also in the heart of Colorado wine country, home to more than 30 wineries and vineyards. A popular gathering place is Riverbend Park, where its access to the Colorado River makes it an ideal spot for boating, canoeing, fishing and tubing. A charming downtown features a mix of eateries, shops, art galleries and Peach Street Distillers, which produces vodka from locally sourced sweet corn.
