Why Greeley, CO Is a Great Place to Retire
Greeley offers retirees an array of unique, affordable advantages
When it comes time to retire, many Americans think of places like Florida and Arizona, but lesser-known destinations – like Greeley, for example – have a lot to offer retirees, too. The city has several low-maintenance living options and excellent health-care providers, plus dozens of fun things to do. In addition, Greeley is affordable; money goes a long way here, and that’s especially alluring for many retirees.
The Living’s Easy
According to Kim Barbour, public affairs director for the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, local retirees often choose to live in patio homes or townhomes due to the lifestyle they provide.
“In our area, a patio home is a single-family residence where the entire exterior is maintained through a homeowners association,” Barbour says. “While residents are responsible for interior maintenance, they don’t have to worry about cutting their grass, landscaping or snow removal. All of that is taken care of.”
Another independent living option is the all-inclusive Greeley Place retirement community, which includes studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Residents have their meals prepared daily, and their monthly rent also covers weekly housekeeping services, linen service, complimentary scheduled transportation and a wide variety of group activities.
In addition, retirees have access to several assisted living facilities, such as The Bridge at Greeley, Garden Square of Greeley, Garden Square at Westlake and Brookdale Greeley.
Retirees Have Quick Access to Quality Care
The community is served by the 378-bed North Colorado Medical Center, which is part of the Banner Health system. The hospital’s key services include heart care, cancer care, trauma and emergency care, surgical care and women’s services.
NCMC is also affiliated with several Banner Health Clinic facilities in the area, and it operates Summit View Medical Commons in West Greeley, providing residents with a comprehensive pharmacy, an anticoagulation clinic, medical imaging, mammograms, breath health services and urgent care. SVMC includes the Greeley VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, a facility providing local veterans with primary-care services.
Another option is the Greeley Emergency and Surgery Center, open 24/7 and offering emergency, laboratory and imaging services. The facility has 12 private exam rooms, and it provides X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans and MRIs.
Additional health-care facilities in Greeley include the University of Colorado Health’s Greeley Medical Clinic, Greeley Med Care and NextCare Urgent Care: Greeley.
Greeley Offers Recreation, Entertainment and Affordability
Greeley has plenty of attractions and outdoor destinations to keep retirees busy throughout the year. For example, Greeley’s two city-owned recreation centers offer the Silver Sneakers program, and local parks give retirees opportunities to get outside and exercise. Greeley also has three golf courses, and Barbour says the Poudre River Trail, a 21-mile, paved tpath, is a favorite destination for retirees looking to walk or go for a bike ride.
“The Poudre River Trail runs along the Cache La Poudre River, and it takes you through some gorgeous open spaces,” Barbour says. “You can see wildlife, and it’s a great place to go birding.”
Greeley’s cultural attractions include art galleries, museums, movie theaters and live entertainment venues, and the city is just over an hour from Denver’s many fun things to do.
The best part? It’s easy to enjoy all Greeley has to offer because it’s so affordable. In fact, the city made our list of Top 10 Affordable Places to Live in 2016. Residents spend just over 27 percent of their annual incomes on housing, and the median household income is $47,342, proving it doesn’t take much to enjoy Greeley’s high quality of life.