It's no secret – Colorado has achieved year-over-year record growth in population in the past few years. The state ranked 6th in population growth according to the 2020 census, with a 14.8% growth rate. According to the same census, the population of Colorado has seen an influx of nearly 750,000 new residents. This growth trend only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and the following years.
So, why are so many people making a move to Colorado? There are a variety of reasons, but here are the top three.
Economic Stability
One key reason people move to Colorado is its strong economy. In a recent study, Colorado ranked 6th in overall economic strength. These rankings considered each state's economic activity, economic health, and innovation potential.
Let's face it; we live in a difficult time. Many people have experienced hardships forcing them to seek new employment within their industry or to change careers entirely. This often means relocating to states where there are greater opportunities for economic growth, such as Colorado.
The top growing industries in Colorado are:
Advanced Manufacturing
- Aerospace
- Bioscience
Defense and Homeland Security
- Electronics
- Energy and Natural Resources
- Infrastructure Engineering Technology and Information
Outdoor Activities
While we prefer not to dwell on the COVID-19 pandemic, it's an unavoidable topic when we look at the reasons people relocated to Colorado in 2020 and continue to do so.
One result of the pandemic has been an uptick in outdoor activities. Rather than visiting crowded shopping malls and other public places, more people turn to nature to get away from crowds.
This shift plays directly into Colorado's strengths. A recent study ranked Colorado the 5th best state for outdoor recreational opportunities. This should come as no surprise, as Colorado is one of the most beautiful states in the nation, especially during the fall season when the state's scenery explodes with colorful hues of red and orange.
Healthy Lifestyle
The United States, compared to other developing countries, regularly ranks lowest in terms of population health.
We're starting to see that trend change however as a growing segment of the population is turning to a more healthy lifestyle. Colorado boasts the lowest rate of adult obesity at 23.8%. This may seem like a high number, but it is impressive compared to the United States' average obesity rate, which is over 40%. Colorado ranks 10th overall in a study on the healthiest state populations in 2021.
When people move to Colorado, they are moving to a state where health and fitness are a higher priority than in other states. Given the times we live in, it's no surprise that many people are looking into a long-overdue health overhaul.
Final Thoughts
Colorado is a state of beautiful scenery, a plethora of outdoor activities, a surging economy, and a population of health-conscious individuals. The winters may be cold and sometimes unforgiving, but this has not deterred out-of-staters from relocating.
