Lafayette, Colorado

Small-town Colorado vibes are big in Lafayette, which holds a perfect corner spot 35 minutes north of Denver and 25 minutes east of Boulder. The proximity to two of Colorado’s most popular cities gives retirees access to world-class medical facilities offering specialized treatments and advanced care as well as a vibrant arts and culture scene. 

Not that they don’t have access to the arts at home. Once a rural area, Lafayette has evolved into a quaint and eclectic town with a strong arts community boasting museums, art galleries, and alleyways of artwork. It’s a highly walkable area with a public bus system, so it’s easy for retirees to get around for their culture fix. Downtown is brimming with coffee shops, small craft breweries, and boutiques. 

Lafayette promotes an active lifestyle with its greenbelts, bikeways, parks, and walking trails. Retirees can go for a jog on the 1.3-mile Waneka Lake Trail or a bike ride on the 287 Bypass Trail. Those who prefer their outdoor activities involve a bit more sport can head to the Indian Peaks Golf Course. And since Lafayette typically gets 264 sunny days a year, there’s plenty of good weather in which to enjoy it all. 

The town’s senior services offer enrichment programs in everything from genealogy workshops to gardening, so there’s always something of intellectual or cultural interest. 

There are 22 above-average nursing homes within a 50-mile radius and 20 hospitals within 25 miles recommended by more than half of patients, per Healthgrades. Sharecare puts Lafayette’s Community Well-Being Index score at 74 out of 100.  

Retirees living in Colorado also enjoy a fair share of tax benefits; some of them can exclude their Social Security benefits from their taxable income. The state also allows those age 55 and older to deduct up to $20,000, and those 65 and older to deduct up to $24,000.