The state actually takes its name from the Colorado River, so named by the Spanish for its red, or colorado, silt. The Spanish people weren’t the first to inhabit Colorado, though, as that distinction goes to the Native Americans who lived in the area as many as 13,000 years ago. Like most western United States, Colorado’s history includes various boundary shifts and foreign governance. The state was once part of the New Mexico, Nebraska, Utah and Kansas territories before becoming its own territory in 1861 and a state in 1876.

Buying a Home in Colorado

Colorado home prices have climbed steeply over the past two years, particularly in Denver. Overall, the state’s median home sales price rose 11.2 percent in the past year, resting at $283,500. The average sales price is higher than in previous years, costing home buyers $354,004, or 8.9 percent more than the average cost last year. Luckily, the rapid sales pace slowed somewhat in recent months, with single family homes staying on the market an average of 59 days and condos and townhouses selling within 55 days.

In the Denver Metro Area, competition for homes is stiff but getting less so. Median home prices increased 13 percent this year to $308,279, and the average sales prices also rose by 12 percent to $356,005. Meanwhile, homebuyers are gaining some advantage in the slowing pace of sales. Earlier this year, the average home sold within 15 days, but now sells within 29 days. Likewise, in the Colorado Springs/Pike’s Peak region, the median home price is up 6.7 percent to $240,000, and the average sales price increased 5.7 percent to $267,612.

Popular Neighborhoods in Colorado

While most of Colorado’s larger towns receive most of the attention, the state’s smaller towns have plenty of selling points. Colorado City was named the top city in the nation to live and work based on residents’ personal income, commerce and quality of life, and Time Magazine declared Louisville and Erie the No. 4 and No. 13 best places to live in the U.S.

Those who prefer living in big cities have a number of excellent options too. Colorado boasts 11 cities with populations of more than 100,000 residents. Denver is the largest, often ranking as the most popular city in the nation for its amenities, recreation and jobs. Denver has a number of inviting neighborhoods, including City Park, LoDo, Cory-Merrill, Speer and Wellshire. Its suburb of Aurora is a larger city in its own right, offering residents attractive neighborhoods, particularly in the South Aurora area.

Colorado Springs is equally attractive, with its 445,000 residents finding nice homes, entertainment and good schools in popular neighborhoods like Broadmoor, Rustic Hills, Briargate and Rockrimmon.

Fort Collins is an hour north of Denver and about a quarter of the size of the Capital City, but it still features a wide range of excellent neighborhoods, including the Old Town area, University Acres and South College Heights.

Buying vs. Rent to Own Homes

Renting to own a home not only gives homebuyers immediate access to their new homes, it allows buyers time to build up down payments and coordinate funding at a more leisurely pace. The rent-to-own process is relatively simple: buyers and sellers agree on a contract period, usually from one to three years. Buyers pay a small, one-time option fee, monthly rent and a nominal monthly rent premium. The option fee and rent premium are usually credited to the eventual down payment. This process is especially beneficial for homebuyers in towns where home prices are rising because buyers lock in the house price at today’s rate.

Cost of Living in Colorado

Statewide, the cost of living in Colorado is a mixed bag of benefits and drawbacks. Overall, residents here spend about $1.12 for every dollar most other Americans spend on living expenses. Utilities, transportation, miscellaneous costs and groceries are below or at the national average. The state’s biggest living expense is housing, which is 39 percent higher than the national average. Healthcare is a scant 2 percent higher than average.

Even with this lofty statewide cost of living, several Colorado cities are more affordable, including Milliken, Sterling, Lamar, Frederick and Wellington. These cities offer lower housing costs, including cheaper property taxes, homeowners insurance and home prices.

Summary

From the Mile High City of Denver to Arikaree River’s low point at 3,317 feet, Colorado is widely diverse and defined by its terrain. These natural recreation sites contribute to the state’s reputation for fit and active residents, earning Denver a spot as the fourth fittest city in the U.S., according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

While Colorado home prices are a bit more expensive than in other parts of the country, the state’s overall cost of living is just 12 percent higher than the national average. The state’s abundant jobs, widely available natural power resources, thriving industries and favorable business conditions help offset the cost of living. Those traits also earn Colorado the distinction of being the least expensive state for natural gas, electricity and other forms of new energy, as named by NerdWallet.