Do you want to live in the crisp Rocky Mountain West in retirement, but you don’t want to deal with shoveling snow in the winter? A retirement community in Colorado may be the perfect place for you to hang your hat in your golden years. You can take advantage of all the amenities that these places have to offer and be part of a community of like-minded retirees. Plus, almost all of these retirement communities handle lawn care and snow removal for you, so your back will absolutely thank you. This guide lists some of the best retirement communities in Colorado for you to consider. You can also work with a financial advisor to make sure your finances are preparing you to live in the location of your choice.
Lakeshore at Centerra
Price Range: Low $200ks – Mid $200ks
Number of Homes: 280 homes
Age Restriction: None
Landmark Homes built this condo community in Loveland between 2002 and 2014. There are three-floor plans to choose from, with the option of either one or two bedrooms. Homes range in size from 1,070 to 1,120 square feet and all have two bathrooms and a detached one-car garage. A homeowners association fee covers the cost of trash removal, lawn care and exterior maintenance.
There are plenty of amenities at Lakeshore at Centerra. The community has a multi-purpose room for clubs to meet and an exercise room for working out. There is also a pool and spa outside, plus walking and biking trails. If you’re an outdoors enthusiast, you can enjoy nature in the community’s pond and several parks.
You’ll also have access to numerous attractions in the area. There are various parks and a golf course nearby. Denver, with its culture, arts and sports attractions, is also close by so you can enjoy the city’s perks without the full cost of living in Denver.
Gate N Green
Price Range: Mid $200ks – Mid $300ks
Number of Homes: 300 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
This gated community has been around since the 1970s, so it is a classic in the retirement community world. The Broomfield development’s clubhouse is at the center of the community’s social scene. It includes an indoor pool and an exercise room, plus a sauna for relaxing after your workout. There is also a multi-purpose room and a catering kitchen for enjoying an evening with your fellow retirees. If you have R.V., there’s also R.V. parking nearby.
The single-family homes in Gate N Green range from 1,008 square feet to 2,432 square feet and have two to three bedrooms, one to two bathrooms and two-car garages. Many homes also have hardwood floors, skylights and covered patios.
You’ll pay a monthly fee in exchange for snow removal and outdoor home maintenance at Gate N Green.
Mirasol
Price Range: High $200ks – Mid $300ks
Number of Homes: 52 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Mirasol is a relatively small community in Loveland with just 52 single-family homes. Available for resale only, the homes range in size from 1,016 to 1,677 square feet. Most have two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an attached two-car garage. There are three different floor plans offered. Your monthly fee at Mirasol will cover landscaping, snow removal, common area maintenance and exterior maintenance. The home prices in this community are on the low side, but make sure to think about the cost of living in Colorado as you plan your retirement.
The community offers catered holiday parties, trivia nights and craft classes. There is even a Nintendo bowling league that hosts a banquet at the end of the year. At the center of the community is an event center. It contains a fitness center, multipurpose room, salon, massage center and even a coffee house.
Centennial at RiverWalk
Price Range: High $200ks – Low $300ks
Number of Homes: 100 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Built-in 1998, Centennial at RiverWalk is a condo community in Littleton, which SmartAsset rated as the best place to retire in Colorado. The community features a 12,000-square-foot clubhouse that includes a lounge where you can get a cup of coffee or play cards. There is also a dining room, bar, catering area and banquet room. In addition, the community has a library, a billiards room and an exercise room, plus trails for walking and an outdoor pool with a patio.
Centennial at RiverWalk is part of the broader master-planned community of RiverWalk. There are a total of 552 residences, 100 of which are age-restricted. The age-restricted condos range in size from 650 to more than 1,300 square feet and have one to two bedrooms and bathrooms. You’ll also get designated parking in an underground garage and elevator access to all floors.
At Centennial at RiverWalk, you’ll never be without a partner for classic games like bunco, bingo, pinochle and dominoes. You can also join clubs for reading and golf.
Windsor Gardens
Price Range: High $100ks – High $300ks
Number of Homes: 2,689 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Built during the ‘60s and ‘70s by EDI, Windsor Gardens is the only active retirement community actually found in the city of Denver. Though the community is actually situated on 143 acres of lawns and gardens, downtown Denver is still close by. There is a 35,000-square-foot clubhouse at the center of Windsor Gardens that has both indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, hobby rooms, a restaurant and a library.
Emerald Greens Golf Course is also nearby for those who want to join the club and hit the links. On top of all of that, there is also an activities coordinator on site to make sure you always have something to do.
Windsor Garden offers attached townhouses and condos that range from 720 and 2,145 square feet. Your association fees cover grounds maintenance, insurance, water, sewer and trash.
Gleneagles Village
Price Range: Mid $300ks – Mid $500ks
Number of Homes: 345 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Gleneagles Ranch is a gated community located very close to The Links Golf Course, so if you want privacy and like to golf this might be the place for you. The community has a clubhouse that was expanded in 2003. It features two pool tables, cards tables and a library stocked with donations from those who live in the community. There is also a big screen TV and a catering kitchen. For more recreation, there is an outdoor pool and an indoor spa, plus a banquet room with a dance floor for functions. There are also ponds on site surrounded by walking trails.
The community was built by Mission Viejo Company in Highlands Ranch between 1984 and 2001. The community’s attached homes are between 1,088 and 2,400 square feet. Each has two to three bedrooms, one to two-and-a-half baths and an attached two-car garage.
Gleneagles Ranch’s single-family homes have between 1,685 and 2,123 square feet, and typically have two to three bedrooms, two to two-and-a-half baths and an attached two-car garage. All homes have first-floor master suites. If you’re not sure which floor plan fits in best with your budget, check out SmartAsset’s tool for determining how much house you can afford.
The Villas at Great Plains Park
Price Range: Mid $300ks – Low $400ks
Number of Homes: 80 homes
Age Restriction: None
The clubhouse is the social hub for The Villas at Great Plains, an active adult community in Aurora. There is a flat-screen TV to watch TV or sports with friends, plus a catering kitchen and a multi-purpose room for club meetings or hosting parties with other members of the community. You’ll also find an exercise room with equipment for both cardio and strength training. An outdoor pool and patio grill are available for outdoor fun.
Kemmons Wilson Communities started building this community in 2001, and it is still being built. The Villas are in the attached quads. Most have one floor, though a few have two. The floor plans range from 1,325 to 1,925 square feet, and all homes have at least two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage. Homes also have a patio or sunroom. Association dues cover the cost of maintenance and landscaping.
Encore at Eastlake
Price Range: Mid $300ks – Mid $400ks
Number of Homes: 140 homes
Age Restriction: None
With only 140 homes, Encore at Eastlake is a tight-knit community where a lot of close friendships are formed. There is a clubhouse with an equipped fitness room and a multi-purpose room where people can gather and clubs can meet. Encore at Eastlake also has an outdoor pool with a patio, plus a number of parks and walking trails for enjoying the crisp mountain air.
Located in Thornton, the community was built by Boulder Creek Neighborhoods between 2015 and 2018. Homes in this community are detached, and a monthly fee covers outdoor maintenance. The houses range in size from 1,295 to 1,617 square feet of living space. Each home has one to two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an attached two-car garage. The homes are all one-story so stairs won’t be an issue, and the open floor plans will make entertaining a breeze.
Fairway Villas at Green Valley Ranch
Price Range: Mid $300ks – Low $400ks
Number of Homes: 220 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Located right between Denver’s downtown and the airport, Fairway Villas is in a perfect location for people who want the comfort of a retirement community while still having the option to escape to the outside world. The community also has a direct path to the Green Valley Ranch Golf Club Course, and it gets special incentives at the golf club.
The golf course is a major draw, but the community also has a 7,400-square-foot clubhouse. The clubhouse has fitness rooms, a pool, a spa, rooms for games and hobbies, a library and a coffee bar. There is also an outdoor pool with a pool deck, a fire pit and manicured parks to enjoy.
The single-family homes in the community range from 2,090 to 2,764 square feet. Every house has a bonus living area on the second floor, a gourmet kitchen and a well-appointed master bathroom.
Country Lake Villas
Price Range: High $200ks – Low $400ks
Number of Homes: 25 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Country Lake Villas is a very small Loveland community of just 25 homes, built between 1984 and 1993. If a community where you know all of your neighbors appeals to you, Country Lake Villas could fit the bill. The community’s attached homes range in size from 1,230 to 2,320 square feet and have two to three bedrooms, two to three bathrooms and an attached two-car garage. They also have a finished basement with an extra bedroom and a master suite on the first floor. Most of them have a back porch with a roof.
The community doesn’t have some of the major amenities other communities have, but it does sit on a small lake with canal access to other bodies of water. If you’re a boater or just enjoy great water views, you’ll be happy with this. The community’s association fee covers snow removal, landscaping and exterior maintenance.
Anthem Ranch
Price Range: Low $400ks – Low $1ms
Number of Homes: 1,300 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Construction on Broomfield’s Anthem Ranch began in 2006 by Del Webb and it’s still underway, though Toll Bros took over development in 2014. Anthem Ranch has a 55+ age limit that it will occasionally lower to 45. The community is situated between Boulder and Denver, which will make it easy for you to visit both cities whenever you want. Homes in this community are ranch style and have at least two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage. Other popular design touches include gourmet kitchens, great rooms and plenty of outdoor space.
When you aren’t in your home, there is a huge clubhouse where you can spend your time. It has a ballroom, hobby and craft studios, a movie theater, card rooms, a billiards hall and an indoor lap pool with a spa. There is a resort-style pool and spa outside, as well as bocce ball, shuffleboard, pickleball and tennis. There are also 48 miles of walking and biking trails available.
Hilltop at Inspiration
Price Range: Low $400ks – Low $1 millions
Number of Homes: 1,800 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Aurora’s Hilltop at Inspiration is a brand-new community, with only new construction currently for sale. Construction began in 2015. The clubhouse hasn’t been finished yet, but when it is it will have a cafe, a multi-purpose room, a ballroom and a library. There will also be a fitness center and an indoor pool.
Outside, the community plans to have another pool, as well as spots to barbeque and courts for playing tennis, bocce ball and pickleball. A number of parks will also go up, along with nature trails for walking and biking. Eventually, there will even be an inline hockey rink.
Hilltop at Inspiration offers 14 total floor plans in three collections. There’s the Jefferson Collection, which has homes ranging from 1,601 to 1,993 square feet and with one or two bedrooms. The Broomfield Collection offers ranch homes between 2,026 and 2,403 square feet in size with open design plans. Last but not least, the Boulder Collection features homes between 2,398 and 2,897 square feet and available home upgrades like a home office.
Heritage Todd Creek
Price Range: High $300ks – Low $800ks
Number of Homes: 25 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
The most notable amenity in Heritage Todd Creek is a 33,000-square-foot clubhouse. It has a fitness center with aerobics and dance studios, a craft room, a ballroom, a library, billiards and an indoor lap pool. Outside, there is a resort pool and spa, two tennis courts and walking trails.
Additionally, the community connects to a golf course with a practice facility, pro shop and restaurant. The course was developed by famed course designer Arthur Hills and is 18 holes with a par of 72.
Construction of homes began in Thornton in 2006 and is ongoing. There are a whopping 20 different floor plans available, including eight single-family models and four duplex ranch models. All options are available as new construction from Lennar Homes. Additionally, there are some pre-owned homes available for resale, including eight single-family models and four townhouse models. All homes have at least two bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage.
Heritage at Eagle Bend Golf Course
Price Range: Mid $300ks – Mid $700ks
Number of Homes: 1,442 homes
Age Restriction: 45+
Aurora’s Heritage at Eagle Bend Golf Course has a lower age restriction than many retirement communities, as you only have to be 45 to move in. Golfers may want to take advantage of that opportunity. The homes here are built around an 18-hole golf course with views of the Rocky Mountains, so this is a great place for a golfer to live.
On the property, there is also a 37,000-square-foot clubhouse. It has card rooms, craft and hobby studios, a computer lab, a library, billiards tables and a grand ballroom. There is also an indoor pool and a state-of-the-art fitness center with cardio and weight training equipment. Outside, outdoor enthusiasts can play bocce ball and tennis. You can also lounge by an outdoor pool or enjoy miles of walking and biking trails. The community also has a restaurant, Eagle’s Nest, that is open seven days a week.
Heritage at Eagle Bend Golf Course offers single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses. Many homes have features like granite countertops, walkout basements and views of the golf course. The homes range in size from 1,170 square feet to more than 2,500 square feet.
Enclave at Heritage Hills
Price Range: High $400ks – Mid $700ks
Number of Homes: 122 homes
Age Restriction: None
This Lone Tree gated community went up between 1998 and 2006. Enclave at Heritage Hills has 122 homes, each one of five-floor plans offering between 1,624 and 2,184 square feet of living space. The homes are all on a single level and have patios, one to three bedrooms, two or two-and-a-half baths, and a two- or three-car garage. Each home also has a den for extra sleeping quarters or entertaining. Home prices in this community are high for this list. You’ll want to consider the additional cost of property taxes if you decide to move here.
The community centers around its clubhouse, where you can host a game night there or have your holiday party. There is also a catering kitchen if you want to add extra pizzazz to your next event. Just 30 minutes from downtown Denver, the surrounding area is also full of activities for when you want to get out of the community. Your options range from theater and museums to professional and college sports.
The Bottom Line
Overall, there is not a shortage of great retirement communities for your to consider for your future destination. Many have fantastic living options, plenty of residents with a similar mindset, and the ability to get the help you or your loved one might need during the retirement years. Once narrowing down your list, consider visiting to see if the feel of the location is right with what you’re looking for within your budget.
Tips for Retirement
- It takes careful planning to be able to afford to retire in one of these communities. A financial advisor can help you get there, and finding one doesn’t have to be difficult. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- If you’re thinking about buying a home in a retirement community, you’ll probably need a mortgage. Figure out how much house you can afford with SmartAsset’s mortgage calculator. You can also calculate your Colorado property tax.
- Knowing how much money you’ll have after you retire is key, so don’t forget about Social Security. It won’t fund your whole retirement but it can certainly help.
- If nothing here appeals to you, see if you find a community you could see yourself in Delaware or Pennsylvania.
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