Whether it’s because of its scenic views, rich culture, and high quality of life, everyone seems to be planning on moving to Colorado. If you are one of those people, congratulations! Colorado is a very welcoming state and can offer you a lot more than scenic views or rich culture. The state has one of the highest figures for life expectancy – 80 years, almost one year longer than the nationwide average.
Moving to Colorado
In this guide, you will find the answer to the following questions:
- How to organize your move?
- How to ship your car when you move to Colorado?
- Why is everyone moving to Colorado?
- What to do and see in Colorado?
How to organize your move?
The daunting task of moving can become very rewarding in the end. You will have a new house, a new job, create a new circle of friends, and learn new things about this new place you now call home. But, instead of daydreaming about all these amazing rewards, get real and start making a list of all the things you need to do in order to make your move as smooth as you can. Here is a short list to get you started:
Choose the right time to move
To make your move easier make sure to choose the right time to move. Booking a moving company a few months in advance is also recommended. Avoid moving season (spring/summer) if you can. We recommend fall and early spring as the best time to move.
Prevent identity theft
- Notify everyone that needs to be notified ( for example, utility companies, your employer, financial institutions)
- Secure all your electronic devices and important documents
- Make sure nothing important is left behind
- Be careful with what you sell or donate
- Freeze your Credit
We’ve compiled a comprehensive post on how to protect your identity when moving. Make sure to check out our article because it’s important to monitor your identity, especially during such events as moving.
Find a house in advance
Housing is expensive in Colorado. According to CoreLogic, “Colorado home prices rose by 9.8% between February 2014 and February 2015.”
The cost of housing, of course, depends on what city or region you’re going to move to in Colorado. Cherry Hills Village, Vail, Greenwood Village, Aspen, Steamboat Springs, Carbondale, Boulder, and Avon, for example, are some of the most expensive cities there. Brush, Fort Lupton, Holyoke, Louisville, Johnston, on the contrary, are some of the most affordable.
Make your move eco-friendly
We all know how important it is to keep our environment clean and maintain our planet healthy. Every little thing helps. Although it may seem almost impossible to move your entire household with minimal waste, there are a few things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. From recycling packaging to hiring eco-friendly movers – we have it covered in our “Making your move eco-friendly” guide.
How to ship your car to Colorado?
When moving to Colorado, besides your entire home, you may have to move your car as well. This may seem like another arduous task, but as long as you plan in advance, wisely organize your moving process, and find a reliable and trustworthy auto transport company, you have nothing to worry about. The cost of shipping a vehicle to another state varies from $200 to as much as $2000. The final cost of shipping a car depends on these main factors:
1- The distance and location
2- Vehicle make and model
3- Vehicle condition: operable or non-operable
4- Transport type
5- Supply and demand
Research as much as you can, stay away from scam companies, read online reviews, and request as many quotes as you need before making your final choice. Here is a more detailed guide on how to transport your car across the country.
Why is everyone moving to Colorado?
According to Denver Post, “Colorado added 100,986 people to its population between 2014 and 2015, making it the second-fastest growing state in the U.S., according to recent population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. North Dakota grew the fastest, increasing its population by 2.2 percent in the same time span. Colorado increased 1.9 percent. From 2010 to 2015, Colorado grew by 408,320 people, a 7.5 percent increase and the fourth-fastest growth rate behind North Dakota, Washington D.C. and Texas.”
Let’s explore the reasons why people move to Colorado.
Economic growth
According to the Denver Business Journal, Colorado’s GDP growth is among the highest in the whole nation. According to Gross Domestic Product by State: Second Quarter 2016 statistics recently released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Colorado’s GDP ranks in the fourth position.
“Colorado’s real gross domestic product — the value of the goods and services produced by the state’s economy — increased by 3 percent in the first quarter of 2016 from the previous quarter. […] But while growing, the state’s GDP growth rate is slowing, as projected by Colorado economists. The state finished 2015 with an annual growth rate of 3.6 percent, ” according to Denver Business Journal.
Thriving job market
Even if you are moving to Colorado without the security of a job, there is nothing you should worry about. Not only is Colorado one of the states with the highest GDP growth in the nation, but its job market is also growing fast. In fact, only in June of 2016 Colorado employers added 5000 non-farm payroll jobs to the state’s economy. Whether you are a recent graduate or a seasoned employee, the Centennial State’s job market is looking quite optimistic. Who knows? Maybe in Colorado, you will finally find your dream job.
High average income
High average income, increasing GDP, an abundance of job opportunities, and low average monthly energy costs ($244 per month) convince people not to fear the state’s high cost of living. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in Colorado was $59,448 in 2014, which was higher than the U.S. average of $53,482 during the same year. The state also boasts low property taxes and the lowest sales tax in the country. Colorado’s income tax rate is only 4.63%. Check out the Colorado income tax calculator to get a better idea of what to expect.
Natural Beauty
No list of reasons to move to Colorado would be complete without a mention of its natural wonders. The state is home to four national parks, 44 state parks, and 307 state wildlife areas. There will be no shortage of mountains to climb if you decide to call Colorado your new home. In fact, they even call Colorado “The Switzerland of America”. Whether you prefer easy hikes or extreme mountain sports, there will be no lack of activities to choose from.
Cleanliness
In the last decade, many New Yorkers have chosen Colorado as their new home. One of the reasons is a clean environment. Contrary to New York, which today more often called the “Big Litter” rather than the “Big Apple”, Colorado is an almost litter-free state. Coloradans clean up after themselves because they feel responsible for maintaining a clean, safe, and healthy environment.
Open-mindedness
Interestingly enough, since the State of Colorado legalized marijuana for adults 21 and older in 2012, its crime rates have been decreasing. Not only is pot legal here, but it is affordable too. According to the Global Price Index for Marijuana Price Of Weed, one ounce of high-quality weed in Colorado costs $241.43. But do not think that just because it is legal to buy marijuana in Colorado, you can do so everywhere you’d like. There are certain rules, and restrictions you have to follow, and you cannot smoke weed in every city in Colorado.
What to do and see in Colorado?
Colorado constantly ranks as one of the healthiest places in the US. As one of the states with the least number of obese people, it gives you no excuse to not be healthy.
Colorado Tomato Battle
Founded by Max Kraner and Clint Nelson, the Colorado Tomato Battle is inspired by La Tomatina Festival in Spain and Oktoberfest in Germany. “Two decades ago, Coloradans and Texans exercised their interstate animosity by throwing tomatoes at each other during the Colorado Texas Tomato War in Twin Lakes. Now an epic tomato fight has returned to the state, but with a completely different flavor,” according to the online magazine Westword. Check out these 100 great photos to get an idea. The Colorado Tomato Battle combines fight competition with great food and lots of beer.
Beer and Chipotle
If you’re a beer lover moving to Colorado, you are heading to beer heaven. Over 200 breweries call Colorado home. The state comes third after California and Washington which rank as first and second in a number of breweries. According to the Brewers Association, Colorado is ranked:
- 4th for most breweries per capita
- 5th for most gallons of beer produced per adult 21 and over
- 3rd for most barrels of craft beer produced annually per capita
If this wasn’t enough, know that mouth-watering Chipotle was born in Colorado. Now, I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but wonder how can Coloradans stay fit when with so many breweries and Chipotle outlets around. The temptation must be hard, but you see, they have plenty of ways to shed those calories off.
Skiing/snowboarding
With 28 enormous ski resorts (over 42,000 acres of ski runs), Colorado ranks sixth in the country. Contrary to other ski heavens in the United States, the ski season lasts longer in Colorado. You can go skiing/snowboarding from November until the end of June. Even when summer kicks in, Coloradans have sports like rock climbing, water rafting, and mountain biking to choose from. They never run out of options for outdoor activities. So, I repeat, there is no excuse for you to stay home binge-watching your favorite TV shows when there is so much you can do in the Centennial State.
Attractions
From one of the World’s Greatest Red Rocks Amphitheater to Rocky Mountain National Park, Garden of the Gods, Mount Evans, Colorado National Monument, and Dinosaur National Monument there are endless attractions for you to explore once you move there. For advice from your fellow explorers on what to do and see in Colorado, you can visit TripAdvisor and Planetware.
We hope this guide will help make your move to Colorado less stressful and more organized. And whether you are moving between New York and Colorado, Colorado and Florida, or anywhere else in the US, Corsia Logistics will gladly take on the task of transporting your car wherever it needs to go. For a free, no-obligation estimate fill out our online quote request form or call (818) 850-5258. One of our experienced logistics agents will walk you through the car shipping process, step by step.
Did you recently move or ship your car to Colorado? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below! Thank you!
