Unlikely Colorado Town Ranked as One of the US’ Best Hidden Gems

Colorado is full of some incredible towns that are great to live in and explore, and many of them are located in the mountains. 

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For example, Colorado has 9 of the Top 50 best mountain towns in the entire country. 

On the other hand, the larger cities in Colorado are also well regarded as some of the best places to live in the country.

A recent ranking placed Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, and Boulder as three of the Top 50. They place 23rd, 9th, and 4th respectively.

However, a new ranking by Money looked to find the best places to live in 2024.

Some may expect one of the usual suspects listed above to be on the list. 

However, an unlikely Western Slope town made it on the list, and for good reason.

Fruita, Colorado is Named One of the 50 Best Places to Live in 2024

In a comprehensive overview of the town, Money picked Fruita not only as the best place to live in Colorado, but one of the best in the entire country.

Money looked at a couple of different factors when picking cities, including their economies, diversity, and quality of life. 

Money cites Fruita, who has a population of 13,760, as having a lot of these characteristics.

For one, the median house price is at $467,100, which is well below Colorado’s average of $549,126. In fact, that’s lower than the national average at $495,100.

Unemployment also sits at a fantastic 2.8%. 

What Makes Fruita, Colorado So Special?

Obviously, Money didn’t put Fruita on the list just because of some underlying numbers. Located in Mesa County and near Grand Junction, it’s an incredibly underrated spot. 

They note that it’s a great place if you’re an outdoorsy person. It’s right near Colorado National Monument, which is an unbelievably nice and underrated park. In fact, the place is surrounded by amazing trails.

You’re also going to find some great activities along the Colorado River, like fishing, paddleboarding, and tubing. However, for the adrenaline junkies, there’s some seriously crazy mountain biking trails. 

They also note the town’s fantastic community, which has the Orbit Art Space along with the Fruita Community Center.

Overall, Fruita is a fantastic town that deserves way more love and attention than it’s currently getting.