Moving to or from Colorado?
The Rocky Mountains define the state, but Denver's Mile High energy, Boulder's college-town charm, and the I-70 ski corridor are what actually bring people here.
- #21 Population rank
- 5,900,000 Residents
- Denver Largest city
Why people move to Colorado.
- The Rocky Mountains — 58 peaks above 14,000 feet (the '14ers'), more than any other state
- Denver — the 'Mile High City,' sitting at exactly 5,280 feet above sea level
- World-class ski resorts — Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, Telluride, Steamboat, Keystone
- Legalized recreational cannabis (2014) — a genuine economic and cultural factor
- 300+ sunny days per year — one of the sunniest states in the country
- Outdoor-recreation culture: hiking, skiing, climbing, craft beer, and trail running define daily life
Where people spend their time.
- Rocky Mountain National Park Estes Park
- Mesa Verde National Park Southwest CO
- Pikes Peak Colorado Springs
- Garden of the Gods Colorado Springs
- Great Sand Dunes National Park San Luis Valley
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison
- Maroon Bells Aspen
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison Western CO
Biggest cities in Colorado.
Where most of Colorado's moves originate and terminate.
-
Denver Pop. 715,000
Capital and largest city; Mile High City; tech, aerospace, and energy
Explore Denver guide -
Colorado Springs Pop. 490,000
Pikes Peak-adjacent; home to five military installations
Explore Colorado Springs guide -
Aurora Pop. 400,000
Denver's largest eastern suburb; Buckley Space Force Base
Explore Aurora guide -
Fort Collins Pop. 170,000
Colorado State University; northern Front Range craft-beer hub
Explore Fort Collins guide -
Lakewood Pop. 155,000
West-Denver suburb; foothills-adjacent family city
Explore Lakewood guide -
Thornton Pop. 145,000
North Denver suburb; fast-growing planned communities
Explore Thornton guide -
Arvada Pop. 125,000
Northwest Denver suburb; historic downtown and new construction
Explore Arvada guide -
Westminster Pop. 120,000
Between Denver and Boulder; US-36 corridor
Explore Westminster guide
Where Colorado movers come from and go to.
Most common moves to Colorado from:
Most common moves out of Colorado to:
Detailed guides for Colorado city moves.
Each guide includes vetted movers, neighborhoods, climate, drive time, and what to expect on arrival.
Moving from a Colorado city:
From Denver:
- to Los Angeles, CA
- to Austin, TX
- to New York City, NY
- to Miami, FL
- to Chicago, IL
- to Phoenix, AZ
- to Charlotte, NC
- to Atlanta, GA
- to Dallas, TX
- to Houston, TX
- to Boston, MA
- to Seattle, WA
- to Nashville, TN
- to Orlando, FL
- to Tampa, FL
- to San Francisco, CA
- to Portland, OR
- to Las Vegas, NV
- to San Diego, CA
- to Salt Lake City, UT
- to Minneapolis, MN
- to Raleigh, NC
- to San Antonio, TX
- to Indianapolis, IN
- to Philadelphia, PA
- to Washington, DC
- to Detroit, MI
- to Jacksonville, FL
- to Sacramento, CA
- to Columbus, OH
- to Pittsburgh, PA
- to New Orleans, LA
- to Memphis, TN
- to Louisville, KY
- to Cleveland, OH
- to Kansas City, MO
- to Cincinnati, OH
- to St. Louis, MO
- to Milwaukee, WI
- to Buffalo, NY
- to Albuquerque, NM
Moving to a Colorado city:
To Denver:
- from Los Angeles, CA
- from Austin, TX
- from New York City, NY
- from Miami, FL
- from Chicago, IL
- from Phoenix, AZ
- from Charlotte, NC
- from Atlanta, GA
- from Dallas, TX
- from Houston, TX
- from Boston, MA
- from Seattle, WA
- from Nashville, TN
- from Orlando, FL
- from Tampa, FL
- from San Francisco, CA
- from Portland, OR
- from Las Vegas, NV
- from San Diego, CA
- from Salt Lake City, UT
- from Minneapolis, MN
- from Raleigh, NC
- from San Antonio, TX
- from Indianapolis, IN
- from Philadelphia, PA
- from Washington, DC
- from Detroit, MI
- from Jacksonville, FL
- from Sacramento, CA
- from Columbus, OH
- from Pittsburgh, PA
- from New Orleans, LA
- from Memphis, TN
- from Louisville, KY
- from Cleveland, OH
- from Kansas City, MO
- from Cincinnati, OH
- from St. Louis, MO
- from Milwaukee, WI
- from Buffalo, NY
- from Albuquerque, NM
Planning a Colorado move.
Semi-arid high desert on the plains (Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins) — low humidity, abundant sunshine, 300+ sunny days per year, modest snow in winter. Alpine in the mountains — heavy snow November through April, cool summers, short seasons. Climate varies dramatically by elevation over short distances.
- Denver sits at 5,280 feet. If you're moving from sea level, altitude sickness is real and can hit hard on move day — headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath. Budget extra time and hydration; heavy lifting at altitude is harder than many movers-in-from-sea-level realize.
- The I-70 mountain corridor (Denver to the ski resorts) closes regularly in winter storms, avalanche control, and heavy tourist traffic. Moves to Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, or Summit County can face multi-hour delays or full closures. Build a 2-day buffer in winter.
- Dry air affects wood furniture — solid-wood pieces can crack as they dry out in Colorado's low humidity. Climate-controlled transit and a gradual acclimation period at your destination help prevent damage.
- Ski-resort towns have seasonal labor markets. Moves to Aspen, Vail, Telluride, or Breckenridge during peak ski season (mid-December through March) face tight mover supply and 20–40% pricing premiums.
Intrastate household-goods movers in Colorado must be licensed by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and carry a valid Household Goods Mover Permit. Verify any CO mover's license at the Colorado PUC public lookup before signing. Interstate movers also need a USDOT number from the FMCSA.
Moving in Colorado: FAQ.
How much does it cost to move within Colorado?
Denver metro local moves run $1,000–$3,200 for a 1–2 bedroom and $3,200–$7,500 for a 3–4 bedroom. Colorado Springs and Fort Collins are 10–15% cheaper. Ski-resort moves (Denver to Vail, Denver to Aspen) run $2,800–$8,500 for a 2-bedroom with mountain-road premiums during ski season.
Will altitude affect my move to Denver?
Yes, often. Denver sits at exactly 5,280 feet. People arriving from sea level commonly feel headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath for the first 24–72 hours. Heavy lifting is measurably harder at altitude — budget extra break time if you're helping, and drink more water than you think you need. After a week or two, you'll acclimate.
Do Colorado movers need a state license?
Yes. Household-goods movers operating within Colorado must be licensed by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC). You can verify any CO mover's license at the Colorado PUC public lookup. Unlicensed movers are most common in the Denver and Colorado Springs markets — always verify.
Should I live in Denver, Boulder, or Colorado Springs?
Denver: biggest job market (tech, aerospace, healthcare), most diverse, most urban, most expensive. Boulder: smaller, university-centered (CU), highest cost per square foot in the state, strong outdoor culture. Colorado Springs: military, aerospace, family-oriented, cheaper than Denver or Boulder, more conservative politically. Front Range foothills access all three.
When's the best time to move to Colorado?
May, September, and October. Summer (June–August) is peak pricing; winter (December–March) risks I-70 closures and mountain-pass delays. Mid-to-late fall is ideal — beautiful weather, mild temperatures, and off-peak pricing.
Let's find the right mover for your move.
Free advice from people who know the Colorado market. No obligation, no spam, no sales pressure.
Replies within 1 hour during business hours, 9am to 5pm ET, Mon-Fri.