Colorado Springs ranks No. 1 most desirable place to live in the country: U.S. News & World Report

This just in – Colorado Springs ranks #1 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the nation’s Most Desirable Place to Live. The ranking is compiled based on a survey of people across the country to determine where, out of the 125 most populous metro areas in the nation, residents would live if given the choice. This ranking is a subset of U.S. News’ Best Places to Live study, in which Colorado Springs currently ranks second.

After coming in at #2 on the Most Desirable Places to Live list for the past two years in a row, Colorado Springs has unseated Honolulu this year to take the top spot.

The background accompanying the ranking shows off Colorado Springs’ outstanding quality of life, citing a low cost of living, a low unemployment rate and of course, access to the Rocky Mountains and hiking close to home in stunning landscapes like Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak. The story also notes Colorado Springs’ high-quality schools, parks, and cultural attractions, and its proximity to Denver for big city amenities.

Evidence of Colorado Springs’ rapid growth serve as further proof points of the city’s desirability: the story notes that construction in the city is booming, with new residences and commercial projects being built all over town. Just last week, two new major stadium projects were announced, for the Colorado College hockey team and the Colorado Springs minor league soccer team, the Switchbacks. Both stadiums will be built in downtown Colorado Springs in the same area where the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum is currently being constructed. The city expects to see a major influx of visitors and further development surrounding this sports hub that’s growing in Southwest downtown.

Last but not least, U.S. News features Colorado Springs’ strong job market and highly-educated, talented workforce — with a nod to the military as a key driver of innovation in industries like aerospace, defense, cybersecurity, and technology, as well as the presence of major companies like Lockheed Martin and Progressive Insurance.

For more information about Colorado Springs’ Best Places to Live rankings from earlier this year, visit our previous blog here.