Kicking off the day with a run on a nature trail and wrapping it up sipping a craft beer is one way to enjoy living in Fort Collins, Colorado. The 58.4 square-mile city was founded as a U.S. Army outpost in 1864. Today, flat downtown streets laid out in a grid pattern attract both pedestrians and cyclists alike. Its median age is 29.9 (2022), with manufacturing and service-related businesses dominating its economy.

Fort Collins has an Old Town historic district. Homes in Italianate, Beaux-Arts, Edwardian Vernacular, Gothic Revival, and Neoclassical styles punctuate the area, although there are also single-family homes, condominiums, and townhomes. The typical home value is $585,128, which is up 15.9% over the past year (Zillow, 2022). Contributing to the city’s appeal are annual events, including music and food festivals, the Colorado Brewers’ Festival, and the Peach Festival.

The north-south I-25 serves Fort Collins on its western outskirts. U.S. Highway 287 runs north-south right in the middle of the city, right by the family-friendly neighborhood of Huntington Hills. Here, homes wrap around Fossil Creek Park. Harmony Crossing is closer to I-25, making it a great neighborhood for commuters to Denver and Boulder. In this area, shopping, dining, and more are all within walking distance.

Fort Collins is likable because of the variety it contains. It has historic charm, offers a great mix of pristine public spaces, and proximity to the Rocky Mountains.