Seven of the cities ranked in Livability's 2016 list of 100 Best Places to Live are in Colorado, led by No. 5 Boulder, which has been among the top 10 since the list started in 2014.
Livability.com, a website that assesses what makes small and medium cities great places to live, ranked more than 2,000 cities with populations between 20,000 and 350,000 based on more than 40 data points.
Boulder gets props for its cultural amenities, including a robust farm-to-table food community. Note: Boulder has dropped from No. 2, that first year, and No. 4 last year.
Fort Collins hit the list at No. 13, cited for access to good jobs and good outdoor amenities, as well as a deep bench of microbreweries, moved up from No. 24 last year. Longmont, new to the list this year, was listed at No. 23, selected in part for its affordability and impressive public art program.
Metro Denver suburb Littleton ranked No. 24, cited for its walkability and robust selection of community events, including Western Welcome Week, which dates to the 1920s. Lakewood, No. 26 on the list, was called out for a deep employment base as well as a growing assortment of shops and restaurants — and the stunning Front Range views. Lakewood was ranked at No. 34 last year.
Read more about the rankings on The Denver Post.