In order to qualify for a Colorado Driver’s License the first requirement is Colorado Residency. Under Colorado Law, DMV may only grant driver’s licenses to residents of the state. By Statute there are multiple ways to become a resident. As a first step we will help you correctly establish Colorado residency once you decide to go ahead with the licensing process.
While establishing residency seems simple, setting up a home in a new state is challenging! Here is a quick rundown of Colorado’s Five Regions and some tips on good places to settle in the State. First, Colorado is BIG, it occupies slightly over 104,000 square miles and is the 8th largest US state. Where is the best place to set up you new home? You’re probably familiar with Denver, however, its recent popularity has caused the city to become one of the most expensive locations in America in which to live. For this reason I suggest that you consider some of the less well known areas of the Colorado in which to reside.
The vast majority of population in Colorado, abut 84%, resides in the Front Range Urban Corridor. This ares stretches from Fort Collins in the North to Pueblo in the South. As expected politics and the economy are dominated by the larger cities. Despite this dominance you can find just about any life style you might want in Colorado. In Fact, Colorado is described as having five distinct geographic areas: Metro Denver, the Front Range (the urban corridor along the eastern rockies), the Eastern Plains, the Western Slope (west of the Continental Divide) and Southern Colorado.
There Are At Least Five Unique Regions Within Colorado’s Borders, Offering Something for Everyone
Colorado Population Statistics
As I am writing this in mid 2026, Colorado’s population stands at about 6 million. According to the Census, Colorado is about 65.4% White, 23.5% Hispanic, 5.O% Black, 4.1% Asian and 1.7% American Indian or Alsskan Native American. The per capita income in 2024 was $52, 636. The median owner occupied home value for the same period was $539,400.
Where Are The Most Affordable Areas of Colorado
The state-wide median one bedroom apartment rental is approximately $1523.00 per month. This figure is skewed by the Colorado “Front Range” where the bulk of Colorado’s population lives. The Denver median rental rate is about $2300.00 per month. In Boulder, Colorado , where the main campus of the University of Colorado is located, the median rental rate is over $2400.00 per month! In the Eastern and Western part of the State, however, you can find decent one bedroom rentals in the $600.00 to $700.00 dollar a month range. Similar parts of Southern Colorado are substantially cheaper than the front range cities.
Without a doubt, if you are on a budget, the most affordable areas of the State are those removed from the Front Range “I-25 corridor”. The exception may be Pueblo in South Central Colorado. Pueblo, once a titan of the American Steel industry is perhaps the most affordable of Colorado’s “big cities.”
If you have a hankering for a semi-rural lifestyle with a Western Flavor you might consider Grand Junction in the Far Western part of the State near the Utah Border. Alternately, Weld County Colorado, only about one hour north east of Denver is still surprisingly affordable.
An affordable and more leisurely lifestyle is available in the small South Central Colorado Cities of Canon City (Pronounced Canyon City), Alamosa and Trinidad.
The South Eastern Cities of Lamar and La Junta are similarly affordable with great opportunities for warm water fishermen and horse people. For those interested in easy access to Eastern Wyoming, the Dakotas and Nebraska Sterling Colorado is a reasonable choice. The small towns of Craig, Meeker and Rifle will appeal to those seeking the solitude and beauty that is rapidly fading in the twenty first century.