Why Louisville, Colorado Is One of the ‘Best Places to Live’

Every year, Money Magazine selects 100 cities nationwide for their “Best Places to Live” annual listing. After being named the fifth city in 2005, Louisville, CO once again made the list, but this year it nearly topped it by taking the number three spot on the list of 100 best cities.

Originally founded in 1882 as a mining town, Louisville has grown into a modern, thriving city and is called “home” by over 19,000 residents. It maintains its historical charm by many of the downtown businesses that have been restored to reflect the original mining community. Located 25 miles from downtown Denver, Louisville is perfectly situated both far enough from the city to enjoy the beauty and relaxation of the countryside, as well as near enough to have a short commute or easy city outings.

Louisville, CO boasts a vast array of activities to accommodate both residents and visitors alike. With over 2,000 restaurants, 23 movie theaters, 54 libraries, 112 golf courses, 13 ski resorts, and 7 museums all in under a half-hour drive, it is bound to take more than a day to explore this charming city. A unique thing about this mid-sized town is that it is very easy to feel part of the community. Not only is everyone connected by the 26-mile wooded bike path that weaves through the town, but every Friday afternoon in the summertime the town gathers for the Louisville Downtown Street Fair, featuring live music and entertainment, craft booths, and delicious treats.

Although demand for homes nationwide has been steadily decreasing during 2007, Louisville has weathered the stormy waters of the current market. Even with more people selling than buying in Louisville, homes average time on the market is a mere 60 to 90 days. The average home price in 2006 was $322,812*, and although current housing costs are up slightly due to growing interest in the area, a wide variety of tastes and prices are available throughout the community. And, a plus for all homeowners is the low cost of property taxes, which in 2006 averaged only $1,986* a year.

This modern mining town even has its own unique blend of positive and negative factors in its economy. In the last two years, the median household income jumped from an average of $79,169 to $94,385, which was met with an increase in home costs, from $295,718 in 2005 to the present average of $322,812*. Much of the economy is based in the technology sector and the area is littered with Technology firms and businesses. Louisville, CO had a city-wide job growth of nearly 7% from 2000 to 2006, while most of the cities on the list of “Best Places to Live” experienced an average job growth of 13%*. Not to worry, however, because this mid-sized town in the Colorado mountains avoids the extreme ups and downs of the job market by maintaining slow and steady growth, making it truly one of the ‘Best Places to Live’.

* CNN Money Best Places To Live - Louisville