Money and taxes
Moving to Colorado: Altitude, Taxes and Homes
Denver sits at 5,280 feet.
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Denver sits at 5,280 feet, below the 8,000-foot line where the CDC places altitude illness (CDC Yellow Book, 2026). Colorado lets taxpayers 65 and older subtract all Social Security income from state taxable income (Colorado Department of Revenue). Front Range medians run from $577K in Fort Collins to $3.8 million in Cherry Hills Village (Redfin, 2026).
Will the altitude bother me?
- Denver is 5,280 feet. Most Front Range cities sit near that.
- The CDC places altitude illness at 8,000 to 10,000 feet (CDC Yellow Book, 2026).
- Ski towns sit above that line. Breckenridge is 9,600 feet (Breckenridge Resort).
- Talk to your doctor before a move to the high country.
How does Colorado tax retirement income?
- Age 65 and older: subtract all Social Security in federal taxable income (Colorado Department of Revenue).
- Age 65 and older: subtract pension and annuity income up to $24,000. Social Security you subtract counts against that $24,000.
- Age 55 to 64: subtract all Social Security if adjusted gross income is $75,000 or less single, $95,000 or less joint (tax year 2025 and later).
- This is not tax advice. Your CPA runs your numbers.
How are property taxes figured?
- The 2026 local-government residential assessment rate is 6.80%, after a 10% reduction on the first $700,000 of value (Colorado Division of Property Taxation).
- The senior exemption needs 10 years in the same Colorado home, so new arrivals do not qualify right away.
What do homes cost on the Front Range?
- Fort Collins: $577K 3-month median through August 2026 (Redfin).
- Boulder: $981K 3-month median through July 2026 (Redfin).
- Castle Pines: $1,010,450 median sale, June 2026 (Redfin).
- Cherry Hills Village: $3.8 million 3-month median, 2026 (Redfin).
How do I house-hunt from out of state?
- Video tours of every home before you fly in.
- A short list and a 2-day trip to see the top five.
- Ask the title company about remote signing for closing.
- Pick the area by drive time to the places you go every week.
What surprises new arrivals?
- Hail. Roof age drives insurance cost.
- Metro districts on the tax bill in newer communities.
- Dry air and strong sun at elevation.
- Radon. Test every home before you close. Colorado sellers disclose known radon (SB23-206).
Quick answers
Questions, answered.
Does Colorado tax Social Security?
Not for taxpayers 65 and older. They subtract all Social Security in federal taxable income (Colorado Department of Revenue).
How high is Denver?
5,280 feet, one mile above sea level.
Do new residents get the Colorado senior property tax exemption?
Not right away. It requires 10 years of owning and living in the same home (Boulder County Assessor, 2026).
Sources
Where the numbers come from.
- CDC Yellow Book 2026, High-Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness
- Breckenridge Resort, Breckenridge elevation
- Colorado Department of Revenue, Social Security, Pensions and Annuities
- Colorado Division of Property Taxation, Residential Local Government Assessment Rate (2026)
- Redfin city housing-market pages (Cherry Hills Village, Castle Pines, Boulder, Fort Collins), 2026
- Boulder County Assessor, Senior Homestead Exemption (2026)
- SB23-206, Disclose Radon Information for Residential Property
Free playbook
The Colorado Luxury Downsizing Playbook.
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Private consultation
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- Off-market homes from the Kenna Real Estate Group's agent network.
- One point of contact from the first showing to the closing table.
Kenna Luxury Real Estate is a division of the Kenna Real Estate Group at Keller Williams DTC (KWDTC).