Moving to Colorado? GJ Ranked #1 in Survey

Moving to Colorado?

I just love it when the media reconfirms our decision about moving to Colorado. We looked at several small towns in Colorado and Arizona, but just kept coming back to Grand Junction, CO. We discovered the Grand Valley when our daughter wanted to do a college visit to Colorado Mesa University in 2017.

I’ve seen Grand Junction in the media since our initial discovery. It has been making more and more “top lists” and “best of lists”. Below is a link to a USA Today Homefront article titled “Moving to Colorado?” that lists the 5 best cities, according to their 2024 survey. And low and behold, Grand Junction is #1 for best cities to move to in Colorado! Beating out #5 Longmont, #4 Ft. Collins, #3 Littleton and #2 Loveland. Now their criteria were cities with a population of 40,000 or more, so Palisade and Fruita didn’t qualify for this comparison.

(Click photo to enlarge)

The Research

The research team at Homefront ranked 22 cities in Colorado across 16 different quality-of-life metrics. They considered livability factors like activities, walkability and quality of schools. They looked at life expectancy, health care and safety (crime and severe weather). And economic variables like housing affordability and unemployment rates.

They cited that more than 260,000 people moved to Colorado in 2022. And their research shows that Colorado ranked as more affordable than Texas, Florida and California. I can understand California but was surprised about Texas and Florida.

What they say about Grand Junction

Here’s how they start the description of the best city in Colorado: “Grand Junction might just be Colorado’s best-kept secret. This city has incredibly diverse landscapes — mountains, rivers, canyons, deserts and forests — as well as affordable housing.” They went on to say:

“Grand Junction is the second-most affordable place for prospective home buyers and the third-most affordable for renters. Additionally, homeowners here enjoy the lowest annual homeowner’s insurance premium, likely thanks to the area’s tame weather.” Ahh, ok, that’s probably why we rank better than Florida. Their homeowner’s insurance rates keep climbing due to natural disasters. No hurricanes or tropical storms here, thank you!

“While Grand Junction has the second-lowest median income in our study, its lower cost of living balances the scale. It has the third-lowest percentage of rent-burdened residents and typical home values are six times the median income, which places Grand Junction above average compared with other Colorado cities we ranked.”

Yes, I’ve noticed the lower cost of living for sure. Colorado mountain towns are ultra expensive. Nice to visit, but hard to buy a home and work there.

My Real Estate Broker, Christi Reece, owner of The Christi Reece Group, is even quoted in the article saying “Our location — midway between Denver and Salt Lake City and surrounded by endless outdoor recreation opportunities — makes us an ideal place to live, work and play.”

Way to go Grand Junction for being one of the best cities in Colorado! You can read the full article about Grand Junction as well as the other cities in the top 5. Here’s the link to the full article: Moving to Colorado? Here are the 5 best cities, according to our 2024 study

Moving to Colorado!

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PAUL ASPELIN, Realtor®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
The Christi Reece Group

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by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

Grand Junction, More to Know, Relocating to Grand Junction

The Christi Reece Group’s Little Free Library

The Christi Reece Group’s Little Free Library in Grand Junction

The Christi Reece Group has taken a leap toward promoting literacy and community engagement. Introducing The Christi Reece Group’s Little Free Library right in front of our Grand Junction office! Take a book. Share a book. This exciting initiative stems from a passion for supporting local and a commitment to making a positive impact on the Grand Valley community.

We are located in the Las Colonias Park area near the Butterfly Pond, overlooking the zipline that crosses the Colorado River. A great place for a Little Free Library because it’s where people gather. Look for it by our parking area near the pond.

My wife, Michelle, and I have a connection with local libraries that started with our real estate brokerage in Minnesota. We established a strong relationship with local libraries and their respective friends’ groups. Michelle served on the Board of the Carver County Library Foundation and used her skills to volunteer to make a website for each Friends Group in Carver County, Minnesota.

Inspired by our library experiences, I knew we had to continue our partnership mentality with the Mesa County Libraries Foundation.

Little Free Library at The Christi Reece Group

I approached Christi and the team with the idea of partnering with the Mesa County Libraries foundation and requested we install a Little Free Library at our office. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and thus, our Little Free Library found its new home in front of The Christi Reece Group office in Grand Junction. A new partnership was formed. Read my post about Mesa County Libraries and be sure to get your Library Card!

As real estate professionals, we understand the significance of helping individuals with their housing needs. That often involves packing up, decluttering, and donating items. We wanted to become a book drop-off site, encouraging residents in the Grand Valley to donate their books during the process of selling their homes. The entire team at The Christi Reece Group is dedicated to being the go-to resource for anyone looking to contribute to the community through book donations. I had one past client donate a collection of over 1,000 books to our local library. The Friends group was so thankful!

We’ve made the book donation process convenient for you. You can drop off your books at The Christi Reece Group office in Grand Junction during regular business hours. Or, we can arrange to pick up the books from your location. This ensures that our Little Free Library remains stocked and ready for readers to explore new literary adventures.

What sets this initiative apart is the commitment to recycling and promoting sustainability. Recognizing that many home sellers may overlook the value of donating books, The Christi Reece Group ensures that these books don’t end up in landfills. We will donate any extra books we get to the Friends of Mesa County Libraries. This helps support their weekend book sales that, in turn, generate funds to support local library cultural programming and equipment. It’s truly a win-win for everyone involved!

For those who choose to contribute, The Christi Reece Group goes the extra mile by providing a tax donation receipt from the Mesa County Libraries Foundation. This not only acknowledges the value of the donation but also provides a tangible benefit for those looking to support charitable causes.

Over the course of my real estate career, I’ve witnessed the impact of a library partnership, emphasizing the importance of encouraging individuals to donate books. This not only preserves literary treasures but also aligns with The Christi Reece Group’s commitment to making a positive difference in the community.

Whether you have a handful of books or an extensive library, we welcome your contribution. (Please NO encyclopedias, textbooks or magazines.) Residents are encouraged to fill our CRG Little Free Library with their favorite reads while discovering new gems to take home and enjoy. “Take a Book. Share a Book.”

If you’re already living in Grand Junction or planning a visit, make sure to swing by The Christi Reece Group’s Little Free Library to find your next adventure. Find us on the Little Free Library app!

Stay updated on book drives, donation information, and community events by following The Christi Reece Group on Facebook. For those looking to arrange a book pick-up, reach out to Paul Aspelin directly at 612-306-9558 or contact the front desk at 970-589-7700.

I couldn’t be prouder to initiate The Christi Reece Group’s Little Free Library in Grand Junction to help foster community engagement, literacy promotion, and sustainability. By joining forces with the Mesa County Libraries Foundation, we have created a platform for residents to contribute to a more vibrant and connected community, one book at a time. Read my post about why I chose The Christi Reece Group.