$877,682: What It Takes to Retire at 65 in Colorado

KENNA NEWS DESK · RETIREMENT · NOVEMBER 15, 2026

By The Kenna Group News Desk at Keller Williams DTC.

How much do you need to retire in Colorado? $877,682 for a single person who retires at 65, according to an Investopedia analysis published October 1, 2026. Retire at 62 and the Colorado number climbs to $1,185,618. Retire at 60 and it reaches $1,304,607. Your house is a lever you control: today we count 424 homes for sale in Colorado 55+ communities at an average asking price of $365,938, against $734,053 for all Colorado homes. If you are searching for 55+ communities near me in the Denver metro, the homes below update every day. Here is the Colorado retirement math, how it compares with Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, and what a downsizing move does to it.

Call or text 303-955-4220. A live person answers. Not a robot, not a phone tree.

How much do you need to retire in Colorado?

$877,682 at 65, for one person. Investopedia builds a "comfortable" retirement budget from what the average retired household spends, including dining out, travel and entertainment. It adjusts that budget for each state, subtracts the average Social Security check and applies a 4% withdrawal rate at 65. Colorado's target lands below the U.S. average of $897,798 and ranks 12th highest among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., in Investopedia's table. The two ends of the table are North Dakota at about $644,000 and New Jersey at about $1.02 million. The model leaves out state income tax, long-term care and part-time income, so treat it as a benchmark, not your personal number.

How does Colorado compare with Utah, Arizona and New Mexico?

Figures from Investopedia's state table, published October 1, 2026. U.S. average at 62 and 60 adds Investopedia's national cost components to its $897,798 base.

Nest egg to retire at 65, single retiree

Moving out of state to save money is a smaller win than retiring later. Investopedia's own example: retiring five years early in North Dakota adds about $393,000, more than the gap between North Dakota and New Jersey at 65. If Colorado is home, the bigger savings come from the house you live in. See Denver-area 55+ and age-restricted communities.

Why does retiring before 65 cost so much more?

Three costs stack up: a smaller Social Security check for life, more years to fund and health coverage before Medicare. In Colorado, retiring at 62 adds $307,936 to the target and retiring at 60 adds $426,926. Investopedia puts the average unsubsidized benchmark health premium for a 60-year-old at nearly $16,000 a year, and a single person with 2026 income above $62,600 gets no ACA premium subsidy. Withdrawals from retirement accounts count toward that income, so the year you sell a house and the year you draw from a 401(k) both matter to your plan.

Where does a Colorado retirement budget go further?

In the 55+ communities of Arapahoe, Denver, Adams and El Paso counties, where average asking prices sit under $410,000 today. Many of those homes are condos and townhomes with an HOA that covers the exterior. Douglas and Broomfield counties carry more detached homes and higher prices. Here is today's count of homes for sale in age-restricted 55+ communities:

Source: our MLS search, active listings in age-restricted communities, Nov. 15, 2026. Counts change daily.

See every community on the Colorado 55+ communities map, browse them county by county on Colorado 55+ communities by area, or start with retirement communities in Colorado by city. Two of the metro's larger 55+ communities have their own guides: Heather Gardens in Aurora and Anthem Ranch in Broomfield. West side buyers can check which Lakewood 55+ communities are age-restricted and our Littleton 55+ and patio homes guide.

What does downsizing do to the math?

Your equity can cover part of the gap. Example: sell a home at today's Colorado average asking price of $734,053 and buy at the 55+ average of $365,938, and $368,115 is freed up before selling costs, moving costs and taxes. That is 42% of Colorado's $877,682 target at 65. Your numbers depend on your sale price, your loan balance and what you buy.

• Single-level living: 11 55+ patio homes are for sale in Colorado today at an average of $466,632. See 55+ patio homes for sale in Colorado.
• Brand-new: 28 new-construction homes in 55+ communities average $804,385. See new construction 55+ communities in Colorado.
• Monthly costs: HOA dues, age rules and what the dues cover differ by community. Read 55+ community rules and costs in Colorado and get the free Colorado 55+ community comparison guide.
• Property tax: Colorado's senior homestead exemption cuts the tax bill for owners who qualify. Read our Colorado senior property tax exemption guide.
• The plan: map the sale, the move and the timing with the Colorado downsizing planner and our Denver metro downsizing guide.

What to do this month

1. Get your own number. Investopedia's figure is a benchmark for one person. A licensed financial advisor sets yours from your spending, health coverage and Social Security timing.
2. Know what your house is worth. Get a free home value report built on recent Colorado sales.
3. Price the move. Compare the 55+ homes above against your budget with the Colorado mortgage calculator if you plan to finance part of the purchase.
4. Pick an agent who does senior moves. See how we work on Realtor help for seniors and 55+ buyers and sellers in Colorado.

Disclosure: general information about how much you need to retire in Colorado, retirement savings by state, 55+ communities, age-restricted homes, patio homes, downsizing and the Colorado senior property tax exemption for buyers and sellers in Denver, Arapahoe County, Adams County, Douglas County, Jefferson County, Broomfield and Colorado Springs. This is not financial, investment, tax or legal advice; The Kenna Group is not a licensed financial advisor. Retirement figures are from Investopedia's analysis published October 1, 2026, for a single retiree; your number depends on household size, spending, health coverage, part-time income and when you claim Social Security. Listing counts are from our MLS search on Nov. 15, 2026 and change daily. The Kenna Group at Keller Williams DTC, Keller Williams Realty DTC, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Where to go next

• Retirement communities in Colorado: 55+ homes by city
• Colorado 55+ communities by area
• Colorado 55+ communities map
• 55+ patio homes for sale in Colorado
• New construction 55+ communities in Colorado
• 55+ community rules and costs
• The Colorado 55+ community comparison guide
• Realtor help for seniors and 55+ moves
• Colorado downsizing planner
• Colorado senior property tax exemption
• Downsizing in Colorado: home types, costs and tax breaks
• The Kenna News Desk: Colorado real estate news
• Meet the agents of The Kenna Group at Keller Williams DTC

Planning a 55+ move? Talk to us

Call or text 303-955-4220. A live person answers. Not a robot, not a phone tree.