America’s Mile-High Mountain Towns to Call Home

Joe Robison

Last Updated: Dec 20, 2024
8 min read

Small mountain towns are known for big recreation. Nestled in mountains that rise 1,000 or more feet from valley floors, these havens provide a majestic backdrop for skiers, bikers, fishing enthusiasts, climbers, and even cloud gazers to live their best lives.

These cozy towns have seen their popularity skyrocket in recent years as remote work has allowed more Americans the freedom to make their homes off the beaten path. And that’s helped more people discover the cultural perks of alpine climates, from cool mountain water giving rise to microbreweries to wilderness stewardship fostering a culture of sustainability.

But no single mountain lifestyle is for everyone, so we analyzed categories like home values, snowfall, temperatures, and, most importantly, the most coveted mountain towns to move to.

Among 215 US cities with an elevation of over 5,280 feet (one mile), a population of over 1,000, and readily available climate data, we found America’s favorite mountain towns to move to and those best for affordability, white winters, or the warmth of a sunny mountain valley.

Big Takeaways

The most desired mountain town to move to is #1 Golden, CO: 2.57 new residents are looking to move in for every one moving out. #2 is Cedar City, UT (2.04) and #3 is Prescott, AZ (1.75).
Colorado mountain towns are the most popular, with 4 in the top ten for move interest: Golden, Montrose, Boulder, and Evergreen.
A snowy climate is associated with high move interest: the top ten most desired mile-high towns average nearly 70% more annual snowfall than the bottom 10 cities with the least move interest.
Santa Clara, NM, is the most affordable mile-high town, with homes averaging just ~$85K, but with little snowfall. Aspen, CO, is the priciest, with homes averaging ~$3.1M and about 152 inches of snow each year.
Park City, UT, is the snowiest American mountain town, with 340 inches of the white stuff per year, while Pine Mountain Club, CA, gets the least, with just 1.7 inches.
Granby, CO, is the coldest mountain town. Head to Santa Teresa, NM, to soak in the warmth instead.

It’s a Golden Rush for Colorado’s Mile High Mountain Towns

Of the 215 mile-high mountain towns we examined, only 30 had a wealth of relocation data. We found which of these Americans long to move to the most, and the ones they are moving away from.

It’s a Golden Age for #1 Golden, CO, and for the four Colorado towns that help the state dominate the list of the most popular move-to destinations — towns where no one seems eager to leave. Alongside Golden, Montrose, Boulder, and Evergreen are drawing more in-move searches than out.

Golden, a 20,330-person town in the prominent Front Range overlooking Denver, leads the pack. Its in-to-out move rate is 26% higher than #2 Cedar City, UT, the next most popular mountain town.

But it’s not a Colorado runaway. The most popular towns dot the Western U.S., with contenders in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. However, California and Nevada get left off the most popular list entirely. So do Montana, Idaho, and a single contender in South Dakota (Custer).

Overall, towns that are turning heads have significantly higher snowfall than the average of all mountain towns (89 inches average for the top 10 compared to 60 or the rest). Winter temperatures are also lower, and altitude is higher. Ultimately, movers want to land in spots that embody the rugged alpine lifestyle. Defined by crisp, cold winters and generous snowfall, they beacon adventure-seekers and nature lovers alike.

The 10 Mountain Towns Everyone Wants to Move to

Golden, CO — 2.57 in-to-out move ratio
Cedar City, UT — 2.04
Prescott, AZ — 1.75
Park City, UT — 1.74
Montrose, CO — 1.71
Laramie, WY — 1.6
Cheyenne, WY — 1.55
Boulder, CO — 1.5
Santa Fe, NM — 1.44
Evergreen, CO — 1.42

Golden, CO

With more than 20,000 people already living the Golden lifestyle, the city is tempting more potential new moves than any other mountain town in America. New residents here can climb Lookout Mountain to watch the sunrise — and be in the office down in nearby Denver when work starts.

Cedar City, UT

The “Gateway to the National Parks” is garnering more than twice as many searches for moves inbound than those heading out. And with 110 inches of snow annually, it beats out all but Park City, UT, for winter sports enthusiasts looking for more powder.

Prescott, AZ

Snow lovers won’t find a lot to love about Prescott, AZ (with its 7.9 annual inches). But they will find plenty of company in this former mining town in the Bradshaw Mountains. 1.75 new movers look to Prescott for every resident leaving.

Park City, UT

Though its average home price soars above the rest of the most popular destinations, at $1,521,500, so does its snowfall. And with 1.74 newcomers for every exit, the prices aren’t slowing growth yet.

Montrose, CO

It takes nearly 5 hours to get to Colorado Springs from this isolated mountain town on the Western edge of the Rockies, but you can be skiing Telluride or hiking Black Canyon a lot faster. With 1.71 move-ins for every resident leaving town, residents seem to appreciate just where they are.

Laramie, WY

With college-town culture to match its rugged Western vibe, Laramie sees 1.6 new resident searches for every out-move search. It’s also got the lowest average real-estate cost of the most popular move-to cities — an average home here will cost newcomers $355,020, less than the national average.

Cheyenne, WY

Less remote and mountainous than its southwest Wyoming neighbor, Laramie, Cheyenne is the state’s capital. Both are similarly popular, though: Cheyenne sees 1.55 new moves for every move outbound.

Boulder, CO

The largest city of the top 10 most popular destinations, Boulder has long felt like a retreat from Denver, even as its grown to a mid-size city itself. Today, 1.5 newcomers are still looking to move in for every exit.

Santa Fe, NM

At the foot of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, New Mexico’s capital gets interest from 1.44 new movers for every resident looking to leave. With over 80,000 residents, this large mountain town boasts more urban amenities than other choices.

Evergreen, CO

Knocking on Denver’s southeast edge, Evergreen and its 8000 residents are connected to the city. However, with 1.42 newcomers looking to move in for every one that leaves, most agree it’s better to keep 30 miles, and about 2,000 feet of altitude, between them and Colorado’s capital.

Aspen, CO, Breaks the Bank, While Santa Clara, NM, is Most Affordable

In the least affordable mile-high mountain town, your average real estate spend will top its most affordable counterparts by nearly 1500%.

With average real estate prices averaging $2,169,730, the most expensive cities offer considerably less home for the money. The trade-off? They come with considerably more snow (~105 inches in the most expensive towns compared to ~26 in the least).

It’s all about skiing in these snowy, luxury mile-high towns. From Aspen, CO, to Vail, CO, Mountain Village, CO, (outside Telluride), and Jackson, WY, (Wilson, WY is nearby), internationally known snow is undeniably tied to high price tags.

Looking to get the best mountain experience with less cash? Head to New Mexico. With 7 of the 10 spots on the affordability list, the Land of Enchantment offers more real estate deals than other states. Homes in the 10 most affordable mountain towns average just $135,746 (62% less than the national average).

Take Santa Clara, NM, and nearby Bayard, NM, the two most affordable mountain towns in the country, with home values of $84,638 and $99,907, respectively.

Once hubs for Fort Bayard soldiers and miners seeking their fortunes in gold, today both cities today are losing population. There’s no skiing nearby for the snow-minded, with Santa Clara amassing just under 2 inches of snow yearly. To make up for it, newcomers can hike or horseback ride up into the cool shade of the expansive Gila National Forest, taking in views of their new mountain town.

Snowiest Park City, UT, Out-Snows Least-Snowy Pine Mountain Club, CA

With almost 340 inches of snow per year (over 28 feet), Park City, UT, won’t disappoint newcomers seeking a black diamond run or a sleigh ride. In fact, the town best known for combining skiing with cinema gets 69% more snow than 2nd-place West Yellowstone, MT.

Overall, the snowiest mountain towns in America are small, boasting populations under 13,000, well under the average for all mountain towns we analyzed. They’re also higher up the hill, averaging 7848 feet in elevation. So, if getting snowed in is your idea of winter charm, head for these lofty mountain towns.

With an average elevation of 5897 feet, these low-slung, southern mountain towns of California, Arizona, and New Mexico aren’t ski destinations. They average a paltry 3.34 inches of snow per year.

But that’s not all mountains are good for. Head out of Los Angeles to Pine Mountain Club, CA, in the Los Padres National Forest. You’ll only find 1.7 inches of annual snowfall, but you’ll be able to hike to a waterfall, traverse a canyon, and spot California condors. In the process, you might find a least-snowy mountain town like this one is right up your trail.

Crested Butte, CO, Shivers While Santa Teresa, NM, is Warmest

With the lowest average winter daily low temperatures, these ten mountain towns will sting your toes and bite your nose: in Crested Butte, CO, the nightly average is under 15 degrees Fahrenheit. And with a daily high just over freezing, it doesn’t get much warmer as the day progresses.

Nestled almost 9,000 feet high in the Slate River Valley, Crested Butte sees the sun sink behind its snowcapped peaks early in the evening, and is often clouded over with storms bringing its higher-than-normal snowfall, too (96.7 inches per year).

On the other hand, southern towns at lower altitudes get more sunlight and experience fewer weather fronts than mountain towns further north. So those looking for mountain biking and hiking, but not necessarily skiing and snowstorms, might opt for these warmer mountain towns.

With the highest daily winter highs, these ten mountain towns let residents bask in the sun, even in the middle of the winter. In Santa Teresa, NM, an average winter high temperature of 62 degrees keeps residents toasty. Even in Ruidoso Downs, NM, daytime highs reach an average of almost 53 degrees — that’s 20 degrees more than in Granby, CO.

There’s a Mile High Mountain Town for Everyone

In mile high mountain towns, there’s a significant correlation between snow and cold. Want one? You’ll likely have to tolerate the other. And most Americans who are looking to move to mountain towns today are ready to make that trade-off, favoring higher altitude, colder, snowier towns to call home.

However, there is still plenty of diversity in America’s mountain towns.

Don’t want to venture too far out of L.A.? You can still find a unique mountain town lifestyle in Pine Mountain Club, CA. Interested in warming up on your patio garden in the middle of winter? Head to toasty Santa Teresa, NM. And if you’re looking for a ski-town lifestyle without the highest ski-town price tags, there’s also a mountain town out there for you, like Park City, UT.

Whether you’re chasing endless powder days or just craving a peaceful retreat with mountain views, the diversity in U.S. mile-high towns suggests that one size does not have to fit all. Find the right altitude, climate, and community, and settle into a place that feels like home. No matter what you decide, the best mountain town is the one that’s right for you.

Methodology

We started by amassing a list of towns in the U.S. with populations over 1,000 with altitudes at least a mile high (5,280 feet) (GeoNames Forum).

Of those mile-high towns, we narrowed the list to 215 cities, including only those that have sufficient data available on snowfall, temperature, and average real estate prices (BestPlaces data, Zillow’s Home Value Index).

Just 30 of these small towns had meaningful relocation data available, data collected from queries made in moveBuddha’s Moving Cost Calculator. This data highlighted which of the mile-high mountain towns Americans are looking to move into and out of the most.