Moving from Los Angeles to Denver: The Complete Playbook
Last Updated: March 2026 | By Nick Ahrens, North Denver Report
Los Angeles is the most-searched city in the country for people looking to leave, and Denver consistently ranks as one of the top destinations for where they actually go. I help families make this exact move every week. Here's the complete playbook on what it costs, what changes, and what nobody tells you before you get here.
The LA to Denver Numbers at a Glance
The median home price in Los Angeles hit $975,000 in February 2026 (Source: Redfin). The Denver metro median is $625,000 (Source: DMAR, January 2026). In Broomfield, the North Denver suburb where I specialize: it's $647,000 (Source: Zillow, early 2026). That gap alone is enough to change your financial life, but it's only part of the story.
California's top income tax rate is 13.3%, the highest in the country. Colorado's is 4.4% flat, no brackets. Property taxes in Broomfield run far lower than LA County. And Denver's cost of living index sits roughly 10-12% above the national average, while Los Angeles sits well above that across nearly every category. The families I work with who move from LA to Broomfield typically free up $3,000 to $6,000 per month in combined housing and tax savings, money that was previously going to the state and to their mortgage.
Cost of Living: Los Angeles vs. Denver
Sources: Redfin (Feb 2026), DMAR (Jan 2026), Zillow (early 2026), Coastal Moving Services affordability data (2026), Denver Living Homes relocation guide (2026). Rental data: Yardi Matrix / RentCafe.
What Happens to Your Income Tax
This is the number most LA transplants don't calculate until after they've moved, and then they can't believe they waited so long. California taxes income at graduated rates up to 13.3%. Colorado taxes all income at a flat 4.4%.
For a household earning $250,000 per year, the California state income tax bill runs roughly $19,000–$22,000 depending on deductions. The same income in Colorado: approximately $11,000. That's a $8,000–$11,000 annual difference, without changing your salary by a dollar. At $400,000 in household income, the gap exceeds $35,000 per year.
Remote workers are the obvious beneficiaries here. If you're earning a LA-level salary while living in Colorado, you're essentially getting a significant pay raise the day you change your address.
Housing: What Your Money Actually Buys
In LA, $975,000 is the median: meaning half the homes in the city sell for more than that. In Broomfield, that same budget puts you firmly in Anthem, Broomfield's most established master-planned community, with mountain views out the back window and a 22-acre community park two blocks away.
Here's how the three main Broomfield communities break down:
Anthem - Median ~$1,027,238 (late 2025). The highest-end community in Broomfield. Luxury finishes, larger lots, resort-style pool complex, and the most established HOA of the three. Most of my LA clients with significant California equity end up here.
Anthem Highlands - Average ~$615,000. Sits at higher elevation than Anthem, with arguably the best mountain views of the three communities. Price points are more accessible with similar amenities. A strong value play for families who want the Broomfield lifestyle without stretching to Anthem-level prices.
Baseline - Median ~$566,000. The newest of the three, still being built out. More urban feel with a planned town center and strong walkability for a Colorado suburb. The lowest entry point in the Broomfield master-planned community market.
For a full breakdown of all three, read Anthem vs. Anthem Highlands vs. Baseline: The Definitive Comparison.
One thing LA buyers consistently miss: Colorado has both HOA fees AND metro district taxes. These are separate charges, and both apply in Broomfield's master-planned communities. Anthem's HOA runs approximately $250/month, and metro district taxes add roughly $1,200–$2,400/year on top of standard property taxes. For the full breakdown, read Metro District Taxes in Broomfield Explained
The Commute: A Very Different Conversation
Los Angeles traffic is a defining feature of daily life there. Denver traffic exists, but it's not the same animal. The Denver metro has real congestion on I-25 and I-70 during peak hours, but most Broomfield residents report 20-40 minute commutes to Denver or Boulder under normal conditions.
For remote workers, the commute question is mostly moot. Broomfield has one of the highest remote work concentrations in the metro: 54.8% of Anthem residents work from home. The practical question becomes internet reliability (fiber is available throughout Broomfield) and having a dedicated home office in your new, larger home, which you can actually afford here.
If you do commute to Denver or Boulder: US-36 connects Broomfield directly to both. Boulder is 20-25 minutes. Downtown Denver is 30-35 minutes. Denver International Airport is 35-40 minutes, important if you travel for work.
Schools: Better Data, Smaller Districts
LA Unified School District enrolls over 400,000 students. Navigating it is its own part-time job. The Adams 12 Five Star Schools district, which serves much of Broomfield, is substantially smaller, more navigable, and receives consistently strong ratings. Several elementary schools in the Anthem/Anthem Highlands area receive 8-9 out of 10 ratings on GreatSchools.
Private school options exist in the area, and the Boulder Valley School District (which serves parts of Broomfield) is one of the most highly regarded in the state. For families where schools are the primary driver of the move, and many of my LA clients, they are, the North Denver suburbs offer a meaningfully better public school landscape compared to most LA zip codes at the same price point.
What Changes That Nobody Warns You About
After helping dozens of LA families relocate to Broomfield, here are the real surprises:
Altitude. Denver sits at 5,280 feet. Broomfield is slightly higher. The first few weeks, some people notice headaches, quicker dehydration, and feeling winded on a walk they'd normally not think twice about. It passes for most people within 2-4 weeks, but it's real.
Dryness. Colorado has very low humidity. Your skin, sinuses, and lips will notice immediately. Every transplant I know ends up investing in a whole-house humidifier within the first winter.
Hail. Colorado is in the hail belt. Severe hail storms roll through the Front Range every summer and can total a car or shred a roof. This is not hypothetical, it's a normal part of Colorado life. When you buy a home here, get a thorough roof inspection and make sure your homeowner's insurance covers hail damage adequately. Car insurance should include comprehensive coverage.
The snow is not what you think. Colorado's "dry snow" at elevation is nothing like what Californians imagine. It comes fast, it's light and fluffy, and it's usually gone within 24-48 hours as temperatures rebound. But you do need an AWD vehicle and real winter tires. Don't move here in a Prius without a plan.
The size of the homes. The same budget that bought you a 1,400 sq ft bungalow in Silver Lake buys you a 3,200 sq ft home in Anthem Highlands with a three-car garage and a mountain view. People underestimate how much this changes daily life until they're actually living it.
The Migration Data Confirms This Is a Real Trend
Between December 2025 and February 2026, Los Angeles was the single most-searched city in the country for people looking to relocate away (Source: Redfin migration analysis). IRS migration data shows 144 California tax returns per year flowing into Broomfield County alone, with an average adjusted gross income of $125,764. From LA specifically, the average household income among those who make the move is well above that, these are not people leaving because they have to. They're leaving because they ran the numbers.
For a deep dive on the full California-to-Colorado financial picture, read The Ultimate Guide to Moving from California to Colorado and The California to Colorado Home Equity Transfer: A Step-by-Step Guide.
Ready to build your LA-to-Broomfield relocation plan?
I do this move with clients every week. The neighborhood tour, the school district walkthrough, the cost comparison for your specific household, I'll put it all together for you. Email me and tell me where you're at in the process, and we'll take it from there.
📧 Email Nick directly: NickAhrensRealestate@gmail.com
🏠 Browse listings: zillow.com/profile/NickAhrensRealEstate
🌐 Full moving guide: youranthemhome.com
Nick Ahrens is a Broomfield real estate expert with the North Denver Report, specializing in Anthem, Anthem Highlands, Baseline, and the North Denver metro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Denver than Los Angeles? Yes, significantly. The median home price in LA was $975,000 in February 2026 vs. $647,000 in Broomfield. Colorado's income tax is a flat 4.4% vs. California's top rate of 13.3%. Denver's overall cost of living runs about 10-12% above the national average vs. substantially higher for LA. (Sources: Redfin, DMAR, Zillow, early 2026)
What is the best Denver suburb for LA transplants? Broomfield is the most popular landing spot for LA families in the North Denver metro, particularly the communities of Anthem, Anthem Highlands, and Baseline. These offer the space, schools, amenities, and community feel that LA families are typically seeking, at a fraction of the LA price point.
How much do you save on income taxes moving from California to Colorado? For a $250,000 household income, typically $8,000-$11,000 per year. At $400,000 in income, savings frequently exceed $35,000 annually. Colorado's flat 4.4% rate vs. California's up-to-13.3% graduated rate is the single biggest financial driver of this move for high earners.
What should LA families know about Colorado winters? Denver averages 300 days of sunshine per year, more than Miami. Snowstorms come and go quickly, temperatures rebound fast, and roads are cleared efficiently. The real adjustments: low humidity, needing an AWD vehicle with winter tires, and budgeting for kids' snow gear. It's a different lifestyle, not a worse one.
Is Denver good for remote workers from LA? It's one of the best markets in the country for remote workers. The Mountain time zone works for both coasts. Broomfield has exceptional internet infrastructure and one of the highest remote-work concentrations in the state: 54.8% of Anthem residents work from home. The cost arbitrage on housing and taxes vs. a CA salary is substantial.
