While living in a mountain town is a ‘bucket list’ goal for many, it does come with some major differences compared to typical city life. A recent article from Business Insider does a good job of highlighting the contrast between life in Denver and small town Colorado – in this case, the 6,000-resident town of Salida – through the eyes of a couple headed into retirement.

Here’s a look at a few aspects of life that Becki Rupp says came a bit unexpected with the mountain town life:

1. Sparse groceries: It can be difficult to find certain grocery items amid limited shelves in remote parts of the state where delivers are less frequent. Rupp noted that a sort-of solution to this issue was found in getting items farther ahead of time when those items are available, as well as turning to services like Amazon for personal deliveries.
2. Limited health care options: Small-town Colorado doesn’t have the same number of medical care facilities that a major metro like Denver or Colorado Springs does. With fewer residents, the demand simply isn’t as high. This might mean long drives for care, which is something that retirees should keep in mind as later-life health care issues may start to pop up.
3. Lack of connectivity: Nowadays, the Internet plays a crucial role in life, and as with many modern-day amenities, expect connectivity to be a bit limited in remote parts of Colorado compared to major metro centers. This might mean having to settle for a less optimal service provider or turning to a company like Starlink.

As Rupp also explained, while there were some aspects of mountain town life that were less than ideal, the move came with good, too. Rupp and her husband still enjoy the easy access to outdoor recreation – one of the main reasons they picked Salida in the first place. Additionally, the general lack of traffic was a relief and the couple found that it was easier to form a tighter-knit community of friends in the smaller town compared to the city.

In the Business Insider piece written by Rupp, she touches on several of the topics OutThere Colorado previously highlighted in a piece titled “11 headaches that come with mountain town life.”

A few more to add to the list include:

1. Higher prices: It’s harder to get a lot of items into mountain towns – likely a factor in why many items are more expensive
2. Limited parking: Many mountain towns host big events with the goal of bringing tourists into the area. While this can be great for the local economy, it can mean a major inflow of people into a place that’s built for a much smaller population.
3. Lots of tourists and fly-by residents: A lot of the population can seem to come and go. While some towns like Salida might not experience this at the same level that a resort town like Breckenridge might, some mountain town residents might gripe about this aspect of mountain town life and its impact on the local community.
4. Potentially crowded trails: People travel from around the state to visit mountain towns, meaning that ‘local’s favorite’ trail might be pretty flooded with traffic year-round. While the trails are so close, it might still be hard to find solitude despite the low population of locals.
5. Intense weather: Mountain town weather can be harsh – bigger snowstorms, colder temperatures, etc. This is something to consider.
6. Potential travel issues: In a mountain town, you’re probably a long way away from a major airport and the local one is probably limited and pricy.
7. Limited housing: Given the high demand for housing in mountain towns, it tends to fill up fast and it gets notably expensive.
8. Wildfire risk: Most of Colorado’s mountain towns have large swaths of forest nearby. While it’s part of the appeal, it can also mean an uptick in wildfire risk.
9. The ‘small town feel’: Sure, it might be easier to form a tight-knit community in a mountain town, but that can be a double-edged sword. Anyone who has lived in a small town before is probably aware of the downside that comes with a place where everybody knows everybody.
10. Concerns with lack of oxygen: Some people are more susceptible to health concerns when it comes to living at a higher elevation and the lack of oxygen that can come with it. That doesn’t affect everyone the same way and all mountain towns aren’t really high enough for that to be a major factor. That said, for people who are more sensitive to this, it can be a big deal.

What’s something else that’s less-than-ideal about mountain town life? Let us know in the comments.

Find our full piece on ’11 headaches that come with mountain town life’ here.