Two Colorado towns ranked in the top 5 places to live in America. Sorry, Denver.

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U.S. News and World Report publish a biannual study of the "Best Places to Live in America." These rankings are based on a variety of factors that impact livability, including quality of life, safety, access to nature, things to do, quality of education, and the job market.

There are 150 cities included in the study, making for intense competition. Despite this, two towns from Colorado made it into the top five.

To put that into context, New York, Florida, and Texas were all shut out of the top five, while Colorado has two entries.

Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs ranks at an impressive second place, behind only Huntsville, AB. So, what impressed the judges so much?

The city scored a solid 10/10 for desirability, thanks in large part to its beautiful mountainous backdrop and the many outdoor activities available to locals. As the judges said: "Here, you’ll find a city that blends colorful nature with rugged history and metropolitan spoils." On that last point, breweries were thought to be a big draw to the city.

But Colorado Springs has more than just good looks on its side. The judges noted that the city's job market is better than many comparably sized cities, with the education, military, and defense sectors offering viable career opportunities, as well as other large organizations.

The city was also seen to have a relatively high teacher-to-student ratio, suggesting a higher quality education than average.

Being so popular can have its downsides, however. The study noted that housing prices are relatively expensive compared to other cities of its size. In addition, crime rates were relatively high for its size.

Boulder, Colorado

Boulder may be a smaller town but it ranked as the fourth most desirable place to live in America. Once again, natural beauty and outdoor opportunities were significant factors. Boulder was also applauded for its easy access to holistic wellness.

As the study claimed:

This blissed-out enclave attracts young professionals, families, academics, scientists, transplants from both coasts, old guards who insist it was way cooler in the 1970s, and, above all, lovers of outdoor recreation.

Another significant consideration for Boulder was the thriving job market. With a booming tech sector, including Google, its presence in the aerospace sector, and its friendly attitude towards start-ups, Boulder punches well above its weight in terms of job opportunities.

Boulder was also seen as providing high-quality education opportunities, with a relatively student-to-teacher ratio (20:1).

Like Colorado Springs, Boulder is not without its faults. Property crime is above average for a city of its size.

In addition to this, Boulder's cost of living was perceived to be higher than average for a city of its size, with less affordable housing than many cities and a high rate of taxes overall.