Great skiing, biking and hiking are just some of the reasons people flock to the Mile-High City.

"People see Colorado as a place for opportunity," said state demographer Elizabeth Garner. And when they arrive, it's not too hard to find one.

Area employment grew nearly 3% in 2013 thanks to hiring in sectors such as mining and energy, construction, professional and business services, and education and healthcare services, according to Denver's Metro Area Economic Development Corporation. Some of the area's biggest employers include Halliburton (HAL), Comcast (CCV)and CenturyLink (CTL).

And while unemployment is still just a few ticks lower than the national average, it's improving fast. In January, the unemployment rate fell to 6.4% from 7.8% the year before.

Home prices, at a median of $259,000, aren't exactly cheap, but they are affordable relative to median family income of nearly $78,000.