Young Adults Eye Colorado Hometown Careers

A Resume.io survey finds about half of young adults want to build careers where they grew up, even at a lower salary.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Remote Work

Young Adults Eye Colorado Hometown Careers

Live Poll

Would you take a job in your hometown over a higher-paying job elsewhere?

A Resume.io survey of about 3,000 U.S. adults found that roughly half of respondents ages 18-35 want to build their careers in their hometowns. Respondents said they would accept an average 10.5% pay cut to stay, with Pueblo, Grand Junction and Sterling among the Colorado cities drawing at least 50 respondents each.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that personal ties and cost of living can outweigh higher pay for many young workers, which could shape where employers and communities in Colorado focus recruitment and retention. Residents of smaller Colorado cities may see their local job markets and talent pools strengthen if this preference holds.

The Resume.io survey of about 3,000 U.S. adults found an average 10.5% pay cut was acceptable to stay in a hometown for the same role and conditions. Stated intentions were self-reported, and the survey does not show how many respondents would actually act on them.

The players

Resume.io

Resume.io is an online resume-building and career platform that conducted the survey of about 3,000 U.S. adults.

The details

Respondents ages 18-35 were asked whether they intended to stay in or return to their hometown to build careers, and the top reasons given were proximity to family at 20%, lower cost of living at 16% and proximity to friends at 12%. Pueblo, Grand Junction and Sterling each drew at least 50 respondents who wanted to work there, and the survey found 55% of national respondents agree successful people have a responsibility to give back to their hometown.

Resume.io published its hometown career survey results on November 5, 2026.

Remote Work Outlook

The survey's findings on hometown career preferences sit alongside the broader remote-work shift, since workers willing to stay near family may be less dependent on relocating to major metro hubs such as Denver. Whether that preference translates into durable local employment in places like Grand Junction, Pueblo and Sterling remains to be seen.

For Colorado job seekers in Grand Junction, Pueblo and Sterling, the survey suggests local employers may have room to compete for talent on factors beyond salary, such as family proximity and cost of living. Readers weighing a move versus staying close to home can use these stated tradeoffs as a reference point when comparing offers.

The takeaway

Young workers in this survey placed personal and financial stability close to home ahead of higher pay elsewhere. Job seekers comparing Colorado offers can weigh family proximity and cost of living alongside salary when deciding where to build a career.