City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Cortez, CO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Cortez - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

8,898
Residents
$51,377
Median income
$226,700
Median home
$1,180
Median rent (state)

Cortez - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Cortez lands in the 22nd percentile for household income and the 12th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

22nd
percentile, household income
50th
percentile, home value
35th
percentile, median rent
12th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Cortez, CO

8,898 people live in Cortez, Colorado - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Cortez households earn a median of $51,377 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 7.5%. Home values in Cortez run a median of $226,700, and the median resident age is 38.9 years. Educational attainment runs 29.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 53.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 16 residential building permits were authorized in Cortez (Slowing), down 6% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Cortez's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 3399.1 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 47.9°F with 18.6 inches of precipitation per year.

Colorado carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Colorado at 103.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,180 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $202 across Colorado, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 47.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

8,898 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$51,377 /yr

Poverty 7.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Cortez compare to other US cities?

Cortez measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 22% higher than other cities
Home value 50% pricier than other cities
Median rent 35% pricier than other cities
Safety 12% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Colorado and the picture shifts: Cortez ranks #93 of 116 Colorado cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Cortez against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Colorado only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Colorado-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Cortez toward the bottom of Colorado's cities

Among the 408 Colorado cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Cortez ranks #305 - the 24th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cortez only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#310 of 379
18th percentile in Colorado
Median Gross Rent
#305 of 408
24th percentile in Colorado
Median Home Value
#295 of 388
24th percentile in Colorado
Poverty Rate
#144 of 408
64th percentile in Colorado
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#226 of 408
45th percentile in Colorado

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Colorado only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

22ndIncome percentile
12thSafety percentile

22nd percentile nationally for median household income · 12th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Cortez's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Cortez's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 31 Avg. percentile National median
Cortez's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Cortez's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$226,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 50% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Cortez $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Cortez, CO Cortez, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cortez, CO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Cortez, CO median $51,377/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Cortez, CO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Cortez, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
8,898
Median Income
$51,377
Median Home Value
$226,700
Median Age
38.9
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Labor force participation
53.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3399.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
460.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2938.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
47.9°F
Annual Precipitation
18.6"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,600 residents8,800 residents9,000 residents9,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,780 residents 9,126 residents ▲ +3.9%
Cortez's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
16
housing units authorized
Single-Family
16
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 17
2020 20
2021 14
2022 19
2023 16
2024 16

Permit volume decreased 6% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.5%
Carpool
10.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.0%
Work from Home
6.8%
Other
3.3%

Based on 3,853 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Colorado - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$90
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$202
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Colorado state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Colorado state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Cortez sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.1
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,180/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
47.6 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Woodmoor
8,819 people
Craig
9,022 people
Redlands
8,771 people
Milliken
8,695 people
Derby
8,692 people
Evergreen
8,643 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cortez's 8,898 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Caldwell, NJ
8,898 people
Greenville, MI
8,897 people
Oxford, NC
8,897 people
North Merritt Island, FL
8,903 people
Poteau, OK
8,903 people
Skidaway Island, GA
8,907 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cortez's $51,377 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lineville, IA
$51,375 median income
Rogersville, MO
$51,375 median income
Ranchos de Taos, NM
$51,380 median income
So-Hi, AZ
$51,371 median income
South Pasadena, FL
$51,369 median income
Tipton, CA
$51,389 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cortez, CO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Cortez, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 68.8% 12.9% 12.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 18.6% White 68.8% Black or African American 1.9% Asian 2.0% American Indian 12.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.7% Two or more races 12.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Cortez compares to nearby Colorado cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Cortez (this city) 8,898 $51,377
Woodmoor 8,819 $174,138
Craig 9,022 $69,256
Redlands 8,771 $97,500
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cortez, CO?

What is the population of Cortez, CO? +

Cortez, CO counts 8,898 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Cortez, CO? +

The median household income in Cortez is $51,377 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cortez? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cortez; the closest available measure is the Colorado state average, a cost of living index of 103.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Colorado vary by metro area.

Is Cortez, CO safe? +

Cortez has a total crime rate of 3399.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Cortez, CO? +

The median home value in Cortez is $226,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Cortez? +

Cortez has an average annual temperature of 47.9°F, 18.6 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.