The 10 Best Small Towns In Colorado For 2024


The best small towns in Colorado are Columbine Valley and Telluride for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: January 12, 2024

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Colorado. Best sururbs in Colorado. Best counties in Colorado.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Centennial State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Colorado based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Colorado ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Colorado For 2024

  1. Columbine Valley
  2. Telluride
  3. Castle Pines Village
  4. Acres Green
  5. Holly Hills
  6. Blue River
  7. Lyons
  8. Snowmass Village
  9. Indian Hills
  10. Basalt
  11. Aspen Park
  12. Inverness
  13. Genesee
  14. Niwot
  15. Crested Butte

Best Small Towns To Live In Colorado Map

What’s the best small town in Colorado? Columbine Valley is the best small town in Colorado based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Columbine Valley, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Centennial State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Colorado For 2024

1. Columbine Valley

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 1,928
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,599,009 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.5%

2. Telluride

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 2,622
Median Income: $81,429 (36th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,917,901 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

3. Castle Pines Village

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 4,462
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,380,987 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.7%

4. Acres Green

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 2,627
Median Income: $124,219 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $592,943 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%

5. Holly Hills

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 2,801
Median Income: $129,700 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $697,625 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

6. Blue River

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,238
Median Income: $150,074 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,248,399 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%

7. Lyons

Lyons, CO

Source: Wikipedia User Billy Hathorn | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,936
Median Income: $131,179 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $739,742 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

8. Snowmass Village

Snowmass Village, CO

Source: Wikipedia User Werdna | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 3,076
Median Income: $94,761 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,741,212 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

9. Indian Hills

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,445
Median Income: $166,429 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $635,756 (28th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

10. Basalt

Basalt, CO

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 3,815
Median Income: $103,049 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,274,527 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%

11. Aspen Park

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,006
Median Income: $111,964 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $690,892 (25th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

12. Inverness

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 2,772
Median Income: $109,339 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $773,731 (18th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.3%

13. Genesee

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,046
Median Income: $174,375 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,086,636 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%

14. Niwot

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,091
Median Income: $135,758 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,041,176 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.4%

15. Crested Butte

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 1,434
Median Income: $67,625 (59th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,412,975 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.1%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Colorado

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Colorado possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 98 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 98, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Colorado. Top of that list — Columbine Valley.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Colorado.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Colorado are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Colorado are Columbine Valley, Telluride, Castle Pines Village, Acres Green, Holly Hills, Blue River, Lyons, Snowmass Village, Indian Hills, and Basalt.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Colorado:

  1. Ellicott
  2. Parachute
  3. Towaoc

For more Colorado reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Colorado

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Columbine Valley, CO 1,928 $250,001 0.5%
2 Telluride, CO 2,622 $81,429 2.8%
3 Castle Pines Village, CO 4,462 $250,001 5.7%
4 Acres Green, CO 2,627 $124,219 1.1%
5 Holly Hills, CO 2,801 $129,700 1.3%
6 Blue River, CO 1,238 $150,074 0.8%
7 Lyons, CO 1,936 $131,179 3.4%
8 Snowmass Village, CO 3,076 $94,761 0.0%
9 Indian Hills, CO 1,445 $166,429 0.0%
10 Basalt, CO 3,815 $103,049 3.2%
11 Aspen Park, CO 1,006 $111,964 0.0%
12 Inverness, CO 2,772 $109,339 3.3%
13 Genesee, CO 4,046 $174,375 2.3%
14 Niwot, CO 4,091 $135,758 7.4%
15 Crested Butte, CO 1,434 $67,625 6.1%
16 Perry Park, CO 1,712 $147,548 0.0%
17 Frisco, CO 2,900 $101,140 1.5%
18 Nederland, CO 1,413 $115,120 2.5%
19 Granby, CO 2,074 $77,679 0.2%
20 Leadville, CO 2,622 $80,100 2.3%
21 Vail, CO 4,833 $96,667 7.6%
22 Lazy Acres, CO 1,014 $150,927 3.8%
23 Mancos, CO 1,121 $63,185 1.5%
24 La Salle, CO 2,874 $91,080 1.6%
25 Ponderosa Park, CO 3,577 $127,901 0.7%
26 Palmer Lake, CO 2,642 $104,712 7.0%
27 Ouray, CO 1,007 $68,750 4.5%
28 Loma, CO 1,481 $137,995 1.5%
29 Elizabeth, CO 1,830 $99,889 3.0%
30 El Jebel, CO 4,328 $120,278 0.0%
31 Coal Creek, CO 2,431 $129,091 2.1%
32 Kittredge, CO 1,021 $143,147 4.8%
33 Bayfield, CO 2,853 $84,609 5.9%
34 Silverthorne, CO 4,550 $97,558 6.3%
35 Meeker, CO 2,500 $69,295 0.7%
36 New Castle, CO 4,874 $82,473 2.7%
37 Glendale, CO 4,580 $63,143 2.6%
38 Manitou Springs, CO 4,848 $72,775 11.8%
39 Ault, CO 1,601 $76,215 1.6%
40 Hayden, CO 2,057 $74,028 1.4%
41 Limon, CO 1,479 $49,034 1.9%
42 Leadville North, CO 2,003 $79,942 3.2%
43 Burlington, CO 3,184 $61,528 2.6%
44 Idaho Springs, CO 2,113 $72,101 6.8%
45 Mountain Village, CO 1,582 $56,917 5.5%
46 Silt, CO 3,529 $72,450 1.7%
47 Akron, CO 1,675 $52,813 2.1%
48 Holyoke, CO 2,430 $51,435 0.0%
49 Lincoln Park, CO 4,413 $79,408 5.9%
50 Buena Vista, CO 2,887 $58,168 16.8%
51 Laporte, CO 2,233 $69,732 3.4%
52 Palisade, CO 2,571 $56,359 4.6%
53 Kremmling, CO 1,779 $64,141 2.4%
54 Dotsero, CO 1,189 $79,957 6.7%
55 Paonia, CO 1,571 $54,643 6.2%
56 Springfield, CO 1,357 $36,354 2.3%
57 Colorado City, CO 1,932 $55,759 0.0%
58 Ridgway, CO 1,093 $82,903 10.1%
59 Rangely, CO 2,382 $70,363 6.5%
60 Ignacio, CO 1,257 $62,833 7.7%
61 Bennett, CO 3,299 $82,035 2.3%
62 Wray, CO 2,461 $67,596 5.7%
63 Kersey, CO 1,453 $61,111 7.3%
64 Florence, CO 3,874 $58,167 1.6%
65 Keenesburg, CO 1,669 $86,827 6.4%
66 Byers, CO 1,635 $93,750 17.5%
67 Julesburg, CO 1,187 $37,232 4.2%
68 Strasburg, CO 3,149 $88,482 6.1%
69 Hotchkiss, CO 1,083 $53,214 2.9%
70 Pierce, CO 1,018 $71,071 10.9%
71 Penrose, CO 3,900 $77,286 8.5%
72 Fraser, CO 1,220 $75,893 10.1%
73 Del Norte, CO 1,808 $40,756 7.7%
74 Platteville, CO 2,917 $76,406 8.7%
75 Aetna Estates, CO 1,194 $60,857 9.9%
76 Pagosa Springs, CO 1,643 $32,500 3.7%
77 Cascade-Chipita Park, CO 1,302 $78,542 18.2%
78 Georg, CO 1,104 $56,458 8.8%
79 Orchard City, CO 3,150 $69,556 4.8%
80 Monte Vista, CO 4,201 $51,071 8.3%
81 Gilcrest, CO 1,082 $64,583 0.0%
82 Wiggins, CO 1,138 $77,083 7.3%
83 Center, CO 2,349 $50,203 10.7%
84 Hudson, CO 2,167 $73,542 2.9%
85 Fowler, CO 1,115 $38,162 5.2%
86 Las Animas, CO 2,421 $45,355 10.3%
87 Sanford, CO 1,306 $50,461 6.9%
88 Walsenburg, CO 3,072 $37,725 8.9%
89 Ordway, CO 1,874 $45,938 16.3%
90 Cedaredge, CO 2,572 $40,395 12.8%
91 Aristocrat Ranchettes, CO 1,987 $83,500 5.7%
92 Cripple Creek, CO 1,093 $36,783 8.4%
93 Olathe, CO 1,901 $60,966 4.6%
94 Rocky Ford, CO 3,850 $31,418 10.9%
95 Yuma, CO 3,443 $46,314 9.3%
96 Towaoc, CO 1,186 $46,466 0.0%
97 Parachute, CO 1,555 $55,089 19.3%
98 Ellicott, CO 1,247 $44,219 1.3%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns