The Town FilesBasalt, Colorado
Town in Eagle County · population 3,984 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $1,180,300
- Household income
- $105,855
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 108 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 41.2
Basalt is a town of 3,984 people in Eagle County, Colorado. The median home is worth $1,180,300, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 80% of Colorado towns, better transit than 77% of Colorado towns, better for retirees than 76% of Colorado towns.
How Basalt ranks
Percentile among Colorado towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Colorado towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Basalt is worth $1,180,300, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 11.2 times the median household income of $105,855, which is more affordable than 4% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $2,257 a month. 59.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Basalt | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,180,300 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $2,257 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $105,855 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 11.2× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 59.3% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.1% | — |
Who lives in Basalt
| People | Basalt | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.9% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.2% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.2% | 92.9% |
Weather in Basalt
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 14.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 107.6 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 212 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Basalt since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on August 1, 2023.
Severe weather in Eagle County since 1996
Eagle County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 19, 2020 | Fire | FM-5334: Grizzly Creek Fire |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| July 4, 2018 | Fire | FM-5249: Lake Christine Fire |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Eagle County
Eagle County had 35,441 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,248 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Basalt itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Basalt
3 public schools with 1,341 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basalt Elementary School | PK-4 | 532 | 14.4 |
| Basalt High School | 9-12 | 417 | 17.4 |
| Basalt Middle School | 5-8 | 392 | 14.0 |
Towns near Basalt
- El Jebel, CO3.6 mi · 4,130 people · home $912,200
- Carbondale, CO9.1 mi · 6,434 people · home $900,600
- Snowmass Village, CO11.9 mi · 3,096 people · home $1,729,900
- Aspen, CO16.5 mi · 7,004 people · home $819,900
- Gypsum, CO18.1 mi · 8,040 people · home $633,000
- Glenwood Springs, CO19.9 mi · 9,963 people · home $619,000
- Eagle, CO22.5 mi · 7,511 people · home $695,100
- Edwards, CO28.4 mi · 11,246 people · home $937,300
Basalt questions
Is Basalt, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Basalt scores better for retirees than 76% of Colorado towns and quieter than 62%. 23.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Basalt?
The median owner-occupied home in Basalt is valued at $1,180,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,855, so homes cost about 11.2 times income. Median rent is $2,257 a month.
What is the weather like in Basalt?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.9 inches of precipitation a year and 107.6 inches of snow.
Does Basalt get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Basalt in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)