The Town FilesCañon City, Colorado
City in Fremont County · population 17,141 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $316,100
- Household income
- $64,787
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 46.2
Cañon City is a city of 17,141 people in Fremont County, Colorado. The median home is worth $316,100, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Colorado towns, more walkable than 76% of Colorado towns, hipper than 72% of Colorado towns.
How Cañon City 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 Cañon City is worth $316,100, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $64,787, which is more affordable than 57% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $997 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cañon City | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $316,100 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $997 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $64,787 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Cañon City
| People | Cañon City | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 92.9% |
Weather in Cañon City
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 18.4°F. About 13.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.3 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cañon City since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 22, 1985 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 23, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 12, 2023.
Severe weather in Fremont County since 1996
Fremont County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| July 16, 2015 | Flood | DR-4229: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 14, 2013 | Flood | DR-4145: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 12, 2013 | Flood | EM-3365: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Fremont County
Fremont County had 14,574 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,243 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Cañon City itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Cañon City
5 public schools with 2,144 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon City High School | 9-12 | 954 | 16.7 |
| Canon City Middle School | 6-8 | 372 | 20.7 |
| Washington Elementary School | K-5 | 312 | 13.0 |
| Lincoln School of Science and Technology | K-5 | 259 | 13.0 |
| Mount View Core Knowledge Charter School (charter) | PK-8 | 247 | 20.6 |
Towns near Cañon City
- Lincoln Park, CO1.2 mi · 3,934 people · home $295,800
- Park Center, CO3.0 mi · 2,953 people · home $386,200
- Florence, CO7.8 mi · 3,822 people · home $249,700
- Penrose, CO12.0 mi · 3,685 people · home $308,800
- Pueblo West, CO25.2 mi · 33,086 people · home $397,000
Cañon City questions
Is Cañon City, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cañon City scores better for retirees than 43% of Colorado towns and quieter than 38%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.2).
How much does a house cost in Cañon City?
The median owner-occupied home in Cañon City is valued at $316,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,787, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $997 a month.
What is the weather like in Cañon City?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 18.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.7 inches of precipitation a year and 38.3 inches of snow.
Does Cañon City get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cañon City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 22, 1985. The typical Colorado town has had 11.
- 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)