The Town FilesChaffee County, Colorado
20,178 people. The median home is worth $665,700 (typical Colorado town: $471,100) and the median household earns $84,132.
Towns in Chaffee County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salida | 5,666 | $648,500 | $70,045 | 44.1 |
| Buena Vista | 2,855 | $572,700 | $78,323 | 36.0 |
People and housing
| Chaffee County | Typical Colorado town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $665,700 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,611 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $84,132 | $86,246 |
| Median age | 48.7 | 40.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.0% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 8.8% |
Jobs and pay
9,229 jobs in 2024, average pay $52,718 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 894 storm events in Chaffee County from 1996 to 2026, with 9 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Chaffee County has been included in 5 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| April 9, 2003 | Snowstorm | EM-3185: Snow |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).