The Town FilesDurango, Colorado
City in La Plata County · population 19,071 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $668,400
- Household income
- $78,602
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 38.3
Durango is a city of 19,071 people in La Plata County, Colorado. The median home is worth $668,400, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Colorado towns, hipper than 91% of Colorado towns, more of a college town than 90% of Colorado towns.
How Durango 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 Durango is worth $668,400, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 8.5 times the median household income of $78,602, which is more affordable than 8% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,636 a month. 53.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Durango | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $668,400 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,636 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $78,602 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.5× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 53.0% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Durango
| People | Durango | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.4% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 14.3 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 92.9% |
Weather in Durango
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 13.0°F. About 19.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.7 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durango since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an F1, struck on October 5, 2004 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 5, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 18, 2013.
Severe weather in La Plata County since 1996
La Plata County has been included in 10 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 |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 25, 2002 | Fire | FM-2432: Valley Fire |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in La Plata County
La Plata County had 26,983 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,965 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Durango itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Durango
13 public schools with 4,823 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durango High School | 9-12 | 1,343 | 16.6 |
| Escalante Middle School | 6-8 | 511 | 15.5 |
| Park Elementary School | PK-5 | 439 | 13.7 |
| Riverview Elementary School | PK-5 | 413 | 12.9 |
| Miller Middle School | 6-8 | 398 | 14.2 |
| Needham Elementary School | PK-5 | 347 | 12.0 |
| Mountain Middle School (charter) | 4-8 | 301 | 20.1 |
| Florida Mesa Elementary School | PK-5 | 286 | 11.4 |
| Animas High School (charter) | 9-12 | 234 | 11.7 |
| Animas Valley Elementary School | PK-5 | 183 | 10.8 |
| The Juniper School (charter) | K-8 | 169 | 12.1 |
| Sunnyside Elementary School | PK-5 | 108 | 10.8 |
Towns near Durango
- Bayfield, CO15.6 mi · 2,838 people · home $412,500
Durango questions
Is Durango, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Durango scores better for retirees than 52% of Colorado towns and quieter than 21%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Durango?
The median owner-occupied home in Durango is valued at $668,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,602, so homes cost about 8.5 times income. Median rent is $1,636 a month.
What is the weather like in Durango?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 13.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.6 inches of precipitation a year and 63.7 inches of snow.
Does Durango get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durango since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on October 5, 2004. 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)