The Town FilesLamar, Colorado
City in Prowers County · population 7,687 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,900
- Household income
- $53,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 40
- Median age
- 33.4
Lamar is a city of 7,687 people in Prowers County, Colorado. The median home is worth $152,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of Colorado towns, more walkable than 85% of Colorado towns, more vibrant than 84% of Colorado towns.
How Lamar 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 Lamar is worth $152,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $53,188, which is more affordable than 95% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $858 a month. 64.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lamar | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,900 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $858 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $53,188 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 64.0% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Lamar
| People | Lamar | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 9.7 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 92.9% |
Weather in Lamar
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 13.7°F. About 16.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.8 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamar since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 29, 2001 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 30, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 110 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on May 16, 1999.
Severe weather in Prowers County since 1996
Prowers County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4731: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| January 7, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3271: Snow |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Prowers County
Prowers County had 4,802 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,451 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Lamar itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Lamar
6 public schools with 1,463 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar High School | 9-12 | 441 | 17.0 |
| Lamar Middle School | 6-8 | 287 | 14.4 |
| Washington Elementary School | K-2 | 257 | 13.5 |
| Parkview Elementary School | 3-5 | 235 | 13.8 |
| Alta Vista Charter School (charter) | K-6 | 135 | 15.0 |
| Melvin Hendrickson Development Center | PK-PK | 108 | 36.0 |
Lamar questions
Is Lamar, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lamar scores better for retirees than 17% of Colorado towns and quieter than 13%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.4).
How much does a house cost in Lamar?
The median owner-occupied home in Lamar is valued at $152,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,188, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $858 a month.
What is the weather like in Lamar?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.2 inches of precipitation a year and 29.8 inches of snow.
Does Lamar get tornadoes?
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 29, 2001. 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)