The Town FilesPalisade, Colorado
Town in Mesa County · population 2,565 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $404,600
- Household income
- $80,587
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 51.8
Palisade is a town of 2,565 people in Mesa County, Colorado. The median home is worth $404,600, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks quieter than 77% of Colorado towns, hipper than 77% of Colorado towns, better for retirees than 71% of Colorado towns.
How Palisade 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 Palisade is worth $404,600, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $80,587, which is more affordable than 54% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,203 a month. 66.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palisade | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $404,600 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,203 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $80,587 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 66.6% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Palisade
| People | Palisade | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.8 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.5% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.6% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 16.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 32.5% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 92.9% |
Weather in Palisade
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 10.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.9 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palisade since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 19, 2009 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 25, 1983.
Severe weather in Mesa County since 1996
Mesa County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 19, 2020 | Fire | FM-5335: Pine Gulch Fire |
| 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 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Mesa County
Mesa County had 66,864 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,309 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Palisade itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Palisade
2 public schools with 1,370 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palisade High School | 9-12 | 1,069 | 18.4 |
| Taylor Elementary School | PK-5 | 301 | 15.1 |
Towns near Palisade
- Clifton, CO5.9 mi · 20,413 people · home $250,500
- Fruitvale, CO6.6 mi · 8,271 people · home $333,100
- Orchard Mesa, CO10.1 mi · 6,688 people · home $332,600
- Grand Junction, CO11.3 mi · 65,560 people · home $389,800
- Redlands, CO16.0 mi · 9,061 people · home $487,500
- Fruita, CO20.2 mi · 13,395 people · home $398,200
- Delta, CO28.2 mi · 9,035 people · home $283,300
- Orchard City, CO29.0 mi · 3,142 people · home $324,300
Palisade questions
Is Palisade, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palisade scores better for retirees than 71% of Colorado towns and quieter than 77%. 26.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.8).
How much does a house cost in Palisade?
The median owner-occupied home in Palisade is valued at $404,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,587, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,203 a month.
What is the weather like in Palisade?
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.5 inches of precipitation a year and 12.9 inches of snow.
Does Palisade get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palisade since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 19, 2009. 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)