Colorado · Counties · 2024 Data

Colorado's most expensive counties — resort vs. plains

Colorado ranks among the five most expensive states in the US for home prices, with a statewide median of $392,100. But that figure hides the real story: five mountain-resort counties carry most of the weight, while the Eastern Plains remain among the most affordable rural counties in the United States.

This page ranks all 64 Colorado counties by median home value using US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2024 data, then breaks the state into three distinct markets: resort, Front Range, and rural.

The Resort Cluster · Top 5

The five counties pushing Colorado up the rankings

Pitkin (Aspen), Eagle (Vail), Summit (Breckenridge), San Miguel (Telluride), and Routt (Steamboat) are the engines. All five sit in the top tier of US county home values nationwide, not just in Colorado.

County Median Price P/I Ratio Median Income
1 Pitkin, CO $1,139,100 11.1× $102,645
2 Summit, CO $939,900 8.56× $109,773
3 Routt, CO $854,700 8.03× $106,489
4 Eagle, CO $839,500 8.06× $104,096
5 Boulder, CO $756,300 7.27× $103,994
6 Ouray, CO $739,800 8.13× $91,020
7 San Miguel, CO $720,700 9.12× $79,024
8 Douglas, CO $713,600 4.77× $149,594
9 Elbert, CO $709,800 5.35× $132,685
10 Chaffee, CO $665,700 7.91× $84,132

Front Range squeeze — in-migration meets supply

The Front Range corridor (Denver, Boulder, Jefferson, Douglas, Adams, Arapahoe) accounts for roughly four out of five Colorado residents. Price-to-income ratios there run above 5× in Boulder and Jefferson, putting the median home out of reach for households at the state median income. This is where Colorado's affordability story really hardens.

Use the interactive map to see Front Range counties side-by-side with the resort cluster and the Eastern Plains.

Open Colorado map

The Other Colorado · Bottom 5

Eastern Plains — still genuinely affordable

Five Eastern Plains counties have median home values below $250,000, putting them well within reach for households at the US median income. These are agricultural communities with older housing stock. They are not in the news cycle — but they are the part of Colorado where ownership is still mathematically possible.

County Median Price P/I Ratio Median Income
1 Crowley, CO $116,200 2.38× $48,826
2 Baca, CO $122,900 2.66× $46,215
3 Bent, CO $146,900 2.93× $50,179
4 Sedgwick, CO $149,000 2.84× $52,386
5 Prowers, CO $160,600 3× $53,508

FAQ — Colorado home prices

Which Colorado county has the highest home prices?

Pitkin, CO at $1,139,100, followed by Summit, CO ($939,900) and Routt, CO ($854,700).

Why are Colorado home prices so high?

Five mountain-resort counties pull the statewide median up. Without them, Colorado would sit closer to the national average. The Front Range corridor, home to most of the state's population, adds further pressure on top of that.

What is the cheapest county in Colorado?

Crowley, CO at $116,200. Most Eastern Plains counties sit below $250,000.

Related housing data

Colorado housing — county-level dataMost affordable states rankedLeast affordable states rankedWhere $75,000 buys a homeUS housing affordability — all states