© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Columbine.
Columbine is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, CO. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Columbine
Columbine is an affluent Denver suburb that works well if you want proximity to the city without being in it—you're just 10 minutes south of downtown. The community skews older and more established (median age 44), with strong family presence and solid schools serving the area. Housing costs are steep: expect a median home value around $617,200 and rents near $2,400, so this is squarely an upper-middle-class enclave.
Columbine at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.3%
Foreign-Born
3.3%
Broadband Internet
97.2%
of households
Population Growth
+1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.3% foreign-born, most often from Germany
Who lives in Columbine: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Columbine, the largest foreign-born group is from Germany (11.6%), and 2.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.0%
of residents
65 and Older
20.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.0%
of households
Married Couples
64.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.65
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 39% above CO average
Rent, home values, and income in Columbine
In Columbine, rent runs 39% above the CO average, and home values are 14% above the CO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
61.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
46.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,084
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
89.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.0%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CO
Unemployment in Columbine and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Columbine, is close to the CO average.
Unemployment rate
Columbine: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Columbine is about 4% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Columbine Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO metro area
Commute26.4 min avg
How Columbine residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Columbine, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Major hub40.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 30% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, which covers Columbine, runs 30% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
229.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
920.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 34 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes Columbine, the most common type is winter weather, with 34 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | Winter Weather | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 49 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 42 | Winter Weather | $60,000 |
| 2022 | 45 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 27 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 32 | Winter Weather | Not estimated |
| 2019 | 35 | Winter Weather | $10,000 |
| 2018 | 30 | Winter Weather | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Columbine is about 4% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Columbine, is typically good — 215 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
215
per year
Moderate Days
137
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Columbine is about 4% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Columbine has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
18.6"
Annual Snowfall
34.1"
Hot Days/Year
33
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
147
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
74
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 19°F | 0.48" |
| Feb | 47°F | 20°F | 0.67" |
| Mar | 55°F | 28°F | 1.19" |
| Apr | 60°F | 35°F | 2.07" |
| May | 69°F | 44°F | 2.73" |
| Jun | 81°F | 53°F | 1.87" |
| Jul | 86°F | 60°F | 2.05" |
| Aug | 85°F | 58°F | 1.85" |
| Sep | 77°F | 49°F | 1.26" |
| Oct | 64°F | 37°F | 1.04" |
| Nov | 53°F | 28°F | 0.74" |
| Dec | 45°F | 20°F | 0.61" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Columbine
Uninsured
2.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Columbine's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Uchealth Highlands Ranch Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Highlands Ranch
Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan
Psychiatric · 4.2 mi away · Denver
Adventhealth Littleton
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Littleton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Columbine
Columbine's student/teacher ratio is 18.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 53.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
53.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Columbine (within 15 miles)
Metropolitan State University of Denver
11.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 15,002 students · in-state tuition $11,540 · 39% graduate · median earnings $57,612 (10 yrs after entry)
Colorado State University Global
11.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,563 students · in-state tuition $9,000 · 45% graduate · median earnings $82,047 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 6,155 students · in-state tuition $22,658 · 82% graduate · median earnings $102,077 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,025 students · in-state tuition $63,246 · 77% graduate · median earnings $77,205 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,549 students · in-state tuition $42,758 · 31% graduate · median earnings $52,025 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,096 students · in-state tuition $5,218 · 15% graduate · median earnings $44,120 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, 48 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Columbine
Columbine has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (48 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
48 mi awayRocky Mountain National Park
National Park
63 mi awayPublic Libraries in Columbine
Columbine Library
7706 West Bowles Avenue, Littleton
Cities Near Columbine
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Columbine?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Columbine FAQ
Is Columbine, Colorado affordable?⌄
Columbine's median rent is $2,448/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $131,232/year. Median home value is $617,200.
Is Columbine, Colorado safe?⌄
Columbine is policed by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 230 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 920 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Columbine, Colorado?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Columbine, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Columbine, Colorado?⌄
The cost of living in Columbine is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,448/month and median household income is $131,232/year. The median home value is $617,200. About 62% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Columbine, Colorado?⌄
The average commute in Columbine is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from