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Living in
Durango.
About
Life in Durango
Living in Durango means trading easy job options for genuine community and a lifestyle that actually revolves around what you do on weekends. This is a town of about 19,000 people that functions as the economic hub of southwestern Colorado, anchored by Fort Lewis College and a solid regional job market—unemployment sits at 3.8%—but if your career field isn't education, healthcare, or government work, you'll likely need flexibility or be willing to start something of your own. The median household income is $78,602 and median home prices hover around $668,000, which reflects a cost of living that's definitely not cheap, though rentals average $1,562 a month if you're not ready to buy.
Durango at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Foreign-Born
2.0%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Population Growth
+3.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.0% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Durango: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Durango, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (37.8%), and 4.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
13.7%
of residents
65 and Older
16.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
19.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.2%
of households
Married Couples
38.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.99
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 7% below CO average
Rent, home values, and income in Durango
In Durango, rent runs 7% below the CO average, and home values are 24% above the CO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.2%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,443
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $754,540 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CO
Unemployment in Durango
Unemployment in La Plata County, which includes Durango, is close to the CO average.
Unemployment rate
Durango: La Plata County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
La Plata County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Durango Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.3 min avg
How Durango residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Durango, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 92% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
Durango La Plata County Airport (DRO)
Regional airport · few flights283k 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 6% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Durango runs 6% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
340.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
3,511.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,767 national, 2024)
Durango Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 58 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
75.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
La Plata County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In La Plata County, which includes Durango, the most common type is winter weather, with 58 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 36 | Winter Weather | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 58 | Wildfire | $500,000 |
| 2022 | 39 | Winter Weather | $28,250 |
| 2021 | 45 | Winter Weather | $800,000 |
| 2020 | 48 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2019 | 55 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 68 | Winter Weather | $2.2M |
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.
10 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
La Plata County, county-wide
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in La Plata County, which includes Durango, is typically good — 222 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
222
per year
Moderate Days
141
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
La Plata County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 15°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Durango has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 15°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/31°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/50°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/33°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/15°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
19.0"
Annual Snowfall
63.7"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
180
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
99
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 13°F | 2.17" |
| Feb | 45°F | 19°F | 1.71" |
| Mar | 54°F | 25°F | 1.32" |
| Apr | 63°F | 30°F | 1.25" |
| May | 71°F | 37°F | 1.18" |
| Jun | 81°F | 46°F | 0.53" |
| Jul | 85°F | 53°F | 1.92" |
| Aug | 82°F | 52°F | 2.28" |
| Sep | 76°F | 45°F | 2.22" |
| Oct | 64°F | 33°F | 1.93" |
| Nov | 50°F | 23°F | 1.46" |
| Dec | 40°F | 13°F | 1.65" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Durango
Durango has 2 hospitals, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
6.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Mercy Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Animas Surgical Hospital, Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education13.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Durango
Durango's student/teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 60.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
60.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Durango
Public · 4-year · 3,079 students · in-state tuition $10,588 · 47% graduate · median earnings $49,164 (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: Aztec Ruins National Monument, 30 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Durango
Durango has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Aztec Ruins National Monument (30 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Aztec Ruins National Monument
National Monument
30 mi awayMesa Verde National Park
National Park
32 mi awayYucca House National Monument
National Monument
45 mi awayHovenweep National Monument
National Monument
63 mi awayChaco Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
85 mi awayCurecanti National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
88 mi awayBlack Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
National Park
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Durango
Durango Public Library
1900 E 3rd Ave, Durango
Cities Near Durango
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Durango?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Durango FAQ
Is Durango, Colorado affordable?⌄
Durango's median rent is $1,636/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $78,602/year. Median home value is $668,400.
Is Durango, Colorado safe?⌄
Durango's violent crime rate was 341 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is close to the national average of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3511 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Durango, Colorado?⌄
La Plata County, which includes Durango, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Durango, Colorado?⌄
The cost of living in Durango is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,636/month and median household income is $78,602/year. The median home value is $668,400. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Durango, Colorado?⌄
The average commute in Durango is 14 minutes, which is shorter than 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