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Living in
Federal Heights.
About
Life in Federal Heights
Living in Federal Heights means embracing a compact, family-oriented community in western Adams County that's experiencing real growth—the population jumped 25% between 2010 and 2020, so you're moving into a place where things are actually happening. The cost of living is genuinely accessible compared to Denver proper: a median home value around $95,300 and median rent near $1,687 a month make this viable for people who want to be in the Front Range corridor without paying metro prices, though you're definitely trading some of that savings for a longer commute (plan on 31-32 minutes to get where you're going). The job market is stable with unemployment around 4.3%, and as part of the greater Denver-Aurora metro, you've got access to regional employment without being downtown; many residents commute out rather than in.
Federal Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.2%
Foreign-Born
28.6%
Broadband Internet
90.8%
of households
Population Growth
-2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics28.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Federal Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Federal Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (86.8%), and 49.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.6%
of residents
65 and Older
11.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.4%
of households
Married Couples
40.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.69
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 about average for CO
Rent, home values, and income in Federal Heights
In Federal Heights, home values are 82% below the CO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
66.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
46.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
59.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $382,020 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CO
Unemployment in Federal Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Adams County, which includes Federal Heights, is close to the CO average.
Unemployment rate
Federal Heights: Adams County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Adams County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Federal Heights is about 3% of Adams County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Federal Heights 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
Commute32.2 min avg
How Federal Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Federal Heights, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 44% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 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 80% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Federal Heights runs 80% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
591.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,293.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Federal Heights Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Adams County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Adams County, which includes Federal Heights, the most common type is winter weather, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Winter Weather | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 32 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 29 | Hail | $1.1M |
| 2022 | 22 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 21 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 22 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 23 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | High Wind | $100,000 |
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
Adams County, county-wide
Federal Heights is about 3% of Adams County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Adams County, which includes Federal Heights, is typically good — 201 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
49
Good Days
201
per year
Moderate Days
163
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Adams County, county-wide
Federal Heights is about 3% of Adams County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate88°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Federal Heights has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
17.3"
Annual Snowfall
44.8"
Hot Days/Year
53
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
149
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
76
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 19°F | 0.45" |
| Feb | 50°F | 20°F | 0.54" |
| Mar | 58°F | 28°F | 1.21" |
| Apr | 64°F | 35°F | 1.94" |
| May | 72°F | 44°F | 2.35" |
| Jun | 85°F | 53°F | 1.50" |
| Jul | 91°F | 59°F | 1.73" |
| Aug | 89°F | 57°F | 1.32" |
| Sep | 82°F | 49°F | 1.19" |
| Oct | 67°F | 37°F | 1.07" |
| Nov | 56°F | 27°F | 0.73" |
| Dec | 48°F | 19°F | 0.48" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Federal Heights
Uninsured
18.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Federal Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
HCA Healthone Mountain Ridge
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.6 mi away · Thornton
West Pines Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 2.9 mi away · Westminster
Uchealth Broomfield Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.1 mi away · Broomfield
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.
Education16.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Federal Heights
Federal Heights's student/teacher ratio is 16.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 14.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Federal Heights (within 15 miles)
Metropolitan State University of Denver
8.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 15,002 students · in-state tuition $11,540 · 39% graduate · median earnings $57,612 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
12.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 10,519 students · in-state tuition $10,835 · 52% graduate · median earnings $69,387 (10 yrs after entry)
Colorado State University Global
8.4 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)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Rocky Mountain National Park, 49 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Federal Heights
Federal Heights has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Rocky Mountain National Park (49 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Rocky Mountain National Park
National Park
49 mi awayFlorissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
67 mi awayCities Near Federal Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Federal Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Federal Heights FAQ
Is Federal Heights, Colorado affordable?⌄
Federal Heights's median rent is $1,687/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $56,597/year. Median home value is $95,300.
Is Federal Heights, Colorado safe?⌄
Federal Heights's violent crime rate was 591 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2293 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Federal Heights, Colorado?⌄
Adams County, which includes Federal Heights, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Federal Heights, Colorado?⌄
The cost of living in Federal Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,687/month and median household income is $56,597/year. The median home value is $95,300. About 67% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Federal Heights, Colorado?⌄
The average commute in Federal Heights is 32 minutes, which is longer 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