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Living in
Golden.
About
Life in Golden
Living in Golden means embracing a tight-knit mountain town that's become increasingly expensive and crowded, even as its population slightly declines. The economy here is genuinely diverse—you've got Coors Brewery as the largest employer with 900 full-time jobs, but also the Colorado School of Mines driving a tech and engineering sector, federal science institutions like the National Earthquake Information Center, and a sprawling craft beer scene with eight microbreweries that actually matters to local culture. The median household income sits around $99k, which sounds solid until you see median home prices hovering near $838k and rent at $1,953 a month; this isn't cheap Colorado anymore, and unless you're landing one of those engineering or brewery jobs, affording a house here requires serious planning.
Golden at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Foreign-Born
6.3%
Broadband Internet
95.2%
of households
Population Growth
-0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Golden: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Golden, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (7.1%), and 3.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.7%
of residents
65 and Older
13.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.6%
of households
Married Couples
39.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.33
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 11% above CO average
Rent, home values, and income in Golden
In Golden, rent runs 11% above the CO average, and home values are 55% above the CO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,811
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $847,466 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CO
Unemployment in Golden and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Golden, is close to the CO average.
Unemployment rate
Golden: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Golden is about 4% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Golden 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
Commute24.4 min avg
How Golden residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Golden, most residents drive alone to work (51%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 30 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 62% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Golden runs 62% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
124.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,200
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Golden Police Department
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 Golden, 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
Golden 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 Golden, 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
Golden is about 4% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Golden has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
20.8"
Annual Snowfall
58.0"
Hot Days/Year
31
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
154
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
84
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 21°F | 0.64" |
| Feb | 45°F | 22°F | 0.77" |
| Mar | 53°F | 29°F | 1.33" |
| Apr | 59°F | 35°F | 2.36" |
| May | 68°F | 44°F | 2.62" |
| Jun | 80°F | 54°F | 2.06" |
| Jul | 86°F | 60°F | 2.00" |
| Aug | 84°F | 58°F | 1.89" |
| Sep | 76°F | 49°F | 1.38" |
| Oct | 63°F | 37°F | 1.14" |
| Nov | 52°F | 28°F | 0.82" |
| Dec | 45°F | 20°F | 0.53" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Golden
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Golden's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Orthocolorado Hosp at St Anthony Med Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 mi away · Lakewood
Centura Health-st Anthony Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 mi away · Lakewood
Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Wheat Ridge
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.
Education18.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Golden
Golden's student/teacher ratio is 18.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 59.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
59.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Golden
Public · 4-year · 6,155 students · in-state tuition $22,658 · 82% graduate · median earnings $102,077 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Metropolitan State University of Denver
11 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
11.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,563 students · in-state tuition $9,000 · 45% graduate · median earnings $82,047 (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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,627 students · in-state tuition $47,840 · 57% graduate · median earnings $79,971 (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, 50 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Golden
Golden has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Rocky Mountain National Park (50 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Rocky Mountain National Park
National Park
50 mi awayFlorissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
57 mi awayPublic Libraries in Golden
Golden Library
1019 Tenth Street, Golden
Cities Near Golden
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Golden?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Golden FAQ
Is Golden, Colorado affordable?⌄
Golden's median rent is $1,953/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $98,582/year. Median home value is $837,700.
Is Golden, Colorado safe?⌄
Golden's violent crime rate was 124 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2200 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Golden, Colorado?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Golden, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Golden, Colorado?⌄
The cost of living in Golden is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,953/month and median household income is $98,582/year. The median home value is $837,700. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Golden, Colorado?⌄
The average commute in Golden is 24 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