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Living in
Wheat Ridge.
About
Life in Wheat Ridge
If you're considering Wheat Ridge, understand that you're looking at a mature Denver suburb with solid middle to upper-middle-class character—not a bargain, but not as expensive as Denver proper. The median home price of $623,000 and median rent of $1,579 are well above national averages, though the median household income of $90,564 helps offset that for many households. Jobs are reasonably accessible, with education, healthcare, and professional services leading employment sectors, and a 23.9-minute average commute to Denver jobs is manageable if you're willing to use I-70 regularly.
Wheat Ridge at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Foreign-Born
6.4%
Broadband Internet
92.0%
of households
Population Growth
-1.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Wheat Ridge: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wheat Ridge, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (30.8%), and 6.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.3%
of residents
65 and Older
20.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.5%
of households
Married Couples
38.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.08
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 10% below CO average
Rent, home values, and income in Wheat Ridge
In Wheat Ridge, rent runs 10% below the CO average, and home values are 15% above the CO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,757
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $581,865 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CO
Unemployment in Wheat Ridge and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Wheat Ridge is close to the CO average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Wheat Ridge 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
Commute23.4 min avg
How Wheat Ridge residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wheat Ridge, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 22 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 19% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Wheat Ridge runs 19% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
266.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,914.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Wheat Ridge 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 Wheat Ridge, 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
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Wheat Ridge, 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
Climate86°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Wheat Ridge has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/54°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/34°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
17.1"
Annual Snowfall
75.5"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
168
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
87
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 17°F | 0.64" |
| Feb | 48°F | 18°F | 0.78" |
| Mar | 57°F | 26°F | 1.48" |
| Apr | 62°F | 33°F | 2.31" |
| May | 71°F | 43°F | 2.65" |
| Jun | 83°F | 51°F | 1.67" |
| Jul | 88°F | 57°F | 1.88" |
| Aug | 86°F | 55°F | 1.60" |
| Sep | 79°F | 45°F | 1.34" |
| Oct | 66°F | 34°F | 1.22" |
| Nov | 55°F | 24°F | 0.92" |
| Dec | 47°F | 17°F | 0.62" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wheat Ridge
Wheat Ridge has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Centura Health-st Anthony Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Lakewood
Orthocolorado Hosp at St Anthony Med Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Lakewood
Denver Health & Hospital Authority
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.7 mi away · Denver
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.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wheat Ridge
Wheat Ridge's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 47.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
47.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Wheat Ridge (within 15 miles)
Metropolitan State University of Denver
5.6 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
14.2 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
6.3 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, 51 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wheat Ridge
Wheat Ridge has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Rocky Mountain National Park (51 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Rocky Mountain National Park
National Park
51 mi awayFlorissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
60 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wheat Ridge
Wheat Ridge Library
5475 West 32nd Avenue, Wheat Ridge
Cities Near Wheat Ridge
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wheat Ridge?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wheat Ridge FAQ
Is Wheat Ridge, Colorado affordable?⌄
Wheat Ridge's median rent is $1,579/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $90,564/year. Median home value is $623,000.
Is Wheat Ridge, Colorado safe?⌄
Wheat Ridge's violent crime rate was 266 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3915 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Wheat Ridge, Colorado?⌄
Wheat Ridge has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Wheat Ridge, Colorado?⌄
The cost of living in Wheat Ridge is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,579/month and median household income is $90,564/year. The median home value is $623,000. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wheat Ridge, Colorado?⌄
The average commute in Wheat Ridge is 23 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