What it's like to live in Federal Heights
Federal Heights is a small city in Colorado with home prices that remain within reach and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Federal Heights deals with rent well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Low college degree attainment
How Federal Heights compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Federal Heights
Based on Federal Heights's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,374
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $67,480 a year
- 67% of Federal Heights renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$19,060
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $9,530
- Homes cost 1.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 19% above US
$1,687/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,687 a month median. That premium adds up quickly for renters whose income hasn't kept pace with local prices. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $95,300. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $95,300 · 67% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.2% county unemployment
Unemployment in Adams County is 4.2%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Adams County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 80% above US
591 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2293/100k · Federal Heights Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 24% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.2 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 19°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 61% below US
14% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
2 public schools inside the boundary
There are 2 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Rocky Mountain National Park (49 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Federal Heights's strongest point is home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,687/mo) equals 36% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
See all the data for Federal Heights →·All Colorado cities →
Other places near Federal Heights
All Colorado guides →Moving to Sherrelwood →
2 mi away · pop. 18,692
Rent $1,702/mo · Income $75,327
Compare with Federal Heights →Moving to Westminster →
3 mi away · pop. 115,484
Rent $1,882/mo · Income $100,272
Compare with Federal Heights →Moving to Welby →
3 mi away · pop. 16,197
Rent $1,656/mo · Income $80,026
Compare with Federal Heights →Moving to Northglenn →
4 mi away · pop. 38,014
Rent $1,775/mo · Income $84,030
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