What it's like to live in Greeley
Greeley is a mid-size city in Colorado with a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Greeley deals with crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Growing population
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Greeley compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Greeley
Based on Greeley's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,776
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,520 a year
- 58% of Greeley renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$80,500
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $40,250
- Homes cost 5.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,388/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,388 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $402,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $402,500 · 58% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 91% above US
630 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2915/100k · Greeley Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.3 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 18°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 23% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
29 public schools inside the boundary
There are 29 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Rocky Mountain National Park (49 miles away).
Bottom line
Greeley's strongest point is a growing population; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,388/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Greeley
All Colorado guides →Not sure Greeley is the one?
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