What it's like to live in Montrose
Montrose is a small city in Colorado with rent below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Montrose deals with larger class sizes than the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Growing population
The not so good
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Montrose compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Montrose
Based on Montrose's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,394
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $47,880 a year
- 51% of Montrose renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$77,580
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $38,790
- Homes cost 5.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 15% below US
$1,197/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,197 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $387,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $387,900 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.2% county unemployment
Unemployment in Montrose 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.
Montrose County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 45% below US
182 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1834/100k · Montrose Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 22% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 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
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. 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 Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park (10 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Montrose's strongest points are rent below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,197/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes.
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