What it's like to live in Pueblo
Pueblo is a mid-size city in Colorado with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and several well-rated hospitals. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Pueblo deals with unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Several well-rated hospitals
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold, harsh winters
- Hot summers
How Pueblo compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Pueblo
Based on Pueblo's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,164
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,280 a year
- 50% of Pueblo renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$49,440
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $24,720
- Homes cost 4.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 23% below US
$1,082/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,082 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $247,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $247,200 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 37% above US
5.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.9%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 257% above US
1177 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 4336/100k · Pueblo Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 25% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 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 90°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 16°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 34% below US
24% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 24%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
39 public schools inside the boundary
There are 39 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (57 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Pueblo's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,082/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up, anyone who doesn't drive, and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
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