What it's like to live in Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs is a small city in Colorado with county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Steamboat Springs deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Heavy snowfall — 185" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Steamboat Springs compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Steamboat Springs
Based on Steamboat Springs's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,034
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $80,680 a year
- 58% of Steamboat Springs renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$196,360
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $98,180
- Homes cost 9.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 43% above US
$2,017/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,017 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $981,800. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $981,800 · 58% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Routt County is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Routt County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 23% below US
255 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 1006/100k · Steamboat Springs Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 45% below US
14 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 14.3 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 6°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 73% above US
62% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Rocky Mountain National Park (60 miles away).
Bottom line
Steamboat Springs's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,017/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
See all the data for Steamboat Springs →·All Colorado cities →
Other places near Steamboat Springs
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