The Town FilesAlamosa, Colorado
City in Alamosa County · population 9,806 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,200
- Household income
- $49,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 31.2
Alamosa is a city of 9,806 people in Alamosa County, Colorado. The median home is worth $225,200, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 89% of Colorado towns, hipper than 79% of Colorado towns, better for young professionals than 76% of Colorado towns.
How Alamosa ranks
Percentile among Colorado towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Colorado towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alamosa is worth $225,200, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $49,688, which is more affordable than 68% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $837 a month. 44.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alamosa | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,200 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $837 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $49,688 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 44.3% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Alamosa
| People | Alamosa | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 14.1 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 92.9% |
Weather in Alamosa
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows -0.4°F. About 7.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.0 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 221 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alamosa since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 10, 1955 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on September 7, 1986.
Severe weather in Alamosa County since 1996
Alamosa County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| April 9, 2003 | Snowstorm | EM-3185: Snow |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Alamosa County
Alamosa County had 8,152 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,261 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Alamosa itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Alamosa
5 public schools with 2,038 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alamosa High School | 9-12 | 570 | 15.4 |
| Ortega Middle School | 6-8 | 499 | 15.1 |
| Alamosa Elementary School 3-5 | 3-5 | 479 | 15.5 |
| Alamosa Elementary School K-2 | K-2 | 447 | 14.4 |
| Alamosa Alternative Education School | 6-12 | 43 | 14.3 |
Towns near Alamosa
- Monte Vista, CO16.6 mi · 4,247 people · home $224,500
Alamosa questions
Is Alamosa, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alamosa scores better for retirees than 8% of Colorado towns and quieter than 7%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.2).
How much does a house cost in Alamosa?
The median owner-occupied home in Alamosa is valued at $225,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,688, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $837 a month.
What is the weather like in Alamosa?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows -0.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 7.3 inches of precipitation a year and 30.0 inches of snow.
Does Alamosa get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alamosa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 10, 1955. The typical Colorado town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)