The Town FilesAspen, Colorado
City in Pitkin County · population 7,004 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $819,900
- Household income
- $74,033
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 171 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 43.7
Aspen is a city of 7,004 people in Pitkin County, Colorado. The median home is worth $819,900, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Colorado towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Colorado towns, better for a vacation home than 90% of Colorado towns.
How Aspen 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 Aspen is worth $819,900, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 11.1 times the median household income of $74,033, which is more affordable than 4% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $2,081 a month. 57.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Aspen | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $819,900 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $2,081 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $74,033 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 11.1× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 57.1% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.6% | — |
Who lives in Aspen
| People | Aspen | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 9.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.6% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.6% | — |
| Work from home | 18.4% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 14.4 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 92.9% |
Weather in Aspen
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 24.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 170.8 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 210 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Aspen since 1950.
Severe weather in Pitkin County since 1996
Pitkin County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
| July 27, 1984 | Flood | DR-719: Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Pitkin County
Pitkin County had 18,030 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $78,151 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Aspen itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Aspen
4 public schools with 1,417 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen High School | 9-12 | 560 | 11.4 |
| Aspen Elementary School | PK-4 | 438 | 11.5 |
| Aspen Middle School | 5-8 | 391 | 10.6 |
| Aspen Preschool | PK-PK | 28 | — |
Towns near Aspen
- Snowmass Village, CO5.9 mi · 3,096 people · home $1,729,900
- Basalt, CO16.5 mi · 3,984 people · home $1,180,300
- El Jebel, CO20.1 mi · 4,130 people · home $912,200
- Carbondale, CO24.5 mi · 6,434 people · home $900,600
- Leadville, CO29.3 mi · 2,633 people · home $447,600
Aspen questions
Is Aspen, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Aspen scores better for retirees than 81% of Colorado towns and quieter than 54%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Aspen?
The median owner-occupied home in Aspen is valued at $819,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,033, so homes cost about 11.1 times income. Median rent is $2,081 a month.
What is the weather like in Aspen?
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.4 inches of precipitation a year and 170.8 inches of snow.
Does Aspen get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Aspen in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)