The Town FilesBuena Vista, Colorado
Town in Chaffee County · population 2,855 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $572,700
- Household income
- $78,323
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 36.0
Buena Vista is a town of 2,855 people in Chaffee County, Colorado. The median home is worth $572,700, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks hipper than 88% of Colorado towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Colorado towns.
How Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista is worth $572,700, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 7.3 times the median household income of $78,323, which is more affordable than 15% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $2,020 a month. 45.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buena Vista | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $572,700 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $2,020 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $78,323 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.3× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 45.9% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Buena Vista
| People | Buena Vista | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 5.0% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.5% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 1.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 16.1% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 13.8 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 92.9% |
Weather in Buena Vista
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 11.1°F. About 9.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.3 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 208 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Buena Vista since 1950.
Severe weather in Chaffee County since 1996
Chaffee County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, snowstorm, biological.
| 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 Chaffee County
Chaffee County had 9,229 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,718 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Buena Vista itself the ACS puts it at 12.4%.
Public schools in Buena Vista
5 public schools with 985 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avery/Parsons Elementary School | K-5 | 398 | 13.3 |
| Buena Vista High School | 9-12 | 271 | 12.3 |
| Buena Vista Middle School | 6-8 | 229 | 12.7 |
| The Grove BVSD's Early Learning Program | PK-PK | 75 | 75.0 |
| Chaffee County High School | 7-12 | 12 | 6.0 |
Towns near Buena Vista
- Salida, CO22.1 mi · 5,666 people · home $648,500
- Leadville, CO30.0 mi · 2,633 people · home $447,600
Buena Vista questions
Is Buena Vista, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buena Vista scores better for retirees than 69% of Colorado towns and quieter than 65%. 5.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Buena Vista?
The median owner-occupied home in Buena Vista is valued at $572,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,323, so homes cost about 7.3 times income. Median rent is $2,020 a month.
What is the weather like in Buena Vista?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 11.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.9 inches of precipitation a year and 49.3 inches of snow.
Does Buena Vista get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Buena Vista 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)