The Town FilesCenter, Colorado
Town in Saguache County · population 1,929 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $126,000
- Household income
- $45,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 37.9
Center is a town of 1,929 people in Saguache County, Colorado. The median home is worth $126,000, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 85% of Colorado towns, easier by car than 79% of Colorado towns.
How Center 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 Center is worth $126,000, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $45,750, which is more affordable than 96% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $490 a month. 69.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Center | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $126,000 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $490 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $45,750 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 69.8% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Center
| People | Center | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.8% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 12.5 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 92.9% |
Weather in Center
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 4.2°F. About 7.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.1 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 213 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Center since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 20, 2013 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 16, 2008.
Severe weather in Saguache County since 1996
Saguache County has been included in 9 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 |
| July 16, 2015 | Flood | DR-4229: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| April 9, 2003 | Snowstorm | EM-3185: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Saguache County
Saguache County had 1,768 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,969 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Center itself the ACS puts it at 18.1%.
Public schools in Center
4 public schools with 586 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haskin Elementary School | PK-5 | 292 | 16.2 |
| Center High School | 9-12 | 155 | 15.5 |
| Skoglund Middle School | 6-8 | 136 | 17.0 |
| The Academic Recovery Center of San Luis Valley | 9-12 | 3 | — |
Towns near Center
- Monte Vista, CO12.2 mi · 4,247 people · home $224,500
- Del Norte, CO14.2 mi · 1,458 people · home $184,400
- Alamosa, CO23.1 mi · 9,806 people · home $225,200
- Saguache, CO23.1 mi · 539 people · home —
- Alamosa East, CO24.1 mi · 1,453 people · home $264,400
- South Fork, CO29.7 mi · 510 people · home $423,800
Center questions
Is Center, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Center scores better for retirees than 25% of Colorado towns and quieter than 63%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Center?
The median owner-occupied home in Center is valued at $126,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,750, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $490 a month.
What is the weather like in Center?
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 4.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 7.2 inches of precipitation a year and 25.1 inches of snow.
Does Center get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Center since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 20, 2013. 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)