The Town FilesCheyenne Wells, Colorado
Town in Cheyenne County · population 758 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,100
- Household income
- $72,759
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 43.5
Cheyenne Wells is a town of 758 people in Cheyenne County, Colorado. The median home is worth $173,100, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Colorado towns, easier by car than 87% of Colorado towns, quieter than 83% of Colorado towns.
- #1 in The 16 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Colorado With Mild Winters
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Colorado
- #6 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Colorado
- #8 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Colorado
- #20 in 25 Small Towns in Colorado With the Mildest Winters
How Cheyenne Wells 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 Cheyenne Wells is worth $173,100, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $72,759, which is more affordable than 98% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $943 a month. 67.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cheyenne Wells | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,100 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $943 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $72,759 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.6% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.5% | — |
Who lives in Cheyenne Wells
| People | Cheyenne Wells | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 13.2 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 92.9% |
Weather in Cheyenne Wells
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 19.6°F. About 16.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.5 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheyenne Wells since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 16, 1979 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 82 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 18, 2011.
Severe weather in Cheyenne County since 1996
Cheyenne County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4731: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| January 7, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3271: Snow |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Cheyenne County
Cheyenne County had 720 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,510 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Cheyenne Wells itself the ACS puts it at 0.2%.
Public schools in Cheyenne Wells
2 public schools with 169 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne Wells Elementary School | PK-6 | 100 | 10.0 |
| Cheyenne Wells Junior/High School | 7-12 | 69 | 13.8 |
Cheyenne Wells questions
Is Cheyenne Wells, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cheyenne Wells scores better for retirees than 75% of Colorado towns and quieter than 83%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.5).
How much does a house cost in Cheyenne Wells?
The median owner-occupied home in Cheyenne Wells is valued at $173,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,759, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $943 a month.
What is the weather like in Cheyenne Wells?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 19.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.4 inches of precipitation a year and 19.5 inches of snow.
Does Cheyenne Wells get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheyenne Wells since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 16, 1979. 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)