The Town FilesCortez, Colorado
City in Montezuma County · population 8,766 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $272,900
- Household income
- $54,247
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 36.4
Cortez is a city of 8,766 people in Montezuma County, Colorado. The median home is worth $272,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Colorado towns, better for cycling than 81% of Colorado towns, more vibrant than 77% of Colorado towns.
How Cortez 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 Cortez is worth $272,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $54,247, which is more affordable than 54% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $984 a month. 65.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cortez | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $272,900 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $984 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $54,247 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 65.6% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Cortez
| People | Cortez | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 15.1 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 92.9% |
Weather in Cortez
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 11.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.4 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Cortez since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 25, 1985 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 25, 1985.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 22, 1992.
Severe weather in Montezuma County since 1996
Montezuma County has been included in 8 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 |
| June 24, 2012 | Fire | FM-2985: Weber Fire |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Montezuma County
Montezuma County had 9,453 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,173 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Cortez itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Cortez
9 public schools with 2,472 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma-Cortez High School | 9-12 | 601 | 16.2 |
| Montezuma-Cortez Middle School | 6-8 | 543 | 14.3 |
| Mesa Elementary School | K-5 | 409 | 16.4 |
| Kemper Elementary School | K-5 | 347 | 16.5 |
| Children's Kiva Montessori School (charter) | K-8 | 142 | 10.9 |
| Southwest Open Charter School (charter) | 9-12 | 134 | 13.4 |
| Lewis-Arriola Elementary School | K-5 | 120 | 15.0 |
| Battle Rock Charter School (charter) | K-6 | 89 | 12.7 |
| Beech Street Preschool | PK-PK | 87 | — |
Cortez questions
Is Cortez, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cortez scores better for retirees than 41% of Colorado towns and quieter than 42%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Cortez?
The median owner-occupied home in Cortez is valued at $272,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,247, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $984 a month.
What is the weather like in Cortez?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.8 inches of precipitation a year and 33.4 inches of snow.
Does Cortez get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Cortez since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 25, 1985. 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)