The Town Files

Montezuma County, Colorado

26,412 people. The median home is worth $331,400 (typical Colorado town: $471,100) and the median household earns $65,244.

Towns in Montezuma County

Towns in Montezuma County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Cortez8,766$272,900$54,24736.4

People and housing

Montezuma CountyTypical Colorado town
Median home value$331,400$471,100
Median rent$942$1,582
Median household income$65,244$86,246
Median age44.540.1
Bachelor's degree or higher31.3%37.8%
Below the poverty line13.3%8.8%

Jobs and pay

9,453 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,173 a year.

Largest industries in Montezuma CountyHealth care & social assistan…1,556 jobs · $46,803Retail1,504 jobs · $37,713Hotels & restaurants1,016 jobs · $24,477Construction467 jobs · $46,603Other services345 jobs · $37,725Manufacturing310 jobs · $43,835
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Montezuma County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 1,532 storm events in Montezuma County from 1996 to 2026, with 12 deaths.

Storm events in Montezuma County by type since 1996Hail23Drought308Wildfire88Avalanche50High Wind30Heavy Rain22Heavy Snow136Frost/Freeze63Winter Storm281Winter Weather393
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Montezuma County has been included in 8 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 28, 2020BiologicalDR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3436: Covid-19
June 24, 2012FireFM-2985: Weber Fire
September 5, 2005Coastal StormEM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
June 19, 2002FireDR-1421: Wildfires
January 29, 1977DroughtEM-3025: Drought
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).