The Town Files

Rio Blanco County, Colorado

6,544 people. The median home is worth $274,400 (typical Colorado town: $471,100) and the median household earns $65,473.

Towns in Rio Blanco County

Towns in Rio Blanco County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Meeker2,374$286,000$66,54837.8
Rangely2,299$187,400$66,38933.3

People and housing

Rio Blanco CountyTypical Colorado town
Median home value$274,400$471,100
Median rent$919$1,582
Median household income$65,473$86,246
Median age37.840.1
Bachelor's degree or higher24.7%37.8%
Below the poverty line8.5%8.8%

Jobs and pay

2,889 jobs in 2024, average pay $61,045 a year.

Largest industries in Rio Blanco CountyMining, oil & gas506 jobs · $105,363Retail228 jobs · $31,502Administrative & support111 jobs · $64,553Transportation & warehousing46 jobs · $67,296Finance & insurance44 jobs · $73,935Agriculture, forestry & fishi…43 jobs · $53,299
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Rio Blanco County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 2,553 storm events in Rio Blanco County from 1996 to 2026, with 6 deaths.

Storm events in Rio Blanco County by type since 1996Drought517Wildfire135Dense Fog90High Wind122Heavy Snow154Debris Flow30Flash Flood33Frost/Freeze83Winter Storm378Winter Weather876
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Rio Blanco County has been included in 7 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
August 6, 2025FireFM-5603: Lee Fire
August 6, 2025FireFM-5604: Elk Fire
March 28, 2020BiologicalDR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3436: Covid-19
September 5, 2005Coastal StormEM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
June 19, 2002FireDR-1421: Wildfires
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).