The Town FilesDel Norte, Colorado
Town in Rio Grande County · population 1,458 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,400
- Household income
- $40,700
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 50.6
Del Norte is a town of 1,458 people in Rio Grande County, Colorado. The median home is worth $184,400, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks hipper than 97% of Colorado towns, better for cycling than 89% of Colorado towns, better for retirees than 88% of Colorado towns.
How Del Norte 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 Del Norte is worth $184,400, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $40,700, which is more affordable than 68% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $861 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Del Norte | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,400 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $861 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $40,700 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Del Norte
| People | Del Norte | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.6 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.5% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.7% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 13.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.8% | 92.9% |
Weather in Del Norte
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 7.2°F. About 9.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.6 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 0 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 Del Norte since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on September 25, 2012 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 25, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 12, 1955.
Severe weather in Rio Grande County since 1996
Rio Grande 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 |
| June 21, 2013 | Fire | FM-5031: West Fork Fire Complex |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Rio Grande County
Rio Grande County had 4,482 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,025 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Del Norte itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Del Norte
2 public schools with 371 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Norte High Jr./Sr. High School | 7-12 | 187 | 12.5 |
| Del Norte Elementary School | K-6 | 184 | 9.2 |
Towns near Del Norte
- Monte Vista, CO13.1 mi · 4,247 people · home $224,500
- Center, CO14.2 mi · 1,929 people · home $126,000
- South Fork, CO15.9 mi · 510 people · home $423,800
- Alamosa, CO29.6 mi · 9,806 people · home $225,200
Del Norte questions
Is Del Norte, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Del Norte scores better for retirees than 88% of Colorado towns and quieter than 62%. 32.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.6).
How much does a house cost in Del Norte?
The median owner-occupied home in Del Norte is valued at $184,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,700, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $861 a month.
What is the weather like in Del Norte?
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 7.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.7 inches of precipitation a year and 38.6 inches of snow.
Does Del Norte get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Del Norte since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on September 25, 2012. 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)