The Town FilesEstes Park, Colorado
Town in Larimer County · population 5,904 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $664,200
- Household income
- $85,956
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 104 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 55.6
Estes Park is a town of 5,904 people in Larimer County, Colorado. The median home is worth $664,200, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Colorado towns, better for a vacation home than 88% of Colorado towns, hipper than 72% of Colorado towns.
How Estes Park 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 Estes Park is worth $664,200, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 7.7 times the median household income of $85,956, which is more affordable than 12% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,511 a month. 69.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Estes Park | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $664,200 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,511 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $85,956 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.7× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 69.0% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 25.1% | — |
Who lives in Estes Park
| People | Estes Park | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.6 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.4% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 12.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.1% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 13.3 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 92.9% |
Weather in Estes Park
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 17.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 104.0 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Estes Park since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 18, 2018 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 18, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 18, 1981.
Severe weather in Larimer County since 1996
Larimer County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2024 | Fire | FM-5524: Alexander Mountain Fire |
| July 31, 2024 | Fire | FM-5525: Stone Mountain Fire |
| January 15, 2021 | Fire | DR-4581: Wildfires |
| September 6, 2020 | Fire | FM-5349: Cameron Peak Fire |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Larimer County
Larimer County had 175,265 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,912 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Estes Park itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Estes Park
3 public schools with 971 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estes Park K-5 School | PK-5 | 459 | 13.1 |
| Estes Park High School | 9-12 | 323 | 15.4 |
| Estes Park Middle School | 6-8 | 189 | 11.8 |
Towns near Estes Park
- Loveland, CO25.0 mi · 76,378 people · home $479,000
- Longmont, CO26.7 mi · 98,885 people · home $572,800
- Niwot, CO27.2 mi · 4,306 people · home $995,700
- Fort Collins, CO27.7 mi · 169,810 people · home $577,900
- Boulder, CO28.0 mi · 108,250 people · home $1,039,500
- Gunbarrel, CO28.4 mi · 9,554 people · home $821,000
Estes Park questions
Is Estes Park, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Estes Park scores better for retirees than 97% of Colorado towns and quieter than 71%. 34.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.6).
How much does a house cost in Estes Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Estes Park is valued at $664,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,956, so homes cost about 7.7 times income. Median rent is $1,511 a month.
What is the weather like in Estes Park?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.4 inches of precipitation a year and 104.0 inches of snow.
Does Estes Park get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Estes Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 18, 2018. 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)