The Town FilesFowler, Colorado
Town in Otero County · population 1,253 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,900
- Household income
- $44,048
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 61.0
Fowler is a town of 1,253 people in Otero County, Colorado. The median home is worth $143,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks hipper than 97% of Colorado towns, better for retirees than 94% of Colorado towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Colorado towns.
- #6 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Colorado
- #14 in 25 Small Towns in Colorado With the Cheapest Homes
- #18 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Colorado
- #22 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Colorado
- #23 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Colorado
How Fowler 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 Fowler is worth $143,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $44,048, which is more affordable than 92% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $761 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fowler | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,900 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $761 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $44,048 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fowler
| People | Fowler | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.0 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 45.3% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 66.3% | 92.9% |
Weather in Fowler
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 12.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.3 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fowler since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on June 11, 2009 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 29, 2018.
Severe weather in Otero County since 1996
Otero 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 |
| January 7, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3271: Snow |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Otero County
Otero County had 6,054 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,375 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Fowler itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Fowler
3 public schools with 355 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fowler Elementary School | K-6 | 198 | 11.0 |
| Fowler High School | 9-12 | 98 | 8.9 |
| Fowler Junior High School | 7-8 | 59 | 11.8 |
Towns near Fowler
- Ordway, CO15.9 mi · 1,066 people · home $104,400
- Rocky Ford, CO17.4 mi · 3,876 people · home $143,900
- Avondale, CO18.9 mi · 594 people · home $164,100
- Swink, CO23.1 mi · 604 people · home $163,000
- La Junta, CO28.1 mi · 7,322 people · home $194,800
Fowler questions
Is Fowler, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fowler scores better for retirees than 94% of Colorado towns and quieter than 71%. 45.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.0).
How much does a house cost in Fowler?
The median owner-occupied home in Fowler is valued at $143,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,048, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $761 a month.
What is the weather like in Fowler?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.1 inches of precipitation a year and 17.3 inches of snow.
Does Fowler get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fowler since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on June 11, 2009. 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)