The Town FilesHotchkiss, Colorado
Town in Delta County · population 875 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $266,700
- Household income
- $54,545
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 37.7
Hotchkiss is a town of 875 people in Delta County, Colorado. The median home is worth $266,700, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks quieter than 97% of Colorado towns, better for retirees than 85% of Colorado towns, better for cycling than 79% of Colorado towns.
How Hotchkiss 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 Hotchkiss is worth $266,700, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $54,545, which is more affordable than 57% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,300 a month. 76.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hotchkiss | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $266,700 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,300 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $54,545 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 76.3% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hotchkiss
| People | Hotchkiss | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 16.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.2% | 92.9% |
Weather in Hotchkiss
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 14.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.4 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Hotchkiss since 1950.
Severe weather in Delta County since 1996
Delta 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 |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| July 3, 2004 | Fire | FM-2526: Co-Mcgruder Fire-07/03/2004 |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Delta County
Delta County had 8,997 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,843 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Hotchkiss itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Hotchkiss
2 public schools with 580 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotchkiss Elementary School | PK-8 | 302 | 17.8 |
| North Fork High School | 9-12 | 278 | 16.4 |
Towns near Hotchkiss
- Paonia, CO8.2 mi · 1,447 people · home $343,700
- Cedaredge, CO13.2 mi · 2,279 people · home $276,700
- Orchard City, CO13.7 mi · 3,142 people · home $324,300
- Olathe, CO19.6 mi · 2,019 people · home $245,600
- Delta, CO20.4 mi · 9,035 people · home $283,300
- Montrose, CO24.1 mi · 20,291 people · home $387,900
Hotchkiss questions
Is Hotchkiss, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hotchkiss scores better for retirees than 85% of Colorado towns and quieter than 97%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Hotchkiss?
The median owner-occupied home in Hotchkiss is valued at $266,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,545, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $1,300 a month.
What is the weather like in Hotchkiss?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.3 inches of precipitation a year and 41.4 inches of snow.
Does Hotchkiss get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Hotchkiss in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)