The Town FilesIdaho Springs, Colorado
City in Clear Creek County · population 1,782 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $446,500
- Household income
- $89,436
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 133 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 43.3
Idaho Springs is a city of 1,782 people in Clear Creek County, Colorado. The median home is worth $446,500, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Colorado towns, hipper than 94% of Colorado towns, more walkable than 82% of Colorado towns.
How Idaho Springs 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 Idaho Springs is worth $446,500, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $89,436, which is more affordable than 54% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,548 a month. 74.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Idaho Springs | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $446,500 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,548 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $89,436 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 74.2% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Idaho Springs
| People | Idaho Springs | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.3% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 24.9% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 92.9% |
Weather in Idaho Springs
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 18.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 133.2 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 210 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Idaho Springs since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on August 18, 2007 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 18, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 3, 2007.
Severe weather in Clear Creek County since 1996
Clear Creek County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| September 14, 2013 | Flood | DR-4145: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 12, 2013 | Flood | EM-3365: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Clear Creek County
Clear Creek County had 3,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,645 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Idaho Springs itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Idaho Springs
1 public school with 140 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlson Elementary School | PK-6 | 140 | 12.7 |
Towns near Idaho Springs
- Floyd Hill, CO4.2 mi · 1,048 people · home $802,900
- Downieville-Lawson-Dumont, CO5.6 mi · 527 people · home $383,700
- Upper Bear Creek, CO9.8 mi · 984 people · home $1,075,600
- Georgetown, CO10.4 mi · 1,118 people · home $521,700
- Evergreen, CO11.8 mi · 9,307 people · home $829,400
- Kittredge, CO12.3 mi · 1,308 people · home $744,000
- Coal Creek, CO12.8 mi · 2,494 people · home $625,800
- Genesee, CO13.1 mi · 3,610 people · home $1,032,700
Idaho Springs questions
Is Idaho Springs, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Idaho Springs scores better for retirees than 57% of Colorado towns and quieter than 73%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Idaho Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Idaho Springs is valued at $446,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,436, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,548 a month.
What is the weather like in Idaho Springs?
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.3 inches of precipitation a year and 133.2 inches of snow.
Does Idaho Springs get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Idaho Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on August 18, 2007. 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)