The Town FilesLa Junta, Colorado
City in Otero County · population 7,322 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $194,800
- Household income
- $52,315
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 38.2
La Junta is a city of 7,322 people in Otero County, Colorado. The median home is worth $194,800, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks more walkable than 91% of Colorado towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Colorado towns, hipper than 83% of Colorado towns.
How La Junta 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 La Junta is worth $194,800, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $52,315, which is more affordable than 87% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $642 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | La Junta | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,800 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $642 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $52,315 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in La Junta
| People | La Junta | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 92.9% |
Weather in La Junta
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 16.5°F. About 13.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.8 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Junta since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 24, 1998 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 6, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 23, 1987.
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 La Junta itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in La Junta
4 public schools with 1,326 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Junta Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 504 | 18.7 |
| La Junta Intermediate School | 3-6 | 405 | 12.7 |
| La Junta Primary School | K-2 | 293 | 10.5 |
| Tiger Trades Academy | 5-12 | 124 | 31.0 |
Towns near La Junta
- Rocky Ford, CO10.7 mi · 3,876 people · home $143,900
La Junta questions
Is La Junta, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, La Junta scores better for retirees than 17% of Colorado towns and quieter than 23%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in La Junta?
The median owner-occupied home in La Junta is valued at $194,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,315, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $642 a month.
What is the weather like in La Junta?
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 16.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.6 inches of precipitation a year and 33.8 inches of snow.
Does La Junta get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Junta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 24, 1998. 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)