The Town FilesMontrose, Colorado
City in Montrose County · population 20,291 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $387,900
- Household income
- $70,386
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 47.0
Montrose is a city of 20,291 people in Montrose County, Colorado. The median home is worth $387,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Colorado towns, better for cycling than 84% of Colorado towns, more vibrant than 76% of Colorado towns.
How Montrose 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 Montrose is worth $387,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $70,386, which is more affordable than 42% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,197 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montrose | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $387,900 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,197 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $70,386 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Montrose
| People | Montrose | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.7% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 92.9% |
Weather in Montrose
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 17.5°F. About 9.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.5 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Montrose since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 30, 2000.
Severe weather in Montrose County since 1996
Montrose 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 15, 2002 | Fire | FM-2442: Co - Burn Canyon Fire - 07/15/02 |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Montrose County
Montrose County had 17,014 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,650 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Montrose itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Montrose
13 public schools with 5,100 students, about 18.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose High School | 9-12 | 1,275 | 20.9 |
| Centennial Middle School | 6-8 | 555 | 16.8 |
| Johnson Elementary School | PK-5 | 528 | 18.9 |
| Columbine Middle School | 6-8 | 508 | 18.1 |
| Cottonwood Elementary School | K-5 | 412 | 18.7 |
| Oak Grove Elementary School | K-5 | 387 | 16.1 |
| Northside Elementary School | K-5 | 338 | 14.7 |
| Pomona Elementary School | K-5 | 328 | 16.4 |
| Peak Virtual Academy | K-12 | 221 | 17.0 |
| Vista Charter School (charter) | 9-12 | 177 | 44.3 |
| Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 170 | 34.0 |
| Black Canyon High School | 9-12 | 118 | 19.7 |
Towns near Montrose
- Delta, CO23.5 mi · 9,035 people · home $283,300
- Orchard City, CO24.8 mi · 3,142 people · home $324,300
Montrose questions
Is Montrose, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montrose scores better for retirees than 50% of Colorado towns and quieter than 35%. 27.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in Montrose?
The median owner-occupied home in Montrose is valued at $387,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,386, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $1,197 a month.
What is the weather like in Montrose?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 17.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.3 inches of precipitation a year and 21.5 inches of snow.
Does Montrose get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Montrose 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)