The Town FilesNucla, Colorado
Town in Montrose County · population 585 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,100
- Household income
- $42,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 55.6
Nucla is a town of 585 people in Montrose County, Colorado. The median home is worth $141,100, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks quieter than 98% of Colorado towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Colorado towns, better for retirees than 80% of Colorado towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Colorado
- #5 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Colorado
- #9 in The 16 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Colorado With Mild Winters
- #11 in 25 Small Towns in Colorado With the Cheapest Homes
- #13 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Colorado
- #24 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Colorado
How Nucla 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 Nucla is worth $141,100, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $42,857, which is more affordable than 92% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $929 a month. 65.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nucla | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,100 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $929 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $42,857 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 65.2% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Nucla
| People | Nucla | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.6 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.6% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.6% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 14.4 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.5% | 92.9% |
Weather in Nucla
July highs average 97.0°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 11.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.4 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Nucla since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on October 1, 2022.
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 Nucla itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Nucla
2 public schools with 94 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nucla High School | 9-12 | 63 | 10.5 |
| Nucla Middle School | 7-8 | 31 | 15.5 |
Towns near Nucla
- Norwood, CO16.9 mi · 535 people · home $333,700
Nucla questions
Is Nucla, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nucla scores better for retirees than 80% of Colorado towns and quieter than 98%. 34.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.6).
How much does a house cost in Nucla?
The median owner-occupied home in Nucla is valued at $141,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,857, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $929 a month.
What is the weather like in Nucla?
July highs average 97.0°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.9 inches of precipitation a year and 28.4 inches of snow.
Does Nucla get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Nucla 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)