The Town FilesOrchard City, Colorado
Town in Delta County · population 3,142 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $324,300
- Household income
- $55,960
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 50.9
Orchard City is a town of 3,142 people in Delta County, Colorado. The median home is worth $324,300, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks quieter than 95% of Colorado towns, better for retirees than 84% of Colorado towns, better for families than 80% of Colorado towns.
- #1 in The 20 Quietest Small Towns in Colorado
- #5 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Colorado
- #19 in 25 Small Towns in Colorado With the Cheapest Homes
- #22 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Colorado
- #24 in 25 Small Towns in Colorado With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #49 in The 50 Quietest Small Towns in America
How Orchard City 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 Orchard City is worth $324,300, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $55,960, which is more affordable than 33% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,174 a month. 81.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Orchard City | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $324,300 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,174 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $55,960 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 81.6% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Orchard City
| People | Orchard City | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.2% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.7% | 92.9% |
Weather in Orchard City
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 12.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.7 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Orchard City since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 11, 2002 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 11, 2002.
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 Orchard City itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Towns near Orchard City
- Delta, CO7.7 mi · 9,035 people · home $283,300
- Montrose, CO24.8 mi · 20,291 people · home $387,900
- Palisade, CO29.0 mi · 2,565 people · home $404,600
Orchard City questions
Is Orchard City, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Orchard City scores better for retirees than 84% of Colorado towns and quieter than 95%. 30.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.9).
How much does a house cost in Orchard City?
The median owner-occupied home in Orchard City is valued at $324,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,960, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is $1,174 a month.
What is the weather like in Orchard City?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.5 inches of precipitation a year and 39.7 inches of snow.
Does Orchard City get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Orchard City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 11, 2002. 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)