The Town FilesOtis, Colorado
Town in Washington County · population 511 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,900
- Household income
- $55,962
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 51
- Median age
- 33.4
Otis is a town of 511 people in Washington County, Colorado. The median home is worth $167,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Colorado towns, better for retirees than 76% of Colorado towns.
How Otis 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 Otis is worth $167,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $55,962, which is more affordable than 94% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $822 a month. 76.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Otis | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,900 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $822 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $55,962 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 76.8% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Otis
| People | Otis | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 92.9% |
Weather in Otis
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 16.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.5 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 48 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
51 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otis since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 8, 2023 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 85 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 11, 2019.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4731: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| July 16, 2015 | Flood | DR-4229: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 14, 2013 | Flood | DR-4145: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 1,178 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,384 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Otis itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Otis
5 public schools with 323 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otis Junior-Senior High School | 6-12 | 107 | 10.7 |
| Otis Elementary School | PK-5 | 91 | 11.4 |
| Lone Star Elementary School | K-6 | 51 | 8.5 |
| Lone Star Undivided High School | 9-12 | 50 | 16.7 |
| Lone Star Middle School | 7-8 | 24 | 24.0 |
Towns near Otis
Otis questions
Is Otis, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Otis scores better for retirees than 76% of Colorado towns and quieter than 60%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.4).
How much does a house cost in Otis?
The median owner-occupied home in Otis is valued at $167,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,962, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $822 a month.
What is the weather like in Otis?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.2 inches of precipitation a year and 27.5 inches of snow.
Does Otis get tornadoes?
51 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 8, 2023. 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)