The Town FilesPoncha Springs, Colorado
Town in Chaffee County · population 925 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $522,900
- Household income
- $97,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 46.4
Poncha Springs is a town of 925 people in Chaffee County, Colorado. The median home is worth $522,900, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Colorado towns, better for cycling than 90% of Colorado towns, more of a college town than 89% of Colorado towns.
How Poncha Springs 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 Poncha Springs is worth $522,900, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $97,139, which is more affordable than 44% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,783 a month. 93.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Poncha Springs | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $522,900 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,783 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $97,139 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 93.0% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 2006 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.0% | — |
Who lives in Poncha Springs
| People | Poncha Springs | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 7.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.5% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 13.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 27.1% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 14.9 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 92.9% |
Weather in Poncha Springs
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 11.5°F. About 8.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.7 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 201 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Poncha Springs since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an F0, struck on May 5, 1991 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 5, 1991.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 5, 2016.
Severe weather in Chaffee County since 1996
Chaffee County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, snowstorm, biological.
| 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 |
| April 9, 2003 | Snowstorm | EM-3185: Snow |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Chaffee County
Chaffee County had 9,229 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,718 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Poncha Springs itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Poncha Springs
- Salida, CO4.0 mi · 5,666 people · home $648,500
- Howard, CO14.6 mi · 852 people · home $474,600
- Buena Vista, CO21.6 mi · 2,855 people · home $572,700
Poncha Springs questions
Is Poncha Springs, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Poncha Springs scores better for retirees than 98% of Colorado towns and quieter than 86%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.4).
How much does a house cost in Poncha Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Poncha Springs is valued at $522,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,139, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $1,783 a month.
What is the weather like in Poncha Springs?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 11.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 8.8 inches of precipitation a year and 36.7 inches of snow.
Does Poncha Springs get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Poncha Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on May 5, 1991. 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)