The Town FilesRocky Ford, Colorado
City in Otero County · population 3,876 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,900
- Household income
- $40,655
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.3
Rocky Ford is a city of 3,876 people in Otero County, Colorado. The median home is worth $143,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks easier by car than 78% of Colorado towns, hipper than 75% of Colorado towns, more walkable than 70% of Colorado towns.
How Rocky Ford 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 Rocky Ford is worth $143,900, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $40,655, which is more affordable than 90% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 62.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rocky Ford | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,900 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $775 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $40,655 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 62.3% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Rocky Ford
| People | Rocky Ford | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.0% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 92.9% |
Weather in Rocky Ford
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 12.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.8 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 83 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rocky Ford since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 24, 1998 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 5, 2023.
Severe weather in Otero County since 1996
Otero 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 |
| January 7, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3271: Snow |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Otero County
Otero County had 6,054 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,375 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Rocky Ford itself the ACS puts it at 11.5%.
Public schools in Rocky Ford
3 public schools with 616 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Ford Junior/Senior High School | 7-12 | 265 | 10.6 |
| Jefferson Intermediate School | 3-6 | 199 | 13.3 |
| Washington Primary School | PK-2 | 152 | 11.7 |
Towns near Rocky Ford
- La Junta, CO10.7 mi · 7,322 people · home $194,800
Rocky Ford questions
Is Rocky Ford, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rocky Ford scores better for retirees than 26% of Colorado towns and quieter than 29%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Rocky Ford?
The median owner-occupied home in Rocky Ford is valued at $143,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,655, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Rocky Ford?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.6 inches of precipitation a year and 24.8 inches of snow.
Does Rocky Ford get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rocky Ford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 24, 1998. 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)