The Town FilesSan Luis, Colorado
Town in Costilla County · population 598 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,800
- Household income
- $26,708
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 43.9
San Luis is a town of 598 people in Costilla County, Colorado. The median home is worth $98,800, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks quieter than 89% of Colorado towns, better for retirees than 80% of Colorado towns, better for first-time buyers than 74% of Colorado towns.
How San Luis 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 San Luis is worth $98,800, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $26,708, which is more affordable than 87% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $925 a month. 57.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | San Luis | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,800 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $925 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $26,708 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 57.1% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.3% | — |
Who lives in San Luis
| People | San Luis | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.1% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.1% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 1.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 12.9 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 92.9% |
Weather in San Luis
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 6.3°F. About 9.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 211 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of San Luis since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 26, 2006 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2006.
Severe weather in Costilla County since 1996
Costilla County has been included in 10 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 |
| June 28, 2018 | Fire | FM-5246: Spring Creek Fire |
| June 19, 2006 | Fire | FM-2646: Malo Vega Fire |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Costilla County
Costilla County had 962 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,602 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in San Luis itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in San Luis
1 public school with 186 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial School | PK-12 | 186 | 16.9 |
Towns near San Luis
- Sanford, CO26.6 mi · 879 people · home $171,700
- Manassa, CO28.4 mi · 947 people · home $209,300
- Alamosa East, CO29.7 mi · 1,453 people · home $264,400
- La Jara, CO30.0 mi · 730 people · home $141,700
San Luis questions
Is San Luis, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, San Luis scores better for retirees than 80% of Colorado towns and quieter than 89%. 12.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in San Luis?
The median owner-occupied home in San Luis is valued at $98,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $26,708, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $925 a month.
What is the weather like in San Luis?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 6.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.0 inches of precipitation a year.
Does San Luis get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of San Luis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 26, 2006. 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)