The Town FilesSimla, Colorado
Town in Elbert County · population 601 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $251,400
- Household income
- $44,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 38.8
Simla is a town of 601 people in Elbert County, Colorado. The median home is worth $251,400, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks quieter than 72% of Colorado towns, easier by car than 71% of Colorado towns.
How Simla 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 Simla is worth $251,400, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $44,688, which is more affordable than 39% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,042 a month. 45.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Simla | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $251,400 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,042 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $44,688 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 45.5% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Simla
| People | Simla | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 19.3% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 92.9% |
Weather in Simla
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 14.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.7 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Simla since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 7, 2012 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 4, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 9, 2004.
Severe weather in Elbert County since 1996
Elbert County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| January 7, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3270: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Elbert County
Elbert County had 4,889 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,082 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Simla itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Simla
3 public schools with 328 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simla Elementary School | PK-5 | 152 | 11.7 |
| Simla High School | 9-12 | 99 | 11.0 |
| Simla Junior High School | 6-8 | 77 | 11.0 |
Towns near Simla
- Calhan, CO13.8 mi · 762 people · home $296,600
- Limon, CO22.9 mi · 2,043 people · home $219,300
- Kiowa, CO24.5 mi · 725 people · home $367,000
- Ellicott, CO27.1 mi · 1,248 people · home —
Simla questions
Is Simla, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Simla scores better for retirees than 62% of Colorado towns and quieter than 72%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Simla?
The median owner-occupied home in Simla is valued at $251,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,688, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $1,042 a month.
What is the weather like in Simla?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.6 inches of precipitation a year and 27.7 inches of snow.
Does Simla get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Simla since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 7, 2012. 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)