The Town FilesSouth Fork, Colorado
Town in Rio Grande County · population 510 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $423,800
- Household income
- $76,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 52.0
South Fork is a town of 510 people in Rio Grande County, Colorado. The median home is worth $423,800, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Colorado towns, quieter than 95% of Colorado towns, better for a vacation home than 89% of Colorado towns.
How South Fork 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 South Fork is worth $423,800, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $76,250, which is more affordable than 39% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $818 a month. 61.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Fork | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $423,800 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $818 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $76,250 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 61.5% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 47.8% | — |
Who lives in South Fork
| People | South Fork | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.0 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.4% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.8% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 20.3% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 92.9% |
Weather in South Fork
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 7.2°F. About 9.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.6 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 213 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of South Fork since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 29, 2000.
Severe weather in Rio Grande County since 1996
Rio Grande 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 |
| June 21, 2013 | Fire | FM-5031: West Fork Fire Complex |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Rio Grande County
Rio Grande County had 4,482 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,025 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in South Fork itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near South Fork
- Del Norte, CO15.9 mi · 1,458 people · home $184,400
- Monte Vista, CO27.7 mi · 4,247 people · home $224,500
- Center, CO29.7 mi · 1,929 people · home $126,000
South Fork questions
Is South Fork, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Fork scores better for retirees than 77% of Colorado towns and quieter than 95%. 29.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.0).
How much does a house cost in South Fork?
The median owner-occupied home in South Fork is valued at $423,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,250, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $818 a month.
What is the weather like in South Fork?
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 7.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.7 inches of precipitation a year and 38.6 inches of snow.
Does South Fork get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of South Fork in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)