The Town FilesStratton, Colorado
Town in Kit Carson County · population 656 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,300
- Household income
- $61,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 36.3
Stratton is a town of 656 people in Kit Carson County, Colorado. The median home is worth $166,300, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks easier by car than 87% of Colorado towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Colorado towns, better for retirees than 83% of Colorado towns.
- #3 in The 16 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Colorado With Mild Winters
- #10 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Colorado
- #15 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Colorado
- #23 in 25 Small Towns in Colorado With the Cheapest Homes
- #23 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Colorado
How Stratton 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 Stratton is worth $166,300, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $61,583, which is more affordable than 96% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $2,068 a month. 66.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stratton | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,300 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $2,068 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $61,583 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 66.1% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Stratton
| People | Stratton | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 92.9% |
Weather in Stratton
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 17.7°F. About 18.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.9 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stratton since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 30, 1988 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 30, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 131 times; the largest was 4.83 inches on August 13, 2019.
Severe weather in Kit Carson County since 1996
Kit Carson County has been included in 7 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 |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Kit Carson County
Kit Carson County had 3,013 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,531 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Stratton itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Stratton
3 public schools with 219 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stratton Elementary School | PK-5 | 105 | 17.5 |
| Stratton Senior High School | 9-12 | 62 | 12.4 |
| Stratton Middle School | 6-8 | 52 | 17.3 |
Towns near Stratton
- Burlington, CO17.8 mi · 3,172 people · home $208,100
- Flagler, CO24.7 mi · 567 people · home $167,700
Stratton questions
Is Stratton, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stratton scores better for retirees than 83% of Colorado towns and quieter than 68%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Stratton?
The median owner-occupied home in Stratton is valued at $166,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,583, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $2,068 a month.
What is the weather like in Stratton?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 17.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.8 inches of precipitation a year and 33.9 inches of snow.
Does Stratton get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stratton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 30, 1988. 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)