The Town FilesUpper Bear Creek, Colorado
Community in Clear Creek County · population 984 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,075,600
- Household income
- $186,071
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 81 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 60.5
Upper Bear Creek is a community of 984 people in Clear Creek County, Colorado. The median home is worth $1,075,600, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for families than 97% of Colorado towns, more upscale than 97% of Colorado towns, better for retirees than 95% of Colorado towns.
How Upper Bear Creek 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 Upper Bear Creek is worth $1,075,600, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $186,071, which is more affordable than 33% of Colorado towns. 85.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Upper Bear Creek | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,075,600 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | — | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $186,071 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 85.2% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.0% | — |
Who lives in Upper Bear Creek
| People | Upper Bear Creek | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.5 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.6% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66.5% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 1.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 47.8% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 92.9% |
Weather in Upper Bear Creek
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 12.5°F. About 18.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 80.8 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 215 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Upper Bear Creek since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 22, 2023.
Severe weather in Clear Creek County since 1996
Clear Creek County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| September 14, 2013 | Flood | DR-4145: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 12, 2013 | Flood | EM-3365: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Clear Creek County
Clear Creek County had 3,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,645 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Upper Bear Creek itself the ACS puts it at 9.8%.
Towns near Upper Bear Creek
- Brook Forest, CO3.8 mi · 622 people · home $693,300
- Evergreen, CO3.9 mi · 9,307 people · home $829,400
- Kittredge, CO6.0 mi · 1,308 people · home $744,000
- Floyd Hill, CO6.6 mi · 1,048 people · home $802,900
- Aspen Park, CO8.4 mi · 810 people · home $693,100
- Genesee, CO8.5 mi · 3,610 people · home $1,032,700
- Indian Hills, CO8.6 mi · 1,474 people · home $789,200
- Idaho Springs, CO9.8 mi · 1,782 people · home $446,500
Upper Bear Creek questions
Is Upper Bear Creek, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Upper Bear Creek scores better for retirees than 95% of Colorado towns and quieter than 94%. 36.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.5).
How much does a house cost in Upper Bear Creek?
The median owner-occupied home in Upper Bear Creek is valued at $1,075,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $186,071, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Upper Bear Creek?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 12.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.6 inches of precipitation a year and 80.8 inches of snow.
Does Upper Bear Creek get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Upper Bear Creek 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)