The Town FilesWalsh, Colorado
Town in Baca County · population 543 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $85,000
- Household income
- $24,196
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 57.1
Walsh is a town of 543 people in Baca County, Colorado. The median home is worth $85,000, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Colorado towns, easier by car than 94% of Colorado towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of Colorado towns.
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in Colorado With the Cheapest Homes
- #2 in The 16 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Colorado With Mild Winters
- #9 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Colorado
- #10 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Colorado
- #21 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Colorado
How Walsh 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 Walsh is worth $85,000, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $24,196, which is more affordable than 90% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $566 a month. 57.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Walsh | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $85,000 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $566 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $24,196 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 57.4% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Walsh
| People | Walsh | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.1 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.2% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.0% | 92.9% |
Weather in Walsh
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 19.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.0 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walsh since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 10, 1967 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 7, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 25, 2017.
Severe weather in Baca County since 1996
Baca County has been included in 11 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-3271: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Baca County
Baca County had 1,171 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,474 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Walsh itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Public schools in Walsh
2 public schools with 182 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walsh Elementary School | PK-6 | 114 | 10.4 |
| Walsh High School | 7-12 | 68 | 11.3 |
Towns near Walsh
- Springfield, CO18.7 mi · 1,325 people · home $134,100
Walsh questions
Is Walsh, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Walsh scores better for retirees than 89% of Colorado towns and quieter than 74%. 37.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.1).
How much does a house cost in Walsh?
The median owner-occupied home in Walsh is valued at $85,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $24,196, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $566 a month.
What is the weather like in Walsh?
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.5 inches of precipitation a year and 23.0 inches of snow.
Does Walsh get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walsh since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 10, 1967. 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)