The Town FilesWheat Ridge, Colorado
City in Jefferson County · population 32,398 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $623,000
- Household income
- $90,564
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 41.9
Wheat Ridge is a city of 32,398 people in Jefferson County, Colorado. The median home is worth $623,000, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Colorado towns, more vibrant than 96% of Colorado towns, better transit than 94% of Colorado towns.
How Wheat Ridge 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 Wheat Ridge is worth $623,000, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 6.9 times the median household income of $90,564, which is more affordable than 17% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,579 a month. 54.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wheat Ridge | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $623,000 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,579 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $90,564 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.9× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 54.4% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Wheat Ridge
| People | Wheat Ridge | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.8% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 21.9% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 92.9% |
Weather in Wheat Ridge
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 17.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.5 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wheat Ridge since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 15, 1988 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 422 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 5, 1983.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2024 | Fire | FM-5526: Quarry Fire |
| 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 14, 2013 | Flood | DR-4145: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 248,082 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $78,598 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Wheat Ridge itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Wheat Ridge
8 public schools with 3,623 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat Ridge High School | 9-12 | 928 | 17.8 |
| Prospect Valley Elementary School | K-5 | 594 | 18.0 |
| Mountain Phoenix Community School (charter) | PK-8 | 541 | 13.5 |
| Stevens Elementary School | PK-5 | 461 | 13.2 |
| Everitt Middle School | 6-8 | 444 | 15.3 |
| Peak Expeditionary - Pennington | PK-5 | 296 | 18.5 |
| Compass Montessori - Wheat Ridge Charter School (charter) | PK-6 | 288 | 20.6 |
| Norma Anderson Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 71 | 17.8 |
Towns near Wheat Ridge
- Edgewater, CO2.7 mi · 5,005 people · home $636,900
- Fairmount, CO3.8 mi · 9,324 people · home $827,600
- Applewood, CO4.0 mi · 7,833 people · home $785,900
- Berkley, CO4.7 mi · 12,536 people · home $468,100
- West Pleasant View, CO4.8 mi · 4,327 people · home $489,400
- Arvada, CO4.9 mi · 124,402 people · home $632,600
- Lakewood, CO5.1 mi · 155,984 people · home $574,400
- Golden, CO6.0 mi · 20,399 people · home $837,700
Wheat Ridge questions
Is Wheat Ridge, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wheat Ridge scores better for retirees than 37% of Colorado towns and quieter than 20%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Wheat Ridge?
The median owner-occupied home in Wheat Ridge is valued at $623,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,564, so homes cost about 6.9 times income. Median rent is $1,579 a month.
What is the weather like in Wheat Ridge?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.1 inches of precipitation a year and 75.5 inches of snow.
Does Wheat Ridge get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wheat Ridge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 15, 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)