The 10 Best Small Towns In Colorado For 2025


The best small towns in Colorado are Columbine Valley and Bow Mar for 2025 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: October 1, 2025

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Colorado. Best sururbs in Colorado. Best counties in Colorado.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Centennial State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Colorado based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Colorado ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Colorado For 2025

  1. Columbine Valley
  2. Bow Mar
  3. Holly Hills
  4. Castle Pines Village
  5. Genesee
  6. Indian Hills
  7. Snowmass Village
  8. Telluride
  9. Niwot
  10. Blue River
  11. Basalt
  12. Crested Butte
  13. Frisco
  14. Lyons
  15. Acres Green

Best Small Towns To Live In Colorado Map

What’s the best small town in Colorado? Columbine Valley is the best small town in Colorado based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Columbine Valley, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Centennial State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Colorado For 2025

1. Columbine Valley

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,084
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,408,700 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.4%

2. Bow Mar

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,003
Median Income: $233,667 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,808,800 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

3. Holly Hills

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 2,652
Median Income: $127,989 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $637,100 (25th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

4. Castle Pines Village

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 4,441
Median Income: $219,083 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,260,200 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.2%

5. Genesee

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,826
Median Income: $172,692 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $994,700 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

6. Indian Hills

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,320
Median Income: $173,125 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $757,400 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

7. Snowmass Village

Snowmass Village, CO

Source: Wikipedia User Werdna | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 3,048
Median Income: $107,559 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,748,000 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

8. Telluride

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 2,595
Median Income: $97,330 (29th Best)
Median Home Value: $390,300 (52nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

9. Niwot

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,773
Median Income: $141,621 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $868,400 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

10. Blue River

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,145
Median Income: $119,375 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,171,900 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%

11. Basalt

Basalt, CO

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL with disclaimers
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 3,995
Median Income: $106,000 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,148,100 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0%

12. Crested Butte

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 1,436
Median Income: $71,923 (57th Best)
Median Home Value: $928,100 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.4%

13. Frisco

Frisco, CO

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 2,865
Median Income: $113,406 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $839,500 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

14. Lyons

Lyons, CO

Source: Wikipedia User Billy Hathorn | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,927
Median Income: $132,589 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $855,000 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

15. Acres Green

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 2,709
Median Income: $115,536 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $540,000 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Colorado

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Colorado possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 99 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 99, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Colorado. Top of that list — Columbine Valley.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Colorado.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Colorado are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Colorado are Columbine Valley, Bow Mar, Holly Hills, Castle Pines Village, Genesee, Indian Hills, Snowmass Village, Telluride, Niwot, and Blue River.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Colorado:

  1. Parachute
  2. Yuma
  3. Hudson

For more Colorado reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Colorado

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Columbine Valley, CO 2,084 $250,001 0.4%
2 Bow Mar, CO 1,003 $233,667 3.4%
3 Holly Hills, CO 2,652 $127,989 0.0%
4 Castle Pines Village, CO 4,441 $219,083 7.2%
5 Genesee, CO 3,826 $172,692 2.0%
6 Indian Hills, CO 1,320 $173,125 0.0%
7 Snowmass Village, CO 3,048 $107,559 0.0%
8 Telluride, CO 2,595 $97,330 3.1%
9 Niwot, CO 3,773 $141,621 2.4%
10 Blue River, CO 1,145 $119,375 0.8%
11 Basalt, CO 3,995 $106,000 3.0%
12 Crested Butte, CO 1,436 $71,923 5.4%
13 Frisco, CO 2,865 $113,406 0.0%
14 Lyons, CO 1,927 $132,589 4.1%
15 Acres Green, CO 2,709 $115,536 1.2%
16 Nederland, CO 1,523 $103,452 2.4%
17 Inverness, CO 3,088 $104,636 4.5%
18 Perry Park, CO 1,801 $162,971 1.3%
19 Vail, CO 4,729 $103,705 7.1%
20 Ouray, CO 1,031 $76,458 2.2%
21 Palmer Lake, CO 2,635 $122,855 6.5%
22 Leadville, CO 2,634 $83,875 2.4%
23 Lazy Acres, CO 1,056 $147,344 6.6%
24 Loma, CO 1,365 $133,456 0.0%
25 Glendale, CO 4,546 $68,952 1.9%
26 Elizabeth, CO 1,694 $110,227 3.3%
27 La Salle, CO 3,119 $91,635 2.1%
28 Coal Creek, CO 2,357 $125,819 2.1%
29 Granby, CO 2,195 $82,321 2.4%
30 Mancos, CO 1,016 $62,361 2.9%
31 Bayfield, CO 2,862 $92,821 8.5%
32 Edgewater, CO 4,955 $74,320 6.1%
33 El Jebel, CO 3,935 $100,518 0.0%
34 Idaho Springs, CO 1,968 $85,450 3.1%
35 Ponderosa Park, CO 3,556 $133,425 2.9%
36 New Castle, CO 4,878 $88,421 1.3%
37 Leadville North, CO 1,470 $96,447 4.7%
38 Manitou Springs, CO 4,796 $76,550 11.8%
39 Watkins, CO 1,087 $157,321 0.0%
40 Silverthorne, CO 4,657 $114,185 6.0%
41 Silt, CO 3,575 $86,484 0.2%
42 Ault, CO 2,270 $79,654 3.5%
43 Meeker, CO 2,528 $71,301 0.5%
44 Akron, CO 1,681 $59,470 1.5%
45 Keystone, CO 1,111 $51,369 1.9%
46 Dotsero, CO 1,321 $93,000 3.9%
47 Hayden, CO 2,010 $97,917 2.4%
48 Burlington, CO 3,165 $59,842 3.1%
49 Limon, CO 1,572 $46,950 1.9%
50 Holyoke, CO 2,378 $54,154 0.2%
51 Mountain Village, CO 1,713 $59,881 6.4%
52 Howard, CO 1,159 $57,664 0.0%
53 Buena Vista, CO 2,966 $58,409 14.6%
54 Keenesburg, CO 1,866 $83,490 1.9%
55 Alamosa East, CO 1,404 $44,741 1.9%
56 Paonia, CO 1,454 $52,466 3.5%
57 Bennett, CO 3,472 $92,450 3.7%
58 Wiggins, CO 1,202 $89,948 2.1%
59 Georg, CO 1,082 $75,804 12.8%
60 Cascade-Chipita Park, CO 1,158 $115,357 11.7%
61 Julesburg, CO 1,193 $48,056 2.1%
62 Springfield, CO 1,482 $42,368 2.8%
63 Colorado City, CO 1,791 $48,692 0.0%
64 Rangely, CO 2,572 $75,044 7.8%
65 Laporte, CO 2,123 $67,697 4.2%
66 Palisade, CO 2,580 $61,655 6.2%
67 Ignacio, CO 1,255 $65,759 6.7%
68 Ridgway, CO 1,247 $88,218 8.4%
69 Fowler, CO 1,101 $42,083 0.9%
70 Lincoln Park, CO 4,315 $64,750 5.3%
71 Del Norte, CO 1,576 $39,861 6.6%
72 Wray, CO 2,305 $57,318 3.8%
73 Platteville, CO 2,924 $87,642 7.8%
74 Deer Trail, CO 1,180 $76,250 0.7%
75 Penrose, CO 3,978 $75,109 9.0%
76 Florence, CO 3,870 $57,239 1.8%
77 Hotchkiss, CO 1,147 $58,125 3.8%
78 Byers, CO 1,804 $88,607 15.9%
79 Fraser, CO 1,189 $81,786 9.9%
80 Pagosa Springs, CO 1,718 $36,712 4.2%
81 Aetna Estates, CO 1,177 $63,887 8.0%
82 Pierce, CO 1,102 $66,313 14.1%
83 Rocky Ford, CO 3,843 $35,658 7.4%
84 Kersey, CO 1,318 $61,136 7.8%
85 Walsenburg, CO 3,079 $40,799 14.0%
86 Orchard City, CO 3,193 $65,282 4.7%
87 Center, CO 2,312 $50,057 8.8%
88 Ordway, CO 1,718 $55,313 8.0%
89 Strasburg, CO 3,249 $81,607 8.5%
90 Monte Vista, CO 4,178 $49,339 14.7%
91 Aristocrat Ranchettes, CO 2,335 $87,604 7.2%
92 Sanford, CO 1,047 $41,250 3.8%
93 Kremmling, CO 1,844 $72,650 12.9%
94 Olathe, CO 1,788 $65,170 6.6%
95 Cedaredge, CO 2,394 $41,944 7.2%
96 Las Animas, CO 2,480 $48,917 7.8%
97 Hudson, CO 1,844 $71,429 3.4%
98 Yuma, CO 3,427 $52,102 9.7%
99 Parachute, CO 1,513 $58,910 15.1%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns