Signals
Steamboat Springs
Rifle
Growth
50 · Top 49%
vs62 · Top 30%
Climate
46 · Bottom 1%
vs53 · Bottom 7%
Physical resilience
29 · Bottom 18%
vs27 · Bottom 16%
Housing affordability
68 · Bottom 11%
vs63 · Bottom 7%
Access
84 · Top 35%
vs80 · Top 43%
Economic stability
74 · Top 20%
vs80 · Top 14%
Measured values
| Metric | Steamboat Springs | Rifle | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,291 | 79,464 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $95,400 | $95,635 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $57,460 | $57,270 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5/sq mi | 20/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $564,500 | $595,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,568 | $1,716 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.8% | 67.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.9% | 40.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 8.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 248 | 246 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 3.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -48.3% | 46.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 3°F | 13°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 14.1" | 10.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 33 mi | 41 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 30.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.3 | 39.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Steamboat Springs
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, inland flooding, earthquake.
Rifle
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Steamboat Springs
58
Your Score
—
Area Score
Rifle
61
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Steamboat Springs, CO Micro Area · Rifle, CO Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology