Signals
Steamboat Springs
Golden
Opportunity
56 · Top 50%
vs56 · Bottom 49%
Climate
45 · Bottom 1%
vs59 · Bottom 11%
Physical resilience
32 · Bottom 25%
vs31 · Bottom 24%
Housing affordability
43 · Bottom 6%
vs45 · Bottom 7%
Access
93 · Top 47%
vs98 · Top 15%
Economic stability
62 · Top 47%
vs56 · Bottom 41%
Measured values
| Metric | Steamboat Springs | Golden | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,433 | 20,417 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $104,964 | $98,582 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $74,913 | $56,368 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,358/sq mi | 2,118/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $981,800 | $837,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,017 | $1,953 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.2% | 56.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -5.7% | -2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.2% | 59.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.7% | 12.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 83°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 5°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 24.7" | 15.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 15.5 min | 26.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.9 | 34.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 12 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.23 | 18.33 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 19.4% | 22.9% | 2024-25 school 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.
Golden
Elevated or high exposure: hail, wildfire, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Steamboat Springs
55
Your Score
—
Area Score
Golden
52
Your Score
47
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Steamboat Springs, CO · Golden, CO · How this is calculated: methodology