Best overall
Cheyenne County
Overall score 76.7
Economy 67.2 / Affordability 74.7
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in Colorado
Compare counties in Colorado by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 64 Colorado counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in Colorado
Put Colorado counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open Colorado rankings
Open the full Colorado ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
Colorado county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Kiowa County
Family score 83.0
Schools 96.1 / Safety 77.2
Best value
Cheyenne County
Value score 79.7
Affordability 74.7 / Taxes 86.6
Most affordable
Bent County
Affordability 84.4
Typical home $117,954
Best schools
Douglas County
Schools 99.5
Safety 85.9 / Economy 81.2
Safest
Rio Blanco County
Safety 98.5
Schools 80.9 / Peace 93.7
Low taxes
Prowers County
Taxes 94.7
Affordability 70 / Typical home $175,198
Peace & quiet
Yuma County
Peace & Quiet 99.2
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in Colorado
View full- 1Cheyenne County
Typical home $196,506
76.7
Overall
- 2Kiowa County
Typical home $181,076
74.5
Overall
- 3Douglas County
Typical home $712,073
73.6
Overall
- 4Elbert County
Typical home $682,939
72.7
Overall
- 5Sedgwick County
Typical home $161,455
71.9
Overall
Best counties for families in Colorado
View full- 1Kiowa County
Typical home $181,076
83.0
Family
- 2Sedgwick County
Typical home $161,455
81.6
Family
- 3Cheyenne County
Typical home $196,506
79.7
Family
- 4Douglas County
Typical home $712,073
78.0
Family
- 5Rio Blanco County
Typical home $330,882
77.7
Family
Best value counties in Colorado
View full- 1Cheyenne County
Typical home $196,506
79.7
Value
- 2Baca County
Typical home $122,900
78.6
Value
- 3Prowers County
Typical home $175,198
78.4
Value
- 4Sedgwick County
Typical home $161,455
78.0
Value
- 5Crowley County
Typical home $152,856
76.6
Value
Most affordable counties in Colorado
View full- 1Bent County
Typical home $117,954
84.4
Afford.
- 2Baca County
Typical home $122,900
80.8
Afford.
- 3Otero County
Typical home $157,784
76.9
Afford.
- 4Sedgwick County
Typical home $161,455
75
Afford.
- 5Cheyenne County
Typical home $196,506
74.7
Afford.
Best school counties in Colorado
View full- 1Douglas County
Typical home $712,073
99.5
Schools
- 2Routt County
Typical home $1,123,458
99.4
Schools
- 3Ouray County
Typical home $795,988
99.3
Schools
- 4Boulder County
Typical home $725,126
98.7
Schools
- 5Broomfield County
Typical home $629,328
98.7
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in Colorado
View full- 1Prowers County
Typical home $175,198
94.7
Taxes
- 2Jackson County
Typical home $239,600
94.7
Taxes
- 3Dolores County
Typical home $306,338
94.7
Taxes
- 4Las Animas County
Typical home $241,542
94.7
Taxes
- 5Otero County
Typical home $157,784
93.3
Taxes
Quietest counties in Colorado
View full- 1Yuma County
Typical home $285,313
99.2
Quiet
- 2Logan County
Typical home $253,326
97.2
Quiet
- 3Alamosa County
Typical home $324,072
96.5
Quiet
- 4Prowers County
Typical home $175,198
95.6
Quiet
- 5Baca County
Typical home $122,900
94.6
Quiet
Safest counties in Colorado
View full- 1Rio Blanco County
Typical home $330,882
98.5
Safety
- 2Elbert County
Typical home $682,939
98.2
Safety
- 3San Miguel County
Typical home $1,581,198
97.9
Safety
- 4Pitkin County
Typical home $2,661,788
97.4
Safety
- 5Prowers County
Typical home $175,198
97.1
Safety
Popular Colorado county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
How to choose a county in Colorado
The best county in Colorado depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in Colorado
For best overall counties in Colorado, Cheyenne County, Kiowa County, and Douglas County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in Colorado
For families, Kiowa County, Sedgwick County, and Cheyenne County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in Colorado
For affordability-focused movers, Bent County, Baca County, and Otero County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in Colorado
For school-first households, Douglas County, Routt County, and Ouray County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in Colorado
For lower tax-pressure searches, Prowers County, Jackson County, and Dolores County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in Colorado
For quieter-living searches, Yuma County, Logan County, and Alamosa County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to Colorado
Compare county scale carefully in Colorado; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in Colorado
What is the best county to live in Colorado?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Cheyenne County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in Colorado for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Kiowa County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in Colorado?
Bent County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which Colorado counties score well for schools or taxes?
Douglas County currently leads the school-score view, while Prowers County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All Colorado counties
Showing all 64 Colorado counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheyenne County FIPS 08017 | 76.7 | 67.2 | 74.7 | 76.8 | 83.8 | 86.6 | 92.8 | $196,506 | $70,865 |
| 2 | Kiowa County FIPS 08061 | 74.5 | 52.8 | 71.1 | 96.1 | 77.2 | 81.4 | 91 | $181,076 | $58,618 |
| 3 | Douglas County FIPS 08035 | 73.6 | 81.2 | 40.8 | 99.5 | 85.9 | 73.8 | 58 | $712,073 | $149,594 |
| 4 | Elbert County FIPS 08039 | 72.7 | 80.5 | 37.8 | 81.4 | 98.2 | 78.9 | 84.7 | $682,939 | $132,685 |
| 5 | Sedgwick County FIPS 08115 | 71.9 | 39.4 | 75 | 76.6 | 96.6 | 88.4 | 92.6 | $161,455 | $52,386 |
| 6 | El Paso County FIPS 08041 | 69.3 | 69.2 | 36.6 | 89.9 | 87.3 | 83.7 | 68.8 | $454,740 | $90,363 |
| 7 | Baca County FIPS 08009 | 68.7 | 33.9 | 80.8 | 63.5 | 92.4 | 87.5 | 94.6 | $122,900 | $46,215 |
| 8 | Chaffee County FIPS 08015 | 68.4 | 71.3 | 15.6 | 95.1 | 95.2 | 87.9 | 92.3 | $680,807 | $84,132 |
| 9 | Rio Blanco County FIPS 08103 | 68.4 | 53.5 | 40.2 | 80.9 | 98.5 | 92.9 | 93.7 | $330,882 | $65,473 |
| 10 | Routt County FIPS 08107 | 68.3 | 79.3 | 9.3 | 99.4 | 90.1 | 86.1 | 82 | $1,123,458 | $106,489 |
| 11 | Grand County FIPS 08049 | 67.7 | 82.1 | 9 | 91.1 | 93.8 | 87.5 | 78.3 | $749,416 | $88,612 |
| 12 | Teller County FIPS 08119 | 67.6 | 61.5 | 31.2 | 87.9 | 93.5 | 87.4 | 80.7 | $479,238 | $85,361 |
| 13 | Park County FIPS 08093 | 67.4 | 77.8 | 30.4 | 89 | 67 | 89.2 | 71 | $521,571 | $103,670 |
| 14 | Summit County FIPS 08117 | 67.3 | 84.8 | 8.5 | 96.2 | 82 | 85.1 | 78.1 | $987,547 | $109,773 |
| 15 | Jefferson County FIPS 08059 | 66.9 | 70.7 | 26.3 | 96.7 | 91.7 | 76 | 38.5 | $630,481 | $110,656 |
| 16 | Larimer County FIPS 08069 | 66.8 | 66.5 | 20.6 | 98.1 | 92.4 | 73.6 | 83.1 | $552,909 | $93,765 |
| 17 | Phillips County FIPS 08095 | 66.8 | 48.4 | 55.5 | 70.1 | 96.8 | 76 | 93.7 | $262,121 | $64,674 |
| 18 | Prowers County FIPS 08099 | 66.4 | 40.8 | 70 | 49.5 | 97.1 | 94.7 | 95.6 | $175,198 | $53,508 |
| 19 | Pitkin County FIPS 08097 | 66 | 79.6 | 3.6 | 93 | 97.4 | 78.1 | 83.1 | $2,661,788 | $102,645 |
| 20 | Lincoln County FIPS 08073 | 65.5 | 44.4 | 52.7 | 86.7 | 72.4 | 85.5 | 88.6 | $263,357 | $62,861 |
| 21 | San Miguel County FIPS 08113 | 65.4 | 68.7 | 3.9 | 97.7 | 97.9 | 87.1 | 86.6 | $1,581,198 | $79,024 |
| 22 | Gunnison County FIPS 08051 | 65.3 | 72 | 6.3 | 91.7 | 95.9 | 88.7 | 83.4 | $713,232 | $84,527 |
| 23 | Hinsdale County FIPS 08053 | 65.3 | 62.5 | 13.5 | 98.5 | 88.6 | 90.7 | 85.7 | $472,780 | $75,972 |
| 24 | Ouray County FIPS 08091 | 65.2 | 68.9 | 14.4 | 99.3 | 77.9 | 87.9 | 80.6 | $795,988 | $91,020 |
| 25 | Boulder County FIPS 08013 | 64.5 | 67.3 | 15.4 | 98.7 | 95.4 | 67 | 62.4 | $725,126 | $103,994 |
| 26 | Conejos County FIPS 08021 | 64.5 | 39.5 | 55.6 | 75 | 84.1 | 88.9 | 85.2 | $211,485 | $50,978 |
| 27 | Crowley County FIPS 08025 | 64.5 | 47.2 | 74.5 | 44 | 78.2 | 92.8 | 85.1 | $152,856 | $48,826 |
| 28 | Custer County FIPS 08027 | 64.3 | 64.1 | 27.3 | 87.3 | 79.8 | 85.1 | 71.1 | $410,602 | $72,674 |
| 29 | Weld County FIPS 08123 | 64.3 | 70.3 | 37.7 | 56.8 | 93.3 | 77.3 | 84 | $494,686 | $97,097 |
| 30 | Arapahoe County FIPS 08005 | 64 | 68.7 | 32.6 | 81.6 | 90.9 | 71.6 | 32 | $517,194 | $101,087 |
| 31 | Broomfield County FIPS 08014 | 63.8 | 75.4 | 30.9 | 98.7 | 65.1 | 66.4 | 20.8 | $629,328 | $123,874 |
| 32 | Yuma County FIPS 08125 | 63.2 | 52 | 46.3 | 55.5 | 91 | 88.9 | 99.2 | $285,313 | $60,545 |
| 33 | Eagle County FIPS 08037 | 63.1 | 82.1 | 5.5 | 76.5 | 92.3 | 81.5 | 78.6 | $1,311,797 | $104,096 |
| 34 | Logan County FIPS 08075 | 62.3 | 48.5 | 46.2 | 76.4 | 69.2 | 81.5 | 97.2 | $253,326 | $51,829 |
| 35 | La Plata County FIPS 08067 | 62.2 | 63.8 | 13.8 | 83 | 84.4 | 90.5 | 88.9 | $673,258 | $86,056 |
| 36 | Clear Creek County FIPS 08019 | 61.9 | 61.5 | 21.8 | 91.4 | 70.6 | 81.1 | 81.7 | $563,107 | $94,577 |
| 37 | Jackson County FIPS 08057 | 61.4 | 48.3 | 36.9 | 65 | 89.3 | 94.7 | 85.7 | $239,600 | $47,667 |
| 38 | Bent County FIPS 08011 | 61.2 | 25 | 84.4 | 81.4 | 28 | 88.2 | 90.5 | $117,954 | $50,179 |
| 39 | Gilpin County FIPS 08047 | 61.1 | 74.3 | 26.9 | 83.8 | 38.8 | 93 | 79.1 | $547,968 | $95,361 |
| 40 | Washington County FIPS 08121 | 60.7 | 49.8 | 57.6 | 57.5 | 57.1 | 92.3 | 92.1 | $268,630 | $67,167 |
| 41 | Kit Carson County FIPS 08063 | 60.5 | 58.3 | 63.1 | 34.7 | 69.1 | 82 | 93.8 | $238,814 | $70,259 |
| 42 | Mesa County FIPS 08077 | 59 | 58 | 28 | 62.8 | 76.1 | 88.1 | 93.5 | $430,881 | $73,658 |
| 43 | Moffat County FIPS 08081 | 59 | 51.7 | 53 | 27.9 | 91.8 | 88.2 | 92.6 | $301,764 | $73,849 |
| 44 | San Juan County FIPS 08111 | 58 | 64.7 | 1.7 | 80.4 | 79.4 | 90.9 | 85.7 | $551,662 | $77,824 |
| 45 | Montrose County FIPS 08085 | 57.8 | 59 | 21.1 | 51.5 | 92.7 | 89.8 | 92.6 | $456,826 | $72,120 |
| 46 | Morgan County FIPS 08087 | 57.5 | 53.8 | 49.1 | 36.8 | 81.7 | 76.1 | 91.8 | $327,911 | $73,278 |
| 47 | Pueblo County FIPS 08101 | 57.5 | 37.2 | 52.1 | 48.1 | 88.7 | 77.5 | 89.1 | $284,548 | $64,010 |
| 48 | Fremont County FIPS 08043 | 57 | 38.5 | 38 | 60.4 | 84.2 | 87.9 | 87.1 | $336,800 | $62,664 |
| 49 | Delta County FIPS 08029 | 56.6 | 43.7 | 22.9 | 83.9 | 65.1 | 90.3 | 87.3 | $408,110 | $57,774 |
| 50 | Garfield County FIPS 08045 | 56.5 | 69.9 | 15.3 | 47.2 | 85.5 | 86.5 | 85.8 | $708,392 | $91,131 |
| 51 | Otero County FIPS 08089 | 54.5 | 28.2 | 76.9 | 25 | 62.1 | 93.3 | 90.8 | $157,784 | $54,037 |
| 52 | Lake County FIPS 08065 | 53.6 | 84.8 | 26 | 4.1 | 82.9 | 85.4 | 81.9 | $513,522 | $96,575 |
| 53 | Alamosa County FIPS 08003 | 53.1 | 34.5 | 25.9 | 48.4 | 96.8 | 89.5 | 96.5 | $324,072 | $55,397 |
| 54 | Adams County FIPS 08001 | 52.7 | 66.3 | 35.2 | 30.1 | 77.8 | 68.3 | 56.2 | $486,343 | $94,571 |
| 55 | Dolores County FIPS 08033 | 51.8 | 36.2 | 48 | 23.2 | 80.3 | 94.7 | 91.1 | $306,338 | $64,907 |
| 56 | Saguache County FIPS 08109 | 51.7 | 29.5 | 53.5 | 12.9 | 95.8 | 93 | 94.6 | $233,072 | $50,082 |
| 57 | Mineral County FIPS 08079 | 51.5 | 49 | 11.7 | 76 | 56.8 | 83.6 | 85.7 | $438,028 | $56,250 |
| 58 | Archuleta County FIPS 08007 | 50.1 | 68.6 | 11.5 | 39.9 | 61.5 | 89.2 | 79.9 | $566,277 | $83,065 |
| 59 | Las Animas County FIPS 08071 | 48.5 | 20.3 | 48.2 | 30.2 | 75.7 | 94.7 | 89.6 | $241,542 | $52,074 |
| 60 | Rio Grande County FIPS 08105 | 48.1 | 32 | 36.4 | 19 | 90.2 | 92.7 | 88.2 | $321,325 | $64,411 |
| 61 | Montezuma County FIPS 08083 | 46.7 | 39.6 | 24.5 | 22.2 | 82.3 | 92.5 | 93.5 | $407,795 | $65,244 |
| 62 | Huerfano County FIPS 08055 | 41.1 | 27.3 | 37.6 | 24.2 | 44.5 | 93.3 | 81.3 | $270,939 | $52,526 |
| 63 | Denver County FIPS 08031 | 37.2 | 68.1 | 20.4 | 30.3 | 3.3 | 74.7 | 20.5 | $546,602 | $94,718 |
| 64 | Costilla County FIPS 08023 | 36.4 | 19.3 | 47.8 | 6.4 | 35 | 91 | 79 | $182,490 | $36,861 |