Best counties to live in Colorado

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 31,173
- Median household income: $56,349
- Median home value: $291,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $933 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Paonia Elementary School (grade B+), North Fork Montessori School - Crawford (grade B), Delta High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Paonia Experiential Leadership Academy (grade unavailable), Redeemer Lutheran Tiny Treasures (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Cedaredge (grade B minus), Orchard City (grade B minus), Delta (grade C+)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 6,454
- Median household income: $51,946
- Median home value: $166,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $720 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Crestone Charter School, Moffat Consolidated Sch Dist #2 (grade B minus), Center High School (grade C+), Moffat Senior High School (grade C)
- Top private schools: High Valley Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Center (grade C+), Saguache (grade C), Moffat (grade unavailable)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 61,683
- Median household income: $82,772
- Median home value: $449,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,444 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Roaring Fork High School (grade B+), Glenwood Springs High School (grade B+), Carbondale Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Colorado Rocky Mountain School (grade A+), Liberty Classical Academy (grade C), Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Glenwood Springs (grade B+), Carbondale (grade B+), Battlement Mesa (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 13,509
- Median household income: $66,813
- Median home value: $432,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,184 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Pagosa Springs High School (grade B), Pagosa Springs Middle School (grade B minus), Pagosa Peak Open School (grade C+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Pagosa Springs (grade C+), Arboles (grade C)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 331,466
- Median household income: $89,182
- Median home value: $412,200 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,351 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Windsor Charter Academy Middle School (grade A), Meadowlark School (grade A), Benjamin Eaton Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Dayspring Christian Academy (grade B), The Children's Workshop Early Learning Center (grade unavailable), St. Mary Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Erie (grade A), Windsor (grade A minus), Severance (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 26,070
- Median household income: $61,377
- Median home value: $282,500 (74% own)
- Median rent: $893 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Mancos Elementary School (grade A), Mancos Middle School (grade A minus), Kemper Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Lighthouse Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Children's Kiva Montessori Preschool & Kindergarten (grade unavailable), Cortez Adventist Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Cortez (grade B), Mancos (grade B+), Dolores (grade C+)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 42,823
- Median household income: $62,817
- Median home value: $314,100 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,061 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Montrose High School (grade B minus), Columbine Middle School (grade B minus), Olathe High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Colorado West Christian School (grade unavailable), Holy Guardian Angels School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Montrose (grade B), Redvale (grade B minus), Olathe (grade C+)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 156,131
- Median household income: $68,077
- Median home value: $312,600 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,089 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Caprock Academy (grade A minus), Palisade High School (grade B+), New Emerson School at Columbus (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Life Academy (grade B minus), Bookcliff Christian School (grade A minus), Holy Family Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Redlands (grade B), Grand Junction (grade B), Palisade (grade B)

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 168,135
- Median household income: $59,436
- Median home value: $238,400 (67% own)
- Median rent: $967 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: The Connect Charter School (grade A minus), Swallows Charter Academy (grade B+), Fountain International Magnet School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Therese Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. John Neumann Catholic School (grade unavailable), Trinity Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Pueblo West (grade B), Pueblo (grade B minus), Boone (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,326
- Population: 11,442
- Median household income: $57,591
- Median home value: $202,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $649 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Sargent Senior High School (grade B), Sargent Elementary School (grade B minus), Sargent Junior High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. Peter's Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Monte Vista (grade B minus), South Fork (grade B minus), Del Norte (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,245
- Population: 15,724
- Median household income: $79,367
- Median home value: $461,200 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,243 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Fraser Valley Elementary School (grade B+), Granby Elementary School (grade B+), East Grand Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Winter Park Christian School (grade unavailable), Kremmling Preschool (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Fraser (grade B minus), Grand Lake (grade A minus), Winter Park (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 1,214
- Population: 16,460
- Median household income: $52,271
- Median home value: $198,500 (57% own)
- Median rent: $815 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Sangre De Cristo Elementary School (grade B+), Sangre De Cristo Undivided High School (grade B minus), Alamosa Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Trinity Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Sunshine Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Alamosa (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,067
- Population: 7,403
- Median household income: $78,942
- Median home value: $331,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,554 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Westpark Elementary School (grade B), Lake County High School (grade C), Lake County Intermediate School (grade C minus)
- Top private schools: High Mountain Institute (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Leadville (grade A minus), Twin Lakes (grade D minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,063
- Population: 7,553
- Median household income: $44,093
- Median home value: $154,500 (79% own)
- Median rent: $686 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Manassa Elementary School (grade B+), La Jara Elementary School (grade B+), Centauri Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Manassa (grade B+), Sanford (grade B+), La Jara (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,013
- Population: 19,564
- Median household income: $65,703
- Median home value: $514,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,330 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Crest Academy (grade A), Longfellow Elementary School (grade A minus), Salida Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Link School (grade C+), Darren Patterson Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Chaffee County Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Salida (grade B+), Buena Vista (grade B minus), Poncha Springs (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 973
- Population: 9,403
- Median household income: $87,169
- Median home value: $506,900 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,201 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Georgetown Community School (grade B), Clear Creek Middle School (grade B minus), Clear Creek High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Silver Plume (grade B), Idaho Springs (grade B minus), Georgetown (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 677
- Population: 5,856
- Median household income: $95,902
- Median home value: $465,300 (79% own)
- Median rent: $1,263 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Gilpin County Elementary School (grade A minus), Gilpin County Undivided High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Black Hawk (grade B minus), Central City (grade C+)

- Overall Rank: 671
- Population: 17,018
- Median household income: $76,538
- Median home value: $530,300 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,168 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Crested Butte Community School (grade B+), Crested Butte Elementary School (grade B), Gunnison Middle School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Gunnison (grade B+), Mount Crested Butte (grade A minus), Crested Butte (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 574
- Population: 55,983
- Median household income: $81,936
- Median home value: $497,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,344 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Animas High School (grade A minus), Mountain Middle School (grade A minus), Durango High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Colorado Timberline Academy (grade B minus), St. Columba School (grade unavailable), Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Durango (grade A minus), Bayfield (grade B minus), Ignacio (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 519
- Population: 17,325
- Median household income: $96,123
- Median home value: $912,300 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,772 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Aspen Community Charter School (grade A minus), Aspen High School (grade A minus), Aspen Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Aspen Country Day School (grade unavailable), The Cottage (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Aspen (grade A), Snowmass Village (grade A minus), Woody Creek (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 515
- Population: 24,944
- Median household income: $95,144
- Median home value: $691,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,721 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: North Routt Charter School (grade A), Soda Creek Elementary School (grade A), Steamboat Springs Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Steamboat Mountain School (grade A+), Steamboat Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Steamboat Springs (grade A minus), Oak Creek (grade B), Yampa (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 502
- Population: 730,323
- Median household income: $82,748
- Median home value: $390,500 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,507 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Cheyenne Mountain High School (grade A+), The Vanguard School Senior High (grade A), Cheyenne Mountain Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Fountain Valley School (grade A+), The Colorado Springs School (grade A+), St. Mary's High School (grade A)
- Top places: Gleneagle (grade A), Woodmoor (grade A), Monument (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 454
- Population: 359,363
- Median household income: $87,199
- Median home value: $488,300 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,584 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Liberty Common Charter School (grade A), Fossil Ridge High School (grade A), Traut Core Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Campion Academy (grade A minus), Heritage Christian Academy (grade A minus), Front Range Baptist Academy (grade B+)
- Top places: Timnath (grade A), Fort Collins (grade A), Johnstown (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 442
- Population: 8,082
- Median household income: $72,829
- Median home value: $561,400 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,267 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: Telluride High School (grade A), Telluride Middle School (grade A), Telluride Intermediate School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Telluride Mountain School (grade A)
- Top places: Telluride (grade A+), Mountain Village (grade A), Ophir (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 406
- Population: 55,650
- Median household income: $98,887
- Median home value: $728,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,868 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Battle Mountain High School (grade A minus), Eagle Valley Middle School (grade B+), Eagle County Charter Academy (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Vail Christian High School (grade A+), Vail Mountain School (grade A+), St. Clare of Assisi School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Vail (grade A), Eagle (grade B+), Minturn (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 365
- Population: 30,955
- Median household income: $100,611
- Median home value: $760,000 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,807 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Breckenridge Elementary School (grade A minus), Summit Cove Elementary School (grade B+), Summit High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Peak School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Breckenridge (grade A), Blue River (grade A minus), Frisco (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 285
- Population: 654,453
- Median household income: $92,292
- Median home value: $480,500 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,708 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Cherry Creek High School (grade A+), Grandview High School (grade A+), Challenge School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Crescent View Academy (grade A+)
- Top places: Holly Hills (grade A+), Cherry Creek (grade A+), Greenwood Village (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 272
- Population: 580,519
- Median household income: $103,167
- Median home value: $556,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,696 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School (grade A+), Lakewood High School (grade A), Evergreen High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Colorado Academy (grade A+), Denver Christian School (grade A minus), Front Range Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Evergreen (grade A), Genesee (grade A), Kittredge (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 226
- Population: 360,206
- Median household income: $139,010
- Median home value: $635,100 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,953 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Rock Canyon High School (grade A+), STEM School Highlands Ranch (grade A), Mountain Vista High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Mile High Academy (grade A), Valor Christian High School (grade A), Lutheran High School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Castle Pines (grade A+), Highlands Ranch (grade A+), Lone Tree (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 161
- Population: 328,658
- Median household income: $99,770
- Median home value: $671,100 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,828 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Peak to Peak Charter School (grade A+), Fairview High School (grade A+), Boulder High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Dawson School (grade A+), Watershed School (grade A), September School (grade A)
- Top places: Louisville (grade A+), Superior (grade A+), Boulder (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.