
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.
Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.
A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.
Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.
Cortez, Colorado is a small city with a population of 9,056 inhabitants. If we look at the most recent Census, Cortez is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are American Indian and Alaskan and Asian. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Cortez offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 16 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Living in Cortez can be a good experience for anyone relocating to the area. Having said that, in the state of Colorado, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. To help you find the best places to live in and around Cortez, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, cost of living, commute, health & safety and more.
Using data and statistics Cortez has received a livability score of 66 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 64th percentile when compared to all other cities. For each of the livability categories, we can establish that Cortez ranks very well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A). There are some categories that Cortez does not rank well for, including: amenities (F), crime (F), education (D-) and employment (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to determine why.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Cortez has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Cortez real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Cortez. The median home price for Cortez homes is $295,416, which is 38.2% lower than the Colorado average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Cortez, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.8, which is 5.9% lower than the Colorado average.

Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Cortez | Colorado | National |
| Average one way commute | 16min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 75.2% | 75.2% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 11.6% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 3.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 2.6% | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 4.9% | 3.0% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.6% | 7.0% | 4.6% |