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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Colorado, 2026

Pueblo West is the most affordable ranked town in Colorado. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

110
Towns ranked in Colorado.
Pueblo West
Number 1 in Colorado. Rent is 16.7% of income. National rank 1414.
21.7%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Colorado.
0
Ranked Colorado towns in the national top 100.
Boulder
Least affordable ranked town in Colorado. Rent is 27.7% of income. National rank 5541.

Gasoline

$4.327

per gallon. EIA publishes this state price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,076.96 a year for every ranked town in Colorado.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Colorado." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/colorado

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Benefits and taxes in Colorado

Top 25

  1. #1 in Colorado · National #1414

    Pueblo West

    Rent share 16.7% · Price level 91.8 · Score 0.331

    Median rent is $1,345 a month and median income is $96,810, so rent is 16.7% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Pueblo, CO metro price level is 91.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  2. #2 in Colorado · National #2200

    Mead

    Rent share 12.2% · Price level 100.2 · Score 0.385

    Median rent is $1,275 a month and median income is $125,357, so rent is 12.2% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Greeley, CO metro price level is 100.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  3. #3 in Colorado · National #2214

    Brush

    Rent share 11.3% · Price level 103.1 · Score 0.386

    Median rent is $692 a month and median income is $73,382, so rent is 11.3% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado state price level is 103.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  4. #4 in Colorado · National #2373

    La Junta

    Rent share 14.7% · Price level 103.1 · Score 0.395

    Median rent is $642 a month and median income is $52,315, so rent is 14.7% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado state price level is 103.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  5. #5 in Colorado · National #2651

    Timnath

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 101.1 · Score 0.414

    Median rent is $2,206 a month and median income is $178,257, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro price level is 101.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  6. #6 in Colorado · National #2747

    Woodmoor

    Rent share 15.9% · Price level 100.7 · Score 0.421

    Median rent is $2,276 a month and median income is $171,875, so rent is 15.9% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado Springs, CO metro price level is 100.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  7. #7 in Colorado · National #2811

    Grand Junction

    Rent share 19.6% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.426

    Median rent is $1,142 a month and median income is $70,080, so rent is 19.6% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Grand Junction, CO metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  8. #8 in Colorado · National #2828

    Redlands

    Rent share 19.3% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.427

    Median rent is $1,488 a month and median income is $92,391, so rent is 19.3% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Grand Junction, CO metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  9. #9 in Colorado · National #2835

    Pueblo

    Rent share 22.9% · Price level 91.8 · Score 0.428

    Median rent is $1,082 a month and median income is $56,664, so rent is 22.9% of income, over the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Pueblo, CO metro price level is 91.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #10 in Colorado · National #2838

    Johnstown

    Rent share 17.1% · Price level 100.2 · Score 0.428

    Median rent is $1,835 a month and median income is $128,995, so rent is 17.1% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Greeley, CO metro price level is 100.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  11. #11 in Colorado · National #2859

    Windsor

    Rent share 16.9% · Price level 100.2 · Score 0.430

    Median rent is $1,793 a month and median income is $127,028, so rent is 16.9% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Greeley, CO metro price level is 100.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  12. #12 in Colorado · National #2943

    Fruita

    Rent share 20.3% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.436

    Median rent is $1,472 a month and median income is $87,184, so rent is 20.3% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Grand Junction, CO metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  13. #13 in Colorado · National #2992

    Craig

    Rent share 17.3% · Price level 103.1 · Score 0.439

    Median rent is $1,045 a month and median income is $72,636, so rent is 17.3% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado state price level is 103.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  14. #14 in Colorado · National #3070

    Berthoud

    Rent share 18.0% · Price level 100.2 · Score 0.446

    Median rent is $1,795 a month and median income is $119,385, so rent is 18.0% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Greeley, CO metro price level is 100.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  15. #15 in Colorado · National #3072

    Battlement Mesa

    Rent share 17.4% · Price level 103.1 · Score 0.446

    Median rent is $1,106 a month and median income is $76,152, so rent is 17.4% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado state price level is 103.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  16. #16 in Colorado · National #3132

    Fort Lupton

    Rent share 18.6% · Price level 100.2 · Score 0.451

    Median rent is $1,251 a month and median income is $80,889, so rent is 18.6% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Greeley, CO metro price level is 100.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  17. #17 in Colorado · National #3154

    Castle Pines

    Rent share 13.9% · Price level 105.8 · Score 0.452

    Median rent is $2,211 a month and median income is $191,229, so rent is 13.9% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro price level is 105.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  18. #18 in Colorado · National #3176

    Gleneagle

    Rent share 18.0% · Price level 100.7 · Score 0.454

    Median rent is $2,099 a month and median income is $139,653, so rent is 18.0% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado Springs, CO metro price level is 100.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  19. #19 in Colorado · National #3215

    Monument

    Rent share 18.0% · Price level 100.7 · Score 0.456

    Median rent is $1,929 a month and median income is $128,816, so rent is 18.0% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado Springs, CO metro price level is 100.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  20. #20 in Colorado · National #3325

    Lamar

    Rent share 19.4% · Price level 103.1 · Score 0.464

    Median rent is $858 a month and median income is $53,188, so rent is 19.4% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado state price level is 103.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  21. #21 in Colorado · National #3348

    Eaton

    Rent share 19.3% · Price level 100.2 · Score 0.465

    Median rent is $1,707 a month and median income is $106,294, so rent is 19.3% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Greeley, CO metro price level is 100.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  22. #22 in Colorado · National #3367

    Cañon City

    Rent share 18.5% · Price level 103.1 · Score 0.466

    Median rent is $997 a month and median income is $64,787, so rent is 18.5% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado state price level is 103.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  23. #23 in Colorado · National #3430

    Stonegate

    Rent share 16.4% · Price level 105.8 · Score 0.472

    Median rent is $2,170 a month and median income is $159,086, so rent is 16.4% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro price level is 105.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  24. #24 in Colorado · National #3441

    Evergreen

    Rent share 15.6% · Price level 105.8 · Score 0.473

    Median rent is $1,959 a month and median income is $150,417, so rent is 15.6% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro price level is 105.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  25. #25 in Colorado · National #3463

    Erie

    Rent share 19.4% · Price level 100.2 · Score 0.475

    Median rent is $2,805 a month and median income is $173,349, so rent is 19.4% of income, under the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Greeley, CO metro price level is 100.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #110 in Colorado · National #5541

    Boulder

    Rent share 27.7% · Price level 105.2 · Score 0.675

    Median rent is $2,018 a month and median income is $87,493, so rent is 27.7% of income, over the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Boulder, CO metro price level is 105.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #109 in Colorado · National #5437

    Aspen

    Rent share 33.7% · Price level 103.1 · Score 0.659

    Median rent is $2,081 a month and median income is $74,033, so rent is 33.7% of income, over the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado state price level is 103.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #108 in Colorado · National #5357

    Sheridan

    Rent share 32.1% · Price level 105.8 · Score 0.646

    Median rent is $1,622 a month and median income is $60,608, so rent is 32.1% of income, over the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro price level is 105.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #107 in Colorado · National #5335

    Shaw Heights

    Rent share 29.6% · Price level 105.8 · Score 0.643

    Median rent is $2,125 a month and median income is $86,250, so rent is 29.6% of income, over the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro price level is 105.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #106 in Colorado · National #5330

    Edwards

    Rent share 27.0% · Price level 103.1 · Score 0.642

    Median rent is $1,845 a month and median income is $81,909, so rent is 27.0% of income, over the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado state price level is 103.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #105 in Colorado · National #5302

    Meridian

    Rent share 26.6% · Price level 105.8 · Score 0.638

    Median rent is $1,992 a month and median income is $89,877, so rent is 26.6% of income, over the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro price level is 105.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #104 in Colorado · National #5271

    Four Square Mile

    Rent share 27.2% · Price level 105.8 · Score 0.633

    Median rent is $1,833 a month and median income is $80,903, so rent is 27.2% of income, over the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro price level is 105.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #103 in Colorado · National #5238

    Sherrelwood

    Rent share 27.1% · Price level 105.8 · Score 0.629

    Median rent is $1,702 a month and median income is $75,327, so rent is 27.1% of income, over the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro price level is 105.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #102 in Colorado · National #5223

    Golden

    Rent share 23.8% · Price level 105.8 · Score 0.628

    Median rent is $1,953 a month and median income is $98,582, so rent is 23.8% of income, over the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro price level is 105.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  10. #101 in Colorado · National #5163

    Avon

    Rent share 29.5% · Price level 103.1 · Score 0.621

    Median rent is $2,192 a month and median income is $89,027, so rent is 29.5% of income, over the 21.7% median for ranked towns in Colorado. The Colorado state price level is 103.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 17.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.327 a gallon (Colorado). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Colorado in this index?

Pueblo West is number 1 of 110 ranked towns in Colorado. Median rent is 16.7% of median income. Its national rank is 1414.

How many towns in Colorado were ranked?

110 towns in Colorado have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Colorado?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.