CO area data
Buena Vista, CO
Buena Vista, CO.
Population: 8,302 (Census ACS)
The median home value in Buena Vista, CO is $687,269 — up 1.4% over the past year. Typical rent runs $2,357/month. 6 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with avalanche, lightning, landslide the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 5.0% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$687,269
Median home value
+1.4%
1-year change
Relatively Low
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $687,269
- 1-year appreciation
- +1.4%
- 3-year appreciation
- +5.2%
- 5-year appreciation
- +21.9%
- 10-year appreciation
- +127.5%
- All-time peak (2026-07)
- $687,269
- House Price Index (state)
- 675.7 (-1.4% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- For-sale inventory
- 122
- New listings (monthly)
- 28
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $2,357/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Above Average)
- 105.0 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 15.9¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $11.20/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 6
- Elementary schools
- 2
- Middle schools
- 1
- High schools
- 2
- Charter schools
- 1
- School districts serving the area
- State Charter School Institute, Buena Vista School District No. R-31
- Schools include
- Salida Montessori Charter School, Buena Vista High School, Buena Vista Middle School, Avery/Parsons Elementary School, Chaffee County High School
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Low
- Top hazards (county)
- avalanche, lightning, landslide
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- avalanche: Very High · hail: Relatively Low · inlandFlooding: Relatively Low · landslide: Relatively Moderate · lightning: Relatively High · wildfire: Relatively Low
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 71% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 56.4%
- Radon potential (county)
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
- Nearest Superfund site
- Smeltertown Site (24.4 mi — proposed for listing)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Annual precipitation
- 15.7 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 5b (extreme annual low -15 to -10°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Moderate
- Median AQI (annual)
- 58
- Days with Good air quality
- 66
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 96
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 115
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 1
- Nearest national park
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (48 mi)
- Airports within 30 mi
- 4
- Nearest airport
- Central Colorado Regional Airport (6 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 1,090
- Hospitals include
- MIZELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, CRENSHAW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, CRENSHAW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.1 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 5.0 / 5
- EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
- 15
- Solar radiation rating
- Good (4.8 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- +203 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,995
- Housing built before 1970
- 14.1%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 41.9%
- Median annual property tax
- $1,922
- Mean commute to work
- 16 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 61.5%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 6,852
- Average weekly wage
- $889
- Top industries (by employment)
- Accommodation & Food, Construction, Arts & Entertainment
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 274
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| Buena Vista | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $687,269 | $497,277 | $289,727 |
| Typical rent | $2,357/mo | $2,002/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $1,922 | $1,694 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in Buena Vista, CO?
- $687,269.
- What is typical rent in Buena Vista, CO?
- Typical rent: $2,357/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in Buena Vista, CO?
- Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: avalanche, lightning, landslide.
- What is the wildfire risk in Buena Vista, CO?
- Risk to homes is higher than 71% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in Buena Vista, CO?
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near Buena Vista, CO?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve Buena Vista, CO?
- 6 schools (2 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- What is the air quality in Buena Vista, CO?
- Moderate. Median AQI: 58. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in Buena Vista, CO?
- Regional Price Parity: 105.0 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
ZIP code for Buena Vista
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →