Is Black Forest, CO a Good Place to Live?
Black Forest is a small city of 14,437 in Colorado, with a median household income of $135,859 and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.
Strengths: Black Forest stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Black Forest is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Black Forest city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 97.4Black Forest's overall cost of living index is 97.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Black Forest costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Black Forest, CO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $743,200 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 94.1% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $135,859 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Higher than AverageBlack Forest's violent crime rate is 589.0 per 100,000 residents — 55% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Black Forest is served primarily by Elbert School District No. 200. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Black Forest, CO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Elbert School District No. 200 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 11.7:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.8% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 98.1% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Black Forest sees average highs of 41.4°F in January and 80.9°F in July, with 22.2 inches of annual precipitation and 101.7 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Black Forest, CO |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 41.4°F |
| Average High — July | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 101.7" |
Demographics
| Metric | Black Forest, CO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,437 | — |
| Median Age | 49.0 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 30.4 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 88.9% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 3.1% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3.4% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.7% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 19.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Black Forest
Black Forest, CO is covered by 2 ZIP codes: