Median Income
$58,750
household / year
Median Home Value
$234,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$854
gross / month
Cost of Living
92
national avg = 100

Is Blende, CO a Good Place to Live?

Blende is a small town of 663 in Colorado, with a median household income of $58,750 and a 7.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Blende stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Blende is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Blende 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: 92.4

Blende's overall cost of living index is 92.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Blende costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric Blende, CO National Avg
Median Home Value $234,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $854 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 72.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $58,750 $74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Blende's violent crime rate is 973.1 per 100,000 residents — 156% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
973.1 /100k
Property Crime
3957.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric Blende, CO National Avg
School District N/A
Elementary Schools N/A
Middle Schools N/A
High Schools N/A
Student/Teacher Ratio N/A 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 20.6% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 93.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Blende sees average highs of 48.1°F in January and 93.0°F in July, with 15.8 inches of annual precipitation and 28.3 inches of snow per year.

MetricBlende, CO
Average High — January48.1°F
Average High — July93.0°F
Annual Precipitation15.8"
Annual Snowfall28.3"

Demographics

MetricBlende, CONational Avg
Population663
Median Age50.538.9
Unemployment Rate7.4%3.7%
Avg Commute Time19.1 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)78.6%59.3%
Black or African American2.7%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino7.7%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1814.9%22.2%
65 and over28.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Blende vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Blende's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Blende roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $234,500 and median rent is $854/month.
Blende's violent crime rate is 973.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3957.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Blende, CO has a population of 663, a median household income of $58,750, and an unemployment rate of 7.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Blende averages 48.1°F in January and 93.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 15.8 inches with about 28.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Blende, Colorado is 663 with a median age of 50.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Blende: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $234,500, median household income $58,750, crime index 229 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Blende side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.