ChrisLitherlandCanonCity · Photolitherland Chris Litherland / CC BY-SA 3.0ArkansasRiverwalk · Public domain. Courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management. / Public domain
Cañon City is a small city of 17,059 in Colorado, with a median household income of $54,308
and a 4.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is
5% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cañon City stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Cañon City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cañon City 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: 94.7
Cañon City's overall cost of living index is 94.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cañon City costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cañon City, CO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$262,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$843
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,308
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Cañon City's violent crime rate is 83.6 per 100,000 residents
— 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
83.6 /100k
Property Crime
434.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cañon City is served primarily by Fremont Re-1.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cañon City, CO
National Avg
School District
Fremont Re-1
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cañon City sees average highs of 49.4°F in January
and 89.2°F in July,
with 13.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 38.3 inches of snow per year.
Cañon City's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cañon City roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $262,200 and median rent is $843/month.
Cañon City's violent crime rate is 83.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 434.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cañon City are operated by Fremont Re-1.
The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 24.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cañon City, CO has a population of 17,059, a median household income of $54,308, and an unemployment rate of 4.8%.
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.
Cañon City averages 49.4°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.3 inches
with about 38.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cañon City, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 81212.
The population of Cañon City, Colorado is 17,059 with a median age of 44.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cañon City: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $262,200, median household income $54,308, crime index 21 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cañon City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
