Median Income
$116,683
household / year
Median Home Value
$511,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,921
gross / month
Cost of Living
106
national avg = 100

Is Dakota Ridge, CO a Good Place to Live?

Dakota Ridge is a small city of 34,234 in Colorado, with a median household income of $116,683 and a 3.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 106 (US average = 100), which is 6% above the national average.

Strengths: Dakota Ridge stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Dakota Ridge is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dakota Ridge 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: 105.5

Dakota Ridge's overall cost of living index is 105.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dakota Ridge costs roughly 6% more than the average American city.

Metric Dakota Ridge, CO National Avg
Median Home Value $511,800 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,921 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 83.5% 65.9%
Median Household Income $116,683 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Dakota Ridge's violent crime rate is 435.8 per 100,000 residents — 15% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
435.8 /100k
Property Crime
3593.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Dakota Ridge is served primarily by Jefferson County School District No. R-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Dakota Ridge, CO National Avg
School District Jefferson County School District No. R-1 —
Elementary Schools 85 —
Middle Schools 19 —
High Schools 30 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 16.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 49.6% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 96.9% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dakota Ridge sees average highs of 45.8°F in January and 86.4°F in July, with 19.0 inches of annual precipitation and 34.1 inches of snow per year.

MetricDakota Ridge, CO
Average High — January45.8°F
Average High — July86.4°F
Annual Precipitation19.0"
Annual Snowfall34.1"

Demographics

MetricDakota Ridge, CONational Avg
Population34,234—
Median Age40.038.9
Unemployment Rate3.4%3.7%
Avg Commute Time26.8 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)80.7%59.3%
Black or African American1.2%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino9.7%18.9%
Asian2.9%6.3%
Under 1820.6%22.2%
65 and over14.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ken Caryl, CO 3 mi Morrison, CO 4 mi Columbine, CO 4 mi Bow Mar, CO 5 mi Lakewood, CO 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Dakota Ridge

Dakota Ridge, CO is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

80127 80465

Dakota Ridge vs Other Cities

Dakota Ridge, CO vs Ken Caryl, CO Dakota Ridge, CO vs Morrison, CO Dakota Ridge, CO vs Columbine, CO Dakota Ridge, CO vs Bow Mar, CO Dakota Ridge, CO vs Lakewood, CO

Frequently Asked Questions

Dakota Ridge's cost of living index is 106, where 100 is the national average. That puts Dakota Ridge roughly 6% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $511,800 and median rent is $1,921/month.
Dakota Ridge's violent crime rate is 435.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3593.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dakota Ridge are operated by Jefferson County School District No. R-1. The district has 85 elementary, 19 middle, and 30 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.7:1. 49.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dakota Ridge, CO has a population of 34,234, a median household income of $116,683, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Dakota Ridge averages 45.8°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 19.0 inches with about 34.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dakota Ridge, CO is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 80127, 80465.
The population of Dakota Ridge, Colorado is 34,234 with a median age of 40.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dakota Ridge: cost of living index 106 (100 = US average), median home $511,800, median household income $116,683, crime index 137 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dakota Ridge side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.