Dinosaur is a small town of 495 in Colorado, with a median household income of $48,865
and a 42.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 81 (US average = 100), which is
19% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dinosaur stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Dinosaur is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dinosaur 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: 80.6
Dinosaur's overall cost of living index is 80.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dinosaur costs roughly 19% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dinosaur, CO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$23,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$646
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
89.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,865
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Dinosaur's violent crime rate is 383.9 per 100,000 residents
— 1% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
383.9 /100k
Property Crime
1332.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Dinosaur, 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
10.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
47.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dinosaur sees average highs of 30.4°F in January
and 89.1°F in July,
with 10.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 26.1 inches of snow per year.
Dinosaur's cost of living index is 81, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dinosaur roughly 19% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $23,200 and median rent is $646/month.
Dinosaur's violent crime rate is 383.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1332.5 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.
Dinosaur, CO has a population of 495, a median household income of $48,865, and an unemployment rate of 42.9%.
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.
Dinosaur averages 30.4°F in January and 89.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.7 inches
with about 26.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dinosaur, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 81610.
The population of Dinosaur, Colorado is 495 with a median age of 33.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dinosaur: cost of living index 81 (100 = US average), median home $23,200, median household income $48,865, crime index 86 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dinosaur side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
