Grand Junction is a mid-sized city of 65,918 in Colorado, with a median household income of $62,993
and a 4.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Grand Junction stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Grand Junction is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Grand Junction 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: 92.1
Grand Junction's overall cost of living index is 92.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Grand Junction costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Grand Junction, CO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$317,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,007
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$62,993
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Grand Junction's violent crime rate is 546.1 per 100,000 residents
— 44% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
546.1 /100k
Property Crime
3170.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Grand Junction is served primarily by Mesa County Valley School District No. 51.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Grand Junction, CO
National Avg
School District
Mesa County Valley School District No. 51
—
Elementary Schools
27
—
Middle Schools
7
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
35.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Grand Junction sees average highs of 39.0°F in January
and 94.5°F in July,
with 11.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 17.7 inches of snow per year.
Grand Junction's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Grand Junction roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $317,700 and median rent is $1,007/month.
Grand Junction's violent crime rate is 546.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3170.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Grand Junction are operated by Mesa County Valley School District No. 51.
The district has 27 elementary, 7 middle, and 7 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 35.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Grand Junction, CO has a population of 65,918, a median household income of $62,993, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%.
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.
Grand Junction averages 39.0°F in January and 94.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 11.7 inches
with about 17.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Grand Junction, CO is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 81505, 81506, 81501, 81504.
The population of Grand Junction, Colorado is 65,918 with a median age of 39.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Grand Junction: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $317,700, median household income $62,993, crime index 147 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Grand Junction side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
