Is Idaho Springs, CO a Good Place to Live?
Idaho Springs is a small town of 2,113 in Colorado, with a median household income of $72,101 and a 6.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 106 (US average = 100), which is 6% above the national average.
Strengths: Idaho Springs stands out for solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Idaho Springs is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Idaho Springs 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: 105.5Idaho Springs's overall cost of living index is 105.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Idaho Springs costs roughly 6% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Idaho Springs, CO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $412,600 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,256 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $72,101 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageIdaho Springs's violent crime rate is 476.8 per 100,000 residents — 25% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Idaho Springs is served primarily by Clear Creek School District No. Re-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Idaho Springs, CO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Clear Creek School District No. Re-1 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 3 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 12.5:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.2% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 97.5% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Idaho Springs sees average highs of 36.4°F in January and 77.1°F in July, with 19.3 inches of annual precipitation and 105.9 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Idaho Springs, CO |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 36.4°F |
| Average High — July | 77.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 105.9" |
Demographics
| Metric | Idaho Springs, CO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,113 | — |
| Median Age | 40.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 22.9 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 85.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 6.2% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5.8% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 11.6% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 17.4% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code: