What are the schools like in Monte Vista, CO?

Monte Vista is served primarily by Monte Vista School District No. C-8. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Monte Vista?

The median household income in Monte Vista, CO is $51,071 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.3%.

What is the weather like in Monte Vista, CO?

Monte Vista has an average high temperature of 33.1°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 11.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.4 inches.

Monte Vista, CO Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Monte Vista, CO affordable or expensive?

Monte Vista's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Monte Vista is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $178,100 and the median rent is $486 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Monte Vista, CO?

Monte Vista has a violent crime rate of 448.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4911.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Monte Vista, CO a Good Place to Live?

Monte Vista is a small town of 4,201 in Colorado, with a median household income of $51,071 and a 8.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Monte Vista stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Monte Vista is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Monte Vista 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: 88.4

Monte Vista's overall cost of living index is 88.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Monte Vista costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Monte Vista, CO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$178,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$486	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,071	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Monte Vista's violent crime rate is 448.8 per 100,000 residents — 18% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

448.8 /100k

Property Crime

4911.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Monte Vista is served primarily by Monte Vista School District No. C-8. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Monte Vista, CO	National Avg
School District	Monte Vista School District No. C-8	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	30.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Monte Vista sees average highs of 33.1°F in January and 80.1°F in July, with 11.0 inches of annual precipitation and 35.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Monte Vista, CO
Average High — January	33.1°F
Average High — July	80.1°F
Annual Precipitation	11.0"
Annual Snowfall	35.4"

Demographics

Metric	Monte Vista, CO	National Avg
Population	4,201	—
Median Age	38.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	28.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.6%	22.2%
65 and over	14.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Center, CO 12 mi Del Norte, CO 13 mi Alamosa, CO 17 mi Alamosa East, CO 18 mi Hooper, CO 19 mi

ZIP Codes in Monte Vista

Monte Vista, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

81144

Monte Vista vs Other Cities

Monte Vista, CO vs Center, CO Monte Vista, CO vs Del Norte, CO Monte Vista, CO vs Alamosa, CO Monte Vista, CO vs Alamosa East, CO Monte Vista, CO vs Hooper, CO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Monte Vista, CO affordable or expensive?

Monte Vista's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Monte Vista roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $178,100 and median rent is $486/month.

What is the crime rate in Monte Vista, CO?

Monte Vista's violent crime rate is 448.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4911.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Monte Vista?

Public schools in Monte Vista are operated by Monte Vista School District No. C-8. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 30.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Monte Vista, CO a good place to live?

Monte Vista, CO has a population of 4,201, a median household income of $51,071, and an unemployment rate of 8.3%. 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.

What is the weather like in Monte Vista?

Monte Vista averages 33.1°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 11.0 inches with about 35.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Monte Vista?

Monte Vista, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 81144.

What is the population of Monte Vista?

The population of Monte Vista, Colorado is 4,201 with a median age of 38.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Monte Vista?

Key numbers for living in Monte Vista: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $178,100, median household income $51,071, crime index 164 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Monte Vista side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.