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Cortez, CO

Full City Profile · Colorado · Montezuma County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
8,898 Population 1,428/sq mi density
$51,377 Median Income $29,086 per capita
$226,700 Home Value $333,540 Zillow
$1,028 Median Rent 33.9% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature 330 sunny days/yr
492 Violent Crime/100K 3,224 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.7 / 5.0
$51,377 median income, 3.2% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.2 / 5.0
$226,700 home value, $1,028/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
492 violent crimes/100K (29% above avg)
B
Education
3.3 / 5.0
29.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Cortez experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 11.8 inches. The area receives 33.4 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

30°F Jan (-1°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average50.8°F
6% below US avg
January Average30°F (-1°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation6,183 ft (1,885 m)
Area6.2 sq mi (16.2 km²)
Population Density1,428/sq mi
Coordinates37.3498°N, 108.5767°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyMontezuma County County
Nearest AirportFour Corners Regional (FMN)
46 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 11.8"
69% below US avg
Snowfall 33.4"
Wettest Month (Aug) 1.65"
Driest Month (Jun) 0.51"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0461 ppm

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score47.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability62.4 / 100
Community Resilience13.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Avalanche Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

48 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.5. Most recent: M2.5 on Aug 25, 2024.

Mar 4, 2019 29 km E of La Sal, Utah M4.5 108 km
May 27, 2000 29 km WNW of Naturita, Colorado M4.4 108 km
Sep 13, 1994 17 km N of Sawpit, Colorado M4.4 104 km
Jan 24, 2013 22 km E of La Sal, Utah M3.9 114 km
Jul 6, 1999 27 km WNW of Naturita, Colorado M3.7 106 km
Apr 22, 2017 4 km SSW of Bluff, Utah M3.7 88 km
Jun 3, 1999 28 km E of La Sal, Utah M3.7 109 km
Jun 6, 2008 10 km NE of Bluff, Utah M3.6 79 km
Mar 10, 2023 16 km S of Ophir, Colorado M3.6 76 km
Aug 2, 1991 59 km WNW of Blanding, Utah M3.4 145 km
Dec 15, 1997 7 km ENE of La Sal, Utah M3.2 120 km
Feb 24, 1993 16 km SSE of Monticello, Utah M3.1 76 km
May 13, 1993 19 km SSE of Monticello, Utah M3.1 72 km
Mar 15, 2000 Colorado M3.1 108 km
Jun 6, 2002 29 km E of La Sal, Utah M3.0 115 km
May 8, 1998 15 km E of La Sal, Utah M3.0 118 km
Apr 10, 1998 23 km WNW of Naturita, Colorado M3.0 104 km
Jul 15, 1992 26 km NNW of Mexican Hat, Utah M3.0 124 km
Feb 4, 1999 28 km E of La Sal, Utah M3.0 108 km
Sep 16, 1999 Utah M3.0 120 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

17 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF2.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 25, 1985 EF2 0 km 0
May 10, 1957 EF2 81 km 0
Oct 5, 2004 EF1 66 km 0
Aug 5, 1999 EF1 50 km 0
Jun 7, 1997 EF1 84 km 0
Sep 5, 1970 EF1 22 km 0
Mar 21, 2020 EF0 85 km 0
Jun 10, 2015 EF0 96 km 0
Sep 18, 2013 EF0 84 km 0
Sep 10, 2013 EF0 61 km 0
Jul 18, 2011 EF0 18 km 0
Aug 29, 2002 EF0 57 km 0
Oct 23, 2000 EF0 59 km 0
Oct 23, 2000 EF0 59 km 0
May 30, 1992 EF0 68 km 0
Sep 28, 1990 EF0 77 km 0
May 28, 1963 EF0 87 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: MISSIONARY RIDGE (68,919 ac, 2002).

Year Name Acres Distance
2002 MISSIONARY RIDGE 68,919 80 km
2018 416 55,123 62 km
2002 BURN CANYON 30,573 81 km
2000 BIRCHER 23,317 21 km
2018 PLATEAU 19,746 30 km
1994 UNNAMED 13,234 58 km
2012 WEBER 10,898 29 km
2009 NARRAGUINNEP 7,798 38 km
2019 DOE CANYON 7,388 46 km
1986 UNNAMED 6,205 76 km
1986 WESTTOE 5,397 45 km
1986 HOGAN 5,298 37 km
2018 BURRO 5,242 46 km
2000 PONY 5,224 17 km
1996 CHAPIN 5 4,832 14 km
1990 HORESEFLY 3,760 100 km
2002 CARRIZO 1 3,701 77 km
1996 DISAPPOINTMENT 3,642 50 km
1984 FERNANDO 3,419 35 km
2020 EAST CANYON 3,031 32 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 30°F (-1°C) 1.1 in
February 32°F (0°C) 1.1 in
March 39°F (4°C) 1.5 in
April 46°F (8°C) 1.0 in
May 55°F (13°C) 1.0 in
June 64°F (18°C) 0.5 in Driest
July 74°F (23°C) 1.4 in Warmest
August 69°F (20°C) 1.7 in Wettest
September 61°F (16°C) 1.5 in
October 50°F (10°C) 1.7 in
November 37°F (3°C) 1.4 in
December 29°F (-2°C) 1.3 in Coldest

Cortez has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 29°F in December to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 14.9 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.7") and June the driest (0.5").

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