Highlands Ranch, CO

Full City Profile · Colorado · Douglas County County

4.6 /5.0
A+ Excellent
101,437 Population 4,180/sq mi density
$155,847 Median Income $69,593 per capita
$672,600 Home Value $694,234 Zillow
$2,397 Median Rent 28.9% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature
A+
Overall
4.6 / 5.0
Strong
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$155,847 median income, 3.7% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.2 / 5.0
$672,600 home value, $2,397/mo rent
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
66.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Highlands Ranch experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 15.0 inches. The area receives 34.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.

Temperature

32°F Jan (-0°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average50.2°F
7% below US avg
January Average32°F (-0°C)
July Average73°F (23°C)

Geography

Elevation5,823 ft (1,775 m)
Area24.3 sq mi (62.9 km²)
Population Density4,180/sq mi
Coordinates39.5408°N, 104.9711°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyDouglas County County
Nearest AirportDenver International (DEN)
27 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 15.0"
61% below US avg
Snowfall 34.1"
Wettest Month (Aug) 2.25"
Driest Month (Dec) 0.35"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood
Good Days %57.3%
Unhealthy Days25

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0524 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)5.0 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score88.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience73.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

21 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.0. Most recent: M2.7 on Jun 13, 2025.

Dec 25, 1994 9 km NE of Larkspur, Colorado M4.0 31 km
Dec 23, 1995 7 km WNW of Rock Creek Park, Colorado M3.5 90 km
Jan 18, 1997 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M3.3 50 km
Jun 1, 2014 9 km NNW of Kersey, Colorado M3.2 108 km
Jan 26, 2008 12 km NE of Cotopaxi, Colorado M3.1 132 km
Jul 22, 2001 6 km WNW of Woodland Park, Colorado M3.1 59 km
Sep 12, 1990 13 km NW of Silverthorne, Colorado M3.0 107 km
Feb 26, 2008 29 km WNW of Westcreek, Colorado M2.9 52 km
Mar 30, 2019 7 km NE of Greeley, Colorado M2.9 107 km
Jan 19, 1997 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M2.9 50 km
Oct 13, 2002 13 km S of Norrie, Colorado M2.8 150 km
Dec 31, 1995 6 km WNW of Rock Creek Park, Colorado M2.8 92 km
Apr 18, 1998 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M2.7 50 km
Jun 13, 2025 7 km SE of Erie, Colorado M2.7 52 km
Jan 19, 1997 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M2.7 50 km
Sep 24, 2013 6 km NNE of Cotopaxi, Colorado M2.6 138 km
Aug 23, 2016 2 km SSE of Eaton, Colorado M2.6 110 km
Jun 23, 2014 6 km NNE of Kersey, Colorado M2.5 107 km
Jun 26, 2021 19 km WNW of Cañon City, Colorado M2.5 121 km
Aug 4, 1994 6 km NNE of Smeltertown, Colorado M2.5 136 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

706 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 1 fatality, 174 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 4, 2015 EF3 79 km 0
May 22, 2008 EF3 79 km 1
Jun 15, 1988 EF3 21 km 0
Jun 12, 1982 EF3 49 km 0
Jun 24, 1979 EF3 77 km 0
Jun 13, 1977 EF3 68 km 0
May 18, 1975 EF3 35 km 0
May 15, 1952 EF3 94 km 0
Jun 7, 2021 EF2 67 km 0
Jun 8, 2014 EF2 75 km 0
Jun 7, 2012 EF2 76 km 0
Jun 15, 2009 EF2 44 km 0
May 10, 2004 EF2 85 km 0
May 28, 2001 EF2 93 km 0
May 28, 2001 EF2 95 km 0
Jul 13, 1996 EF2 57 km 0
Jun 15, 1988 EF2 21 km 0
Jun 5, 1988 EF2 51 km 0
Jun 5, 1988 EF2 46 km 0
Jul 2, 1987 EF2 43 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: HAYMAN (129,417 ac, 2002).

Year Name Acres Distance
2002 HAYMAN 129,417 45 km
2012 WALDO CANYON 20,112 68 km
2020 WILLIAMS FORK 14,679 93 km
2013 BLACK FOREST 11,885 60 km
1996 BUFFALO CREEK 11,690 30 km
2020 CALWOOD 9,836 75 km
2000 HIGH MEADOWS 9,607 37 km
2001 MVD PSFRXASST 4 7,375 38 km
2002 MILNE/SQUIRREL 6,568 98 km
2021 MARSHALL 6,286 50 km
2010 FOURMILE CANYON 5,865 67 km
2009 QUARRY 5,141 99 km
1997 UNNAMED 4,380 95 km
2002 BIG ELK 4,348 91 km
2012 LOWER NORTH FORK FIRE 3,436 21 km
2003 OVERLAND 3,232 73 km
1998 UNNAMED 3,188 96 km
2009 OLD STAGE 3,160 67 km
2018 RANGE 5 2,888 96 km
2002 SCHOONOVER 2,821 40 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 32°F (-0°C) 0.4 in
February 33°F (1°C) 0.4 in
March 41°F (5°C) 1.0 in
April 47°F (8°C) 1.9 in
May 56°F (13°C) 2.0 in
June 67°F (19°C) 2.0 in
July 73°F (23°C) 1.8 in Warmest
August 71°F (22°C) 2.3 in Wettest
September 63°F (17°C) 1.3 in
October 50°F (10°C) 1.0 in
November 39°F (4°C) 0.5 in
December 31°F (-0°C) 0.4 in Coldest, Driest

Highlands Ranch has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 31°F in December to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 15.0 inches, with August being the wettest month (2.3") and December the driest (0.4").

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