Orchard Mesa, CO

Full City Profile · Colorado · Mesa County County

3.7 /5.0
B+ Good
6,597 Population 1,812/sq mi density
$76,173 Median Income $30,637 per capita
$304,200 Home Value $414,332 Zillow
$1,588 Median Rent 31.3% income on rent
53°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.7 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$76,173 median income, 6.2% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.4 / 5.0
$304,200 home value, $1,588/mo rent
C+
Education
2.7 / 5.0
21.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Orchard Mesa experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 28°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 9.1 inches. The area receives 17.7 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.

Temperature

28°F Jan (-2°C) 79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average53.2°F
1% below US avg
January Average28°F (-2°C)
July Average79°F (26°C)

Geography

Elevation4,668 ft (1,423 m)
Area3.9 sq mi (10.0 km²)
Population Density1,812/sq mi
Coordinates39.0374°N, 108.5228°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyMesa County County
Nearest AirportGrand Junction Regional (GJT)
6 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 9.1"
76% below US avg
Snowfall 17.7"
Wettest Month (Sep) 1.19"
Driest Month (Jun) 0.41"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood
Good Days %58.7%
Unhealthy Days7

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0508 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)4.5 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score75.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability37.0 / 100
Community Resilience56.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

90 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.5. Most recent: M3.2 on Apr 3, 2025.

Mar 20, 1995 10 km NNW of Rangely, Colorado M4.5 129 km
Mar 4, 2019 29 km E of La Sal, Utah M4.5 91 km
Sep 13, 1994 17 km N of Sawpit, Colorado M4.4 109 km
May 27, 2000 29 km WNW of Naturita, Colorado M4.4 90 km
May 20, 1995 434km E of Wendover, Utah M4.1 134 km
Aug 9, 2001 11 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado M4.0 120 km
Apr 7, 1990 28 km WNW of Bonanza, Utah M4.0 144 km
Jan 24, 2013 22 km E of La Sal, Utah M3.9 89 km
Feb 10, 2006 1 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado M3.8 112 km
May 31, 2022 37 km ENE of Thompson Springs, Utah M3.8 67 km
Apr 22, 2017 4 km NW of Rangely, Colorado M3.8 123 km
Jul 6, 1999 27 km WNW of Naturita, Colorado M3.7 90 km
Nov 8, 1991 17 km WNW of Bonanza, Utah M3.7 138 km
Mar 2, 1991 27 km SSW of Jensen, Utah M3.7 147 km
Jun 3, 1999 28 km E of La Sal, Utah M3.7 90 km
Nov 11, 2000 14 km SE of Jensen, Utah M3.6 150 km
Oct 14, 1993 36 km SW of Spanish Valley, Utah M3.6 137 km
May 13, 1993 10 km NW of Rangely, Colorado M3.5 128 km
Dec 10, 1999 11 km NE of Dinosaur, Colorado M3.5 145 km
Nov 3, 1994 30 km W of Meeker, Colorado M3.4 114 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

15 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF1. Total: 1 injury.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 9, 2015 EF1 36 km 0
Oct 4, 2005 EF1 85 km 0
May 6, 2005 EF1 65 km 0
May 13, 2004 EF1 93 km 0
Sep 11, 2002 EF1 51 km 0
Sep 8, 2000 EF1 24 km 0
May 19, 2009 EF0 24 km 0
Aug 2, 2005 EF0 46 km 0
May 29, 2005 EF0 5 km 0
Oct 17, 2004 EF0 33 km 0
Jun 3, 2002 EF0 47 km 0
Apr 15, 2000 EF0 44 km 0
Apr 11, 2000 EF0 9 km 0
Aug 8, 1998 EF0 7 km 0
Jul 31, 1994 EF0 55 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: PINE GULCH (138,141 ac, 2020).

Year Name Acres Distance
2020 PINE GULCH 138,141 41 km
2002 RATTLE COMPLEX (RATTLE) 87,396 92 km
2018 BULL DRAW 37,178 60 km
2012 WOLF DEN 19,419 94 km
1989 DIAMONDPK 15,685 86 km
2012 PINE RIDGE 13,862 30 km
2001 INDIAN SPR 13,458 82 km
2021 OIL SPRINGS 12,597 84 km
2021 PACK CREEK 8,859 93 km
1999 TOMS CYN 6,030 44 km
2012 SUNRISE MINE 5,905 76 km
2018 RED CANYON 5,701 74 km
1995 TRIANGLE 5,688 50 km
1996 HATCHET 5,685 40 km
2002 CANYONS COMPLEX (HANG DOG) 5,668 88 km
2000 CONE MOUNTAIN 4,708 63 km
1994 BITTCRCOMP 4,445 60 km
2004 CAMPBELL 4,429 69 km
1994 TWO ROAD 4,240 47 km
2023 COWCREEKRXNORTH 4,147 46 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 28°F (-2°C) 0.6 in Coldest
February 35°F (2°C) 0.5 in
March 45°F (7°C) 0.8 in
April 52°F (11°C) 1.0 in
May 62°F (17°C) 0.8 in
June 73°F (23°C) 0.4 in Driest
July 79°F (26°C) 0.6 in Warmest
August 76°F (25°C) 0.9 in
September 67°F (19°C) 1.2 in Wettest
October 53°F (12°C) 1.0 in
November 40°F (4°C) 0.6 in
December 28°F (-2°C) 0.6 in

Orchard Mesa has a seasonal temperature swing of 52°F / from 28°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 9.1 inches, with September being the wettest month (1.2") and June the driest (0.4").

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