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Rifle, CO

Full City Profile · Colorado · Garfield County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
10,466 Population 1,493/sq mi density
$80,629 Median Income $33,827 per capita
$377,900 Home Value $487,994 Zillow
$1,231 Median Rent 26.2% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature 330 sunny days/yr
388 Violent Crime/100K 2,259 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.4 / 5.0
$80,629 median income, 3.4% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.0 / 5.0
$377,900 home value, $1,231/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
388 violent crimes/100K (2% above avg)
C
Education
2.4 / 5.0
18.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Rifle experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 10.7 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

25°F Jan (-4°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average49.1°F
9% below US avg
January Average25°F (-4°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation5,554 ft (1,693 m)
Area5.7 sq mi (14.7 km²)
Population Density1,493/sq mi
Coordinates39.5376°N, 107.7703°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyGarfield County County
Nearest AirportEagle County Regional (EGE)
46 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 10.7"
72% below US avg
Wettest Month (Oct) 1.46"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.94"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0506 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)3.9 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)4.1 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score64.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability15.4 / 100
Community Resilience12.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

85 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 M4.5 117 km
Jan 31, 2002 28 km SSW of Craig, Colorado M4.3 84 km
May 20, 1995 434km E of Wendover, Utah M4.1 125 km
Aug 9, 2001 11 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado M4.0 36 km
Feb 10, 2006 1 km NNE of Chacra, Colorado M3.8 29 km
May 31, 2022 37 km ENE of Thompson Springs, Utah M3.8 142 km
Apr 22, 2017 4 km NW of Rangely, Colorado M3.8 112 km
Nov 8, 1991 17 km WNW of Bonanza, Utah M3.7 149 km
Aug 18, 2009 19 km N of Craig, Colorado M3.7 129 km
Nov 11, 2000 14 km SE of Jensen, Utah M3.6 149 km
Apr 20, 2017 24 km NE of Maybell, Colorado M3.5 127 km
Jun 6, 2011 17 km NNW of Oak Creek, Colorado M3.5 117 km
May 13, 1993 10 km NW of Rangely, Colorado M3.5 118 km
Dec 10, 1999 11 km NE of Dinosaur, Colorado M3.5 129 km
Nov 3, 1994 30 km W of Meeker, Colorado M3.4 70 km
Apr 10, 2011 12 km N of Oak Creek, Colorado M3.4 118 km
Aug 21, 2012 12 km SSW of Gypsum, Colorado M3.4 67 km
Jan 30, 2017 5 km SW of New Castle, Colorado M3.3 16 km
May 3, 2017 4 km NW of Rangely, Colorado M3.3 112 km
Apr 3, 2025 34 km W of Delta, Colorado M3.2 110 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

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

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 20, 1975 EF2 61 km 0
Jul 9, 2015 EF1 59 km 0
Jun 21, 2006 EF1 62 km 0
Sep 8, 2000 EF1 81 km 0
Apr 6, 1974 EF1 83 km 0
Jul 3, 1957 EF1 56 km 0
May 19, 2009 EF0 62 km 0
May 29, 2005 EF0 90 km 0
Oct 17, 2004 EF0 97 km 0
Jun 30, 2004 EF0 84 km 0
Apr 11, 2000 EF0 76 km 0
Aug 8, 1998 EF0 90 km 0
Jul 31, 1994 EF0 99 km 0
Aug 20, 1986 EF0 85 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 67 km
2020 GRIZZLY CREEK 30,705 50 km
2002 BIG FISH 17,273 68 km
2012 PINE RIDGE 13,862 57 km
2021 OIL SPRINGS 12,597 95 km
2018 LAKE CHRISTINE 12,506 64 km
2002 COAL SEAM 12,007 35 km
2002 SPRING CREEK 10,552 31 km
2004 GREASEWOOD WFU 6,963 61 km
2012 WOLF 6,748 97 km
2018 INDIAN VALLEY 6,376 82 km
2002 LOST LAKES 5,888 79 km
2018 CABIN LAKE 5,765 45 km
2018 RED CANYON 5,701 84 km
1996 HATCHET 5,685 77 km
2016 LOST SOLAR 5,141 50 km
2017 PINE TREE 4,694 99 km
1989 BURNED OUT 4,046 88 km
2002 NORTH BARCUS 4,042 83 km
1987 BATTLEMENT 3,839 24 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 25°F (-4°C) 1.0 in
February 29°F (-2°C) 0.9 in Driest
March 37°F (3°C) 1.1 in
April 45°F (7°C) 1.2 in
May 54°F (12°C) 1.3 in
June 63°F (17°C) 1.1 in
July 74°F (23°C) 1.2 in Warmest
August 67°F (20°C) 1.3 in
September 59°F (15°C) 1.3 in
October 48°F (9°C) 1.5 in Wettest
November 35°F (1°C) 1.1 in
December 25°F (-4°C) 1.3 in Coldest

Rifle has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 25°F in December to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 14.3 inches, with October being the wettest month (1.5") and February the driest (0.9").

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