Places › Colorado › Steamboat Springs

Living in Steamboat Springs, CO

Resort town in Colorado

Steamboat Springs is a resort town in Colorado, home to about 13,000 people, with 17,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a slow, calm pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Steamboat Springs a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Low taxes: about $1,517 state income tax per resident, 0.32% property tax
  • Mild summers: highs around 80°F
  • Dog-friendly: 2 dog parks within 9 mi
  • Low natural disaster risk: 1 federally declared disaster since 2000

👎 Cons

  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Smaller job market: about 17,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Few top-rated hospitals: no 4–5★ hospital within 31 mi
  • Fewer family amenities than most places

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Steamboat Springs ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
13,000
17,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
31°F / 80°F
Average daily highs · 185″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$1.41M
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,420/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
103
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,517
State income tax per resident · 0.32% property tax
Safety
No data
Not in FBI 2019 city table
Natural disasters
1 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding
Top-rated hospitals
0
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
58%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
DEN
121 mi away

Living in Steamboat Springs: common questions

What is the cost of living in Steamboat Springs?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $1.41M, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,420 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 103, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Steamboat Springs?

Colorado collects about $1,517 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.32% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Steamboat Springs safe?

Steamboat Springs isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.

What is the weather like in Steamboat Springs?

Steamboat Springs has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 31°F and summer days around 80°F, with roughly 185″ of snow a year.

Does Steamboat Springs get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 1 federally declared disaster has hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.31 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Steamboat Springs?

The nearest major airport is DEN, about 121 mi away.

How Steamboat Springs scores

Each bar compares Steamboat Springs with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small town Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature on the doorstep Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Long, snowy winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Expensive Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Slow & calm Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Some community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Below average
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Poor
🏥Healthcare Below average
🎓Education Average
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Excellent
⛰️Outdoors Good
🎭Culture Poor
🛡️Safety No crime data (counted as average)
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Average

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Is Steamboat Springs right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.