Most Americans have never been to small town Colorado. However, as the Coloradan who live there know, small town Colorado is an awesome place to call home.
But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, Colorado has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using Saturday Night Science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Centennial State. Don’t freak out, we will use data to show which places have high crime, poverty, and unemployment.
After analyzing more than 101 of Colorado’s smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in Colorado where you’d never want to live:
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
These are the worst small towns in Colorado for 2025:
So what is the worst small town to call home in Colorado for 2025? According to the most recent census data, Towaoc is the worst small town to live in Colorado.
While many of these small towns have seen better days, they have wonderful communities and people. This report in no way means to knock the folks that call towns like Towaoc home. Everyone
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.
And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in Colorado or the worst places to live in Colorado.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.
The 10 Worst Small Towns In Colorado For 2025
1. Towaoc
/10
Population: 1,058
Median Home Value: $1,000
Median Income: $23,661
Unemployment Rate: 17.0%
2. Yuma
/10
Population: 3,427
Median Home Value: $180,000
Median Income: $52,102
Unemployment Rate: 9.7%
3. Ellicott
/10
Population: 1,337
Median Home Value: $1,000
Median Income: $55,822
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%
4. Monte Vista
/10
Population: 4,178
Median Home Value: $204,500
Median Income: $49,339
Unemployment Rate: 14.7%
5. Las Animas
/10
Population: 2,480
Median Home Value: $111,500
Median Income: $48,917
Unemployment Rate: 7.8%
6. Center
/10
Population: 2,312
Median Home Value: $115,600
Median Income: $50,057
Unemployment Rate: 8.8%
7. Sanford
/10
Population: 1,047
Median Home Value: $150,000
Median Income: $41,250
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
8. Walsenburg
/10
Population: 3,079
Median Home Value: $148,600
Median Income: $40,799
Unemployment Rate: 14.0%
9. Wray
/10
Population: 2,305
Median Home Value: $205,900
Median Income: $57,318
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
10. Olathe
/10
Population: 1,788
Median Home Value: $226,900
Median Income: $65,170
Unemployment Rate: 6.6%
Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in Colorado is lousy or not?
To rank the worst small towns to live in Colorado, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. Assuming that people like low crime, solid education, things to do, and a stable economy isn’t a stretch.
We then analyzed the criteria using Saturday Night Science, the thinking you’d use at a bar. It seems like even your crazy Uncle would agree that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime; all else the same.
Using FBI crime data and the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (The lower, the worse)
- Highest Unemployment Rates
- Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
- Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
- Education (Number of high school dropouts)
- High Crime
We looked at cities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which there were many – 101 to be exact.
We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets them from the cities. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.
We base all our research on facts, which is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2025, which is our tenth time ranking the worst small places to live in Colorado.
There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In Colorado
If you’re analyzing teeny places in the Centennial State with the worst economic situations, where there’s high crime and there’s not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
The worst small towns in Colorado are Towaoc, Yuma, Ellicott, Monte Vista, Las Animas, Center, Sanford, Walsenburg, Wray, and Olathe.
If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in Colorado, according to science:
- Castle Pines Village (Pop. 4,441)
- Bow Mar (Pop. 1,003)
- Columbine Valley (Pop. 2,084)
For more Colorado reading, check out:
Worst Small Towns In Colorado
| Rank | Town | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Towaoc | 1,058 | 17.0% | $1,000 | $23,661 |
| 2 | Yuma | 3,427 | 9.7% | $180,000 | $52,102 |
| 3 | Ellicott | 1,337 | 1.2% | $1,000 | $55,822 |
| 4 | Monte Vista | 4,178 | 14.7% | $204,500 | $49,339 |
| 5 | Las Animas | 2,480 | 7.8% | $111,500 | $48,917 |
| 6 | Center | 2,312 | 8.8% | $115,600 | $50,057 |
| 7 | Sanford | 1,047 | 3.8% | $150,000 | $41,250 |
| 8 | Walsenburg | 3,079 | 14.0% | $148,600 | $40,799 |
| 9 | Wray | 2,305 | 3.8% | $205,900 | $57,318 |
| 10 | Olathe | 1,788 | 6.6% | $226,900 | $65,170 |
| 11 | Hudson | 1,844 | 3.4% | $312,600 | $71,429 |
| 12 | Pagosa Springs | 1,718 | 4.2% | $353,800 | $36,712 |
| 13 | Springfield | 1,482 | 2.8% | $122,600 | $42,368 |
| 14 | Rocky Ford | 3,843 | 7.4% | $126,100 | $35,658 |
| 15 | Kremmling | 1,844 | 12.9% | $322,400 | $72,650 |
| 16 | Fraser | 1,189 | 9.9% | $593,800 | $81,786 |
| 17 | Cedaredge | 2,394 | 7.2% | $240,300 | $41,944 |
| 18 | Kersey | 1,318 | 7.8% | $317,900 | $61,136 |
| 19 | Parachute | 1,513 | 15.1% | $269,500 | $58,910 |
| 20 | Del Norte | 1,576 | 6.6% | $175,600 | $39,861 |
| 21 | Alamosa East | 1,404 | 1.9% | $219,100 | $44,741 |
| 22 | Aristocrat Ranchettes | 2,335 | 7.2% | $398,300 | $87,604 |
| 23 | Ordway | 1,718 | 8.0% | $99,200 | $55,313 |
| 24 | Aetna Estates | 1,177 | 8.0% | $58,200 | $63,887 |
| 25 | Orchard City | 3,193 | 4.7% | $286,500 | $65,282 |
| 26 | Ignacio | 1,255 | 6.7% | $252,200 | $65,759 |
| 27 | Julesburg | 1,193 | 2.1% | $131,100 | $48,056 |
| 28 | Pierce | 1,102 | 14.1% | $295,600 | $66,313 |
| 29 | Strasburg | 3,249 | 8.5% | $445,100 | $81,607 |
| 30 | Paonia | 1,454 | 3.5% | $301,300 | $52,466 |
| 31 | Laporte | 2,123 | 4.2% | $373,100 | $67,697 |
| 32 | Buena Vista | 2,966 | 14.6% | $495,800 | $58,409 |
| 33 | Hotchkiss | 1,147 | 3.8% | $265,500 | $58,125 |
| 34 | Platteville | 2,924 | 7.8% | $376,600 | $87,642 |
| 35 | Rangely | 2,572 | 7.8% | $192,200 | $75,044 |
| 36 | Florence | 3,870 | 1.8% | $228,300 | $57,239 |
| 37 | Georg | 1,082 | 12.8% | $440,000 | $75,804 |
| 38 | Mountain Village | 1,713 | 6.4% | $2,000,001 | $59,881 |
| 39 | Meeker | 2,528 | 0.5% | $231,900 | $71,301 |
| 40 | Penrose | 3,978 | 9.0% | $276,100 | $75,109 |
| 41 | Palisade | 2,580 | 6.2% | $295,200 | $61,655 |
| 42 | Lincoln Park | 4,315 | 5.3% | $272,000 | $64,750 |
| 43 | Ridgway | 1,247 | 8.4% | $677,700 | $88,218 |
| 44 | Deer Trail | 1,180 | 0.7% | $374,100 | $76,250 |
| 45 | Holyoke | 2,378 | 0.2% | $260,000 | $54,154 |
| 46 | Fowler | 1,101 | 0.9% | $141,300 | $42,083 |
| 47 | Burlington | 3,165 | 3.1% | $199,000 | $59,842 |
| 48 | Byers | 1,804 | 15.9% | $400,000 | $88,607 |
| 49 | Akron | 1,681 | 1.5% | $186,500 | $59,470 |
| 50 | Limon | 1,572 | 1.9% | $208,000 | $46,950 |
| 51 | Colorado City | 1,791 | 0.0% | $237,700 | $48,692 |
| 52 | Cascade-Chipita Park | 1,158 | 11.7% | $550,700 | $115,357 |
| 53 | Bennett | 3,472 | 3.7% | $426,500 | $92,450 |
| 54 | Silverthorne | 4,657 | 6.0% | $691,300 | $114,185 |
| 55 | Keystone | 1,111 | 1.9% | $1,264,500 | $51,369 |
| 56 | Dotsero | 1,321 | 3.9% | $471,600 | $93,000 |
| 57 | Idaho Springs | 1,968 | 3.1% | $434,900 | $85,450 |
| 58 | Hayden | 2,010 | 2.4% | $394,400 | $97,917 |
| 59 | El Jebel | 3,935 | 0.0% | $854,300 | $100,518 |
| 60 | Glendale | 4,546 | 1.9% | $398,800 | $68,952 |
| 61 | Mancos | 1,016 | 2.9% | $343,900 | $62,361 |
| 62 | Ault | 2,270 | 3.5% | $330,200 | $79,654 |
| 63 | Loma | 1,365 | 0.0% | $778,100 | $133,456 |
| 64 | Edgewater | 4,955 | 6.1% | $603,400 | $74,320 |
| 65 | Wiggins | 1,202 | 2.1% | $322,900 | $89,948 |
| 66 | Silt | 3,575 | 0.2% | $391,400 | $86,484 |
| 67 | Granby | 2,195 | 2.4% | $415,700 | $82,321 |
| 68 | Watkins | 1,087 | 0.0% | $725,900 | $157,321 |
| 69 | Manitou Springs | 4,796 | 11.8% | $545,800 | $76,550 |
| 70 | Leadville North | 1,470 | 4.7% | $397,900 | $96,447 |
| 71 | Ouray | 1,031 | 2.2% | $549,200 | $76,458 |
| 72 | Keenesburg | 1,866 | 1.9% | $410,500 | $83,490 |
| 73 | Bayfield | 2,862 | 8.5% | $418,400 | $92,821 |
| 74 | New Castle | 4,878 | 1.3% | $488,600 | $88,421 |
| 75 | La Salle | 3,119 | 2.1% | $362,700 | $91,635 |
| 76 | Howard | 1,159 | 0.0% | $386,500 | $57,664 |
| 77 | Inverness | 3,088 | 4.5% | $799,600 | $104,636 |
| 78 | Leadville | 2,634 | 2.4% | $374,700 | $83,875 |
| 79 | Ponderosa Park | 3,556 | 2.9% | $670,400 | $133,425 |
| 80 | Lazy Acres | 1,056 | 6.6% | $967,100 | $147,344 |
| 81 | Vail | 4,729 | 7.1% | $1,040,100 | $103,705 |
| 82 | Elizabeth | 1,694 | 3.3% | $444,000 | $110,227 |
| 83 | Coal Creek | 2,357 | 2.1% | $601,500 | $125,819 |
| 84 | Palmer Lake | 2,635 | 6.5% | $454,000 | $122,855 |
| 85 | Telluride | 2,595 | 3.1% | $390,300 | $97,330 |
| 86 | Nederland | 1,523 | 2.4% | $631,100 | $103,452 |
| 87 | Crested Butte | 1,436 | 5.4% | $928,100 | $71,923 |
| 88 | Blue River | 1,145 | 0.8% | $1,171,900 | $119,375 |
| 89 | Lyons | 1,927 | 4.1% | $855,000 | $132,589 |
| 90 | Niwot | 3,773 | 2.4% | $868,400 | $141,621 |
| 91 | Acres Green | 2,709 | 1.2% | $540,000 | $115,536 |
| 92 | Snowmass Village | 3,048 | 0.0% | $1,748,000 | $107,559 |
| 93 | Perry Park | 1,801 | 1.3% | $791,100 | $162,971 |
| 94 | Genesee | 3,826 | 2.0% | $994,700 | $172,692 |
| 95 | Indian Hills | 1,320 | 0.0% | $757,400 | $173,125 |
| 96 | Frisco | 2,865 | 0.0% | $839,500 | $113,406 |
| 97 | Holly Hills | 2,652 | 0.0% | $637,100 | $127,989 |
| 98 | Basalt | 3,995 | 3.0% | $1,148,100 | $106,000 |
| 99 | Castle Pines Village | 4,441 | 7.2% | $1,260,200 | $219,083 |
| 100 | Bow Mar | 1,003 | 3.4% | $1,808,800 | $233,667 |