Glenwood Springs
RANK #296 / 996 NAT · #1 / 15 CO · POP 61,683
1YR FORECAST: +3.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
Glenwood Springs, the county seat of Garfield County, Colorado, is known for its natural hot springs, which have attracted visitors for over a century. Located in western Colorado at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers, the county is approximately 160 miles west of Denver. Interstate 70 runs through the picturesque Glenwood Canyon, providing access to the area. The community offers a mountain lifestyle with extensive outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, and skiing, with access to the White River National Forest and Sunlight Mountain Resort.
Life in Garfield County balances outdoor pursuits with community amenities. Public schools in the Garfield School District RE-2 and Garfield School District 16 serve local families. Commute options include the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) bus service, connecting Rifle to Aspen, and Bustang service to Denver. The economy is supported by tourism, natural resource development, and agriculture. Construction and healthcare have seen recent job gains. The county's appeal extends to retirees drawn by the climate, recreation, and open spaces.
Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
McClure River Ranch PUD
Aspen Polo Partners LLC
|
$50M | Planned |
|
AES High Mesa Solar + Battery Storage
AES High Mesa Solar (AES Clean Energy)
|
$32M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 70/100, Garfield County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +2.9%, and median household income stands at $82,772 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in CO.
Garfield County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $449,300 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.18 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,444/month on average.
Garfield County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.9% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +5.2% over the past 12 months.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.21% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Garfield County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.2% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Garfield County is now valued at $449,300. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.