RANK #478 / 1001 NAT · #3 / 15 CO · POP 62,479
1YR FORECAST: +1.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
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.
Garfield County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +4.8% YoY, population +0.7%, wages +4.6%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 17.5x — 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 1001 counties.
Garfield County scores 52/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#478). Median household income is $91,131 and job growth is running at +0.3%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Garfield County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $527,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.17 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,637/month on average.
Garfield County's population is growing — up +0.7% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.3%). Home values shifted +4.8% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.35% 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.