RANK #968 / 1001 NAT · #10 / 15 CO · POP 367,368
1YR FORECAST: -1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +12%
Rocky Mountain National Park, with its alpine tundra and abundant wildlife, is a major draw for Larimer County, Colorado, which extends to the Continental Divide. Located in north central Colorado, the county seat, Fort Collins, is approximately an hour's drive north of Denver. The community offers a blend of urban amenities and access to natural landscapes. Commute options include local bus services in Fort Collins and Loveland, with some routes being fare-free, and regional connections to other Front Range communities. Outdoor recreation is a significant aspect of life here, with opportunities for hiking, boating, camping, fishing, and rock climbing at places like Horsetooth Reservoir and Roosevelt National Forest.
Life in Larimer County attracts a mix of families, young professionals, and retirees, drawn by the quality of life and access to outdoor activities. The public school systems, including Poudre School District and Thompson School District, are recognized for strong performance. The economy is diverse, with job growth observed across various industries such as state government, retail, professional and business services, hospitality, and manufacturing. Colorado State University also plays a role in the regional economy and talent development. The area continues to see investment in sectors like aerospace supply chain manufacturing and high-tech industries.
Larimer County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -1.6% runs below the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 16.1x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Robotics Fulfillment Center (DEN9)
Amazon
|
$400M | Under Construction |
|
Rawhide Power Station Natural Gas Turbines
Platte River Power Authority (PRPA)
|
$200M | Planned |
|
Large Utility Projects (Johnstown Raw Water Pipeline, Berthoud Water/Sewer, Halligan Reservoir Expansion)
Town of Johnstown, Town of Berthoud, City of Fort Collins
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Larimer County scores just 2/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #968 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -2.3% and median household income of $93,765 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Larimer County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $569,100 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.16 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,716/month on average.
Larimer County is attracting residents (population +1.1% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -2.3%. Housing values changed -1.6% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.97% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Larimer County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.