Sutherland Bridge · National Register of Historic Places
Del Norte’s story
153 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2013.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1873Del Norte is settled
Del NorteCO
Photo: C caudill1 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,396
2025 Census estimate · −4.1% since 2020
Typical home
$300K
+0% in a year
Household income
$41K
median
Median age
50.6
years
Jobs based here
524
A commuter town
Is Del Norte a good place to live?
Del Norte’s best subject grade is an A for walkability; its weakest is a D− for incomes. 33% of residents are 65 or older in Del Norte, against 15% in Colorado’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns. On incomes, just 7 of Colorado’s 216 towns do worse. Del Norte’s trail density is 1.6 miles per square mile, near the Colorado town median (1.3) and above the median of U.S. towns (0.4). Keck Homestead and Sutherland Bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. Del Norte has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Del Norte stand out
Where Del Norte beats most towns.
A shrinking town
Del Norte has shrunk 17% since 2010
1,686 counted in 2010 and 1,458 in 2020; an estimated 1,396 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Del Norte grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Colorado), ordered by how far Del Norte is from typical.
Jobs & incomeD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8 of 20; 7.9% of households have no carAOpen →SchoolsC−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 37% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →Cost of livingBOpen →HealthRio Grande Hospital 7 miles awayBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 2% conserved landA−Open →History1 place on the National RegisterBOpen →Civic life7.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 79° summer afternoons, 39″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 50.6; 28% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Del Norte: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Del Norte, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy15.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Del Norte water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Del Norte’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Colorado you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 8 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereRio Grande County Clerk and RecorderRio Grande County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code8113281132 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Del Norte.
SchoolsC−
Del Norte’s public schools trail 84% of Colorado districts
Its public schools are run by the Upper Rio Grande School District C-7. Its two schools are below.
16%of CO districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Norte Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–6 | Grades K–6 | 187 | C− |
| Del Norte High Jr./Sr. High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 173 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CO on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade B
Homes in Del Norte are worth about $300K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Del Norte home is worth about $300,000, about the same as a year ago, 43% below the Colorado typical home. Del Norte’s median rent is $861 a month.
$300KZillow home value
| Del Norte | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $861 a month | $1,808 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 68% | 71% | 73% |
Typical home value
Del Norte$300K
Colorado$529K
+0%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
The median household income in Del Norte is lower than in the typical Colorado or U.S. town
The median household income in Del Norte is $41,000. Jobs based in Del Norte grew to 524 in 2023, 57 more than in 2013. 19% of Del Norte residents live below the poverty line.
20%work in town
| Del Norte | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 19% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 20% | 7.7% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Del Norte20%
Alamosa9%
Monte Vista8%
Denver4%
Pagosa Springs3%
22 mi
median commute distance
524
jobs based in Del Norte
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 87% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Del Norte
Del Norte has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. Among 160 Colorado towns, just 7 have a lower July high than Del Norte.
39″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–35°
Spring25–58°
Summer44–77°
Fall26–60°
Sep 25
typical first frost
May 23
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Del Norte
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 63% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Del Norte since 1982.
37risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingLightningCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 1982
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Safety
Crime reported in Del Norte
Del Norte's reported crime rate is well below Colorado's. Among 94 Colorado towns, just 3 have a lower violent crime rate than Del Norte. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Del Norte | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 8.6 per 1,000 residents | 15.2 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Del Norte0
Colorado4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Del Norte8.6
Colorado22.3
U.S.15.5
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
12
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HealthB
On CDC estimates, Del Norte is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns
Del Norte beats the Colorado average on 2 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 13. 17% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance in Del Norte. Only 6 of the 160 Colorado towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Del Norte.
59%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Del Norte | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 10% | 8.1% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 8.4% | 12% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 15% | 19% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 74% | 71% | 79% |
26 measures vs. Colorado
2 better11 too close to call13 worse
| What stands out | Del Norte | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 15.1% | 19% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 75.4% | 69.5% |
| More adults with diabetes | 13.1% | 8.6% |
Rio Grande Hospital
7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsA−
Del Norte has set aside 1.9% of its land for conservation
1.7 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves.
1.9%conserved
1.9%
conserved · 13 of 689 acres
1.7 mi
of trails · 1.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. North Park | 0.2 mi | 5 |
| 2. Centennial Park | — | 4 |
| 3. Riverfront Park | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Del Norte
19pages on Del Norte
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 84% of CO districts · 2 schoolsSafety0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than CO on 2 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingB$300K typical home · up 0% in a yearWork & commuteD−$41K median household income · 524 jobs hereNatural hazardsBFEMA risk higher than 37% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Del Norte; the nearest are
Adams State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Alamosa29.5 mi$9,824 in-state tuitionUniversity of New Mexico-Taos CampusCommunity college · Public · Ranchos de Taos, NM99.7 mi$2,136 in-state tuition
About 8 of every 100 Del Norte residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Colorado.
Small town
1,396 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
About Del Norte
Town in Colorado, US
Del Norte is the statutory town that is the county seat of Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The town's name is most commonly pronounced /ˈdɛl nɔɹt/. The town population was 1,458 at the 2020 United States census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 7,884 ft
- ZIP code
- 81132
- Area code
- 719
Questions about Del Norte
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Del Norte, CO expensive?
That is 4.7 years of the area's median household income ($64,411 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.