MAN BATHING IN HOT SPRING?, 1874
Pagosa Springs’s story
148 years in pictures
Census counts: 223 in 1880, 1,571 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1874 and a map from 1964 on.
- 1878Pagosa Springs is settled
Pagosa SpringsCO
A town of 1,838, settled in 1878.
Photo: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,838
2025 Census estimate · +14.2% since 2020
Typical home
$559K
−0.8% in a year
Household income
$51K
median
Median age
37.3
years
Jobs based here
3,093
A job hub
Is Pagosa Springs a good place to live?
The best of Pagosa Springs’ subject grades is an A− for the outdoors; the weakest is a D for safety. 49% of working residents work locally in Pagosa Springs, where Colorado’s towns sit at 7.7% and U.S. towns at 8%. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 83% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Only 6 of the 160 Colorado towns we compare have a lower typical household income than Pagosa Springs. Pagosa Springs has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Pagosa Springs stand out
Where Pagosa Springs beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here3,093
Residents who work516
Work
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 99% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Pagosa Springs7.1
Colorado4.4
U.S.3.3
Worth knowing · SafetyD
61% more violent crime than CO
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
A job hub
Every workday, about 2,838 people come to Pagosa Springs for work
Where Pagosa Springs’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
3,093jobs based in Pagosa Springs
49%of working residents work in town
4 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Pagosa Springs grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Colorado), ordered by how far Pagosa Springs is from typical.
SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentDOpen →Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listDOpen →Jobs & income$51K median household incomeCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.1 of 20; 4.9% of households have no car; 5.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →HealthPagosa Springs Medical Center 4.2 miles awayB+Open →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsC+Open →SchoolsClose to the middle of the towns comparedB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 4% conserved landA−Open →History2 notable people born hereCOpen →Civic life6.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Pagosa Springs: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Pagosa Springs, and how to reach them.
PowerLa Plata Electric Assn18.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPagosa Area WSDNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offArchuleta County Transfer Station and Recycle Center, 2 miOpenStreetMap
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 hereArchuleta County Clerk and RecorderArchuleta County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code8114781147 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 Pagosa Springs.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
A job hub: Pagosa Springs has 6.0 jobs for every working resident and draws in 2,838 commuters
Among residents in Pagosa Springs, 18% live below the poverty line. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in the town rose by 1,368, to 3,093. Half the trips to work are shorter than 4 miles. The top destinations are Durango (4%), Denver (2%) and Grand Junction (2%).
49%work in town
| Pagosa Springs | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 18% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Pagosa Springs49%
Durango4%
Denver2%
Grand Junction2%
Bayfield1%
4 mi
median commute distance
3,093
jobs based in Pagosa Springs
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 72% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB−
On state tests, Pagosa Springs’ schools trail 54% of Colorado districts
The largest public high school is Pagosa Springs High School, with 435 students. Archuleta County School District No. 50 Jt runs its public schools. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with the reason it’s listed.
46%of CO districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pagosa Springs Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–4 | Grades K–4 | 511 | C− |
| Pagosa Springs High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 435 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CO on state tests and graduation
SafetyD
Pagosa Springs sees more crime per resident than 93% of U.S. towns
Pagosa Springs’ property offense rate is 30.5 per 1,000 residents. Among 94 Colorado towns, just 6 have a higher violent crime rate than Pagosa Springs.
7%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
| Pagosa Springs | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7.1 per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 30.5 per 1,000 residents | 15.2 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Pagosa Springs7.1
Colorado4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Pagosa Springs30.5
Colorado22.4
U.S.15.5
7th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
13
violent crimes reported in 2025
56
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Very high risk in Pagosa Springs, with inland flooding at the top
63% of Pagosa Springs’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by wildfires at 29%. Since 2025, Pagosa Springs has seen 2 flood insurance claims paid out.
83risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingWildfire
2
paid flood claims since 2025
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB+
Residents of Pagosa Springs are healthier than 70% of U.S. towns
For adults 18 to 64 in Pagosa Springs, the share who have no health insurance is 13%. On the CDC’s 26 measures, Pagosa Springs is ahead of Colorado on 1 and behind on 10. 73% of adults here had a checkup this year; 29% have obesity.
70%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Pagosa Springs | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 36% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 73% | 71% | 79% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 10% | 8.1% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 26% | 35% |
26 measures vs. Colorado
1 better15 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Pagosa Springs | CO |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 74.4% | 69.5% |
| More adults with heart disease | 7% | 5.1% |
Pagosa Springs Medical Center
4.2 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Pagosa Springs has snowy winters and pleasant summers
In Pagosa Springs, the July high is 85°F.
56″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–42°
Spring27–61°
Summer45–82°
Fall29–64°
Sep 22
typical first frost
Jun 9
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade C+
A typical Pagosa Springs home is worth about $559K
Pagosa Springs’ rent at the middle of the market comes in at $1,172 a month. In Pagosa Springs, 48% of households own their home.
$559KZillow home value
| Pagosa Springs | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 48% | 71% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,172 a month | $1,808 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Pagosa Springs$559K
Colorado$529K
−0.8%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsA−
Conservation land takes up 3.7% of Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs’ trail network density stands at 0.7 miles per square mile. Count the trails in 1 park or preserve and they come to 3.4 miles. Parks and preserves here: one, of 2 acres.
3.7%conserved
| Pagosa Springs | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 1.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.7% | 6.9% | 4.3% |
3.7%
conserved · 121 of 3,226 acres
3.4 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. South Pagosa Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Pagosa Springs
20pages on Pagosa Springs
The big questions
SchoolsB−Behind 54% of CO districts · 5 schoolsSafetyD7.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than CO on 1 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$559K typical home · down 0.8% in a yearWork & commuteC$51K median household income · 3,093 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 83% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Pagosa Springs; the nearest are
Fort Lewis CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Durango47.5 mi$9,958 in-state tuitionSan Juan CollegeCommunity college · Public · Farmington, NM72.8 mi$1,928 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Pagosa Springs residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Colorado.
About Pagosa Springs
Town in Colorado, United States
Pagosa Springs (Ute language: Pagwöösa, Navajo language: Tó Sido Háálį́) is a home rule municipality that is the county seat, most populous community, and only incorporated municipality in Archuleta County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,571.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 4.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 7,126 ft
- ZIP code
- 81147, 81157
- Area code
- 970
Questions about Pagosa Springs
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Pagosa Springs, CO expensive?
That is 6.7 years of the area's median household income ($83,065 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 C+.
What is Pagosa Springs, CO known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Hugh Harman and Morgan Sparks.