#1Cortez
Montezuma County · 9,126 peopleHazard risk grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall D · #150 of 158 in CO
Cortez, #1 on this list · Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0Colorado rankings · Hazard risk
Towns with the lowest natural-hazard risk in Colorado
Cortez ranks first on hazard risk among Colorado’s 159 towns of 2,500+; 21 of the 159 grade A− or better on hazard risk nationally.
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). How grades work
#1A+
#2Alamosa
Alamosa County · 9,849 peopleHazard risk grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall D · #148 of 158 in CO
Fruitvale
unincorporated, Mesa County · 8,019 peopleHazard risk grade, better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #80 of 158 in CO
All 159 towns
Hazard risk grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
159 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
3Fruitvaleunincorporated, Mesa County · 8,019 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #80 of 158
4Redlandsunincorporated, Mesa County · 8,868 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #99 of 158
7Acres Greenunincorporated, Douglas County · 2,639 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 158
11Fort CollinsLarimer County · 171,500 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #59 of 158
12Cliftonunincorporated, Mesa County · 19,518 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #130 of 158
13Castle Pines Villageunincorporated, Douglas County · 4,436 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #29 of 158
14Cimarron Hillsunincorporated, El Paso County · 19,817 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #129 of 158
15Highlands Ranchunincorporated, Douglas County · 102,257 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 158
16Snowmass VillagePitkin County · 2,965 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #46 of 158
17Meridianunincorporated, Douglas County · 5,634 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #38 of 158
20Invernessunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 2,934 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #18 of 158
22Gunbarrelunincorporated, Boulder County · 10,051 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 158
29Derbyunincorporated, Adams County · 8,453 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #117 of 158
37Shaw Heightsunincorporated, Adams County · 5,565 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #134 of 158
38Federal HeightsAdams County · 14,075 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #95 of 158
42Battlement Mesaunincorporated, Garfield County · 5,755 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #124 of 158
44Todd Creekunincorporated, Adams County · 5,379 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #78 of 158
49Sherrelwoodunincorporated, Adams County · 18,692 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #126 of 158
55Twin Lakesunincorporated, Adams County · 8,030 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #125 of 158
56Greenwood VillageArapahoe County · 15,323 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #77 of 158
58Stepping Stoneunincorporated, Douglas County · 3,137 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 158
59Colorado SpringsEl Paso County · 494,743 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #138 of 158
60Pueblo Westunincorporated, Pueblo County · 35,681 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #103 of 158
62Stonegateunincorporated, Douglas County · 8,906 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 158
64Welbyunincorporated, Adams County · 16,197 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #106 of 158
65Holly Hillsunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 2,572 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 158
67Niwotunincorporated, Boulder County · 3,447 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #35 of 158
73Cherry Creekunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 10,721 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #15 of 158
76Fort Carsonunincorporated, El Paso County · 18,019 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #115 of 158
77Orchard Mesaunincorporated, Mesa County · 6,945 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #85 of 158
78Ken Carylunincorporated, Jefferson County · 33,233 peopleC+better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 158
79Dove Valleyunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 4,806 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #37 of 158
81Dakota Ridgeunincorporated, Jefferson County · 33,753 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #14 of 158
82Four Square Mileunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 23,024 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #43 of 158
84Columbineunincorporated, Arapahoe County · 25,478 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #20 of 158
87Cherry Hills VillageArapahoe County · 6,389 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #19 of 158
91Berkleyunincorporated, Adams County · 10,789 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #144 of 158
95West Pleasant Viewunincorporated, Jefferson County · 5,051 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #49 of 158
97Meridian Villageunincorporated, Douglas County · 2,699 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #52 of 158
100Gleneagleunincorporated, El Paso County · 6,440 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #26 of 158
102Security-Widefieldunincorporated, El Paso County · 37,345 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #111 of 158
105Park Centerunincorporated, Fremont County · 2,588 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #120 of 158
106Ponderosa Parkunincorporated, Elbert County · 3,453 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #84 of 158
108Fairmountunincorporated, Jefferson County · 9,902 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #16 of 158
109Edwardsunincorporated, Eagle County · 10,785 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #112 of 158
110Stratmoorunincorporated, El Paso County · 5,412 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #91 of 158
113Sierra Ridgeunincorporated, Douglas County · 3,663 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #44 of 158
114Strasburgunincorporated, Adams County · 3,455 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #68 of 158
116Lincoln Parkunincorporated, Fremont County · 3,986 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #141 of 158
119Applewoodunincorporated, Jefferson County · 8,350 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #21 of 158
122Penroseunincorporated, Fremont County · 4,087 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #143 of 158
124The Pineryunincorporated, Douglas County · 11,871 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #34 of 158
128Steamboat SpringsRoutt County · 13,557 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #58 of 158
131Roxborough Parkunincorporated, Douglas County · 9,085 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #27 of 158
132Woodmoorunincorporated, El Paso County · 8,934 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 158
137Glenwood SpringsGarfield County · 10,395 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #135 of 158
138Wheat RidgeJefferson County · 32,081 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #100 of 158
142Black Forestunincorporated, El Paso County · 15,738 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #71 of 158
148El Jebelunincorporated, Eagle County · 2,941 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #79 of 158
149Air Force Academy College campusunincorporated, El Paso County · 6,727 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
150Sterling Ranchunincorporated, Douglas County · 4,213 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #62 of 158
157Geneseeunincorporated, Jefferson County · 3,778 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #53 of 158
158Manitou SpringsEl Paso County · 4,577 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #86 of 158
159Evergreenunincorporated, Jefferson County · 8,602 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #39 of 158
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which Colorado town has the lowest natural-hazard risk?
Cortez (Montezuma County) ranks first on hazard risk among 159 towns, with an A+; Alamosa and Fruitvale follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a hazard risk grade (159 in Colorado). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Colorado page.
Go deeper
All Colorado rankings →More Colorado lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
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