"NO SKIING IN THE STREETS" SAYS THE REGULATION, 1974
Vail’s story
60 years in pictures
Census counts: 484 in 1970, 4,835 in 2020. The archive holds 24 old photos and papers going back to 1974 and 2 maps from 1934 on.
- 1966Vail is settled
VailCO
A town of 4,407, settled in 1966. 6.6 times the library visits per person than the typical Colorado town.
Population
4,407
2025 Census estimate · −9.2% since 2020
Typical home
$1.74M
+4.4% in a year
Household income
$99K
median
Median age
49.8
years
Jobs based here
7,571
A job hub
TownGrade
C
#123 of 158 in CO
What should you know before moving to Vail?
Vail's standout: it has 8 miles of trail and 31% conserved land. Overall it grades C, 123rd of 158 graded towns in Colorado. On CDC health estimates it is near the top nationally and it is more walkable than 94% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is safety: it reports more crime per resident than 93% of U.S. towns, including 14 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Vail’s midpoint home value is $1,737,000, against $531,000 in Colorado’s towns and $332,000 across U.S. towns. On hazard risk, just 17 of Colorado’s 218 towns do worse. Vail's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 100% of U.S. towns.
What makes Vail stand out
Where Vail beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Library visits per resident
Vail24.3
Typical U.S. town3.4
Typical CO town3.7
Civic lifeA+
6.6 times the library visits per person
than the typical Colorado town
IMLS Public Libraries Survey.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Vail3.2
Colorado4.4
U.S.3.3
Worth knowing · SafetyD
27% less violent crime than CO
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
Get outside
8 miles of trails in Vail
31.1% of the town is conserved land, across 9 parks and preserves.
2
Bighorn Park0.3 mi of trails · 7 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Vail grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Colorado), ordered by how far Vail is from typical.
HealthAmong the healthiest U.S. towns; Vail Health Hospital 0.7 miles awayA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.1 of 20; 8.5% of households have no car; 21.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitAOpen →SafetyDOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 93% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listDOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $1.74M, 16.7 years of the Edwards area’s $104K median household incomeDOpen →SchoolsB+Open →Jobs & income$99K median household incomeC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsA+Open →History11 notable people born hereD−Open →Civic life24.3 library visits per resident; 12.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateSnowy winters, 73° summer afternoons, 189″ of snow–Open →Housing market$1.74M typical home, up 4.4% in a year; 47 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 49.8; 70% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Vail: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Vail, and how to reach them.
PowerHoly Cross Electric Assn12.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Vail’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 hereEagle County Clerk and RecorderEagle County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code8165781657 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 Vail.
Vail is a second-home town and draws workers from Edwards and beyond, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Colorado (mostly inland flooding).
HousingCost of living grade D
Vail earns a D for cost of living
At 16.7 years of the Edwards area’s $104K median household income, the typical home (about $1.74M) costs more against local pay than in 98% of Colorado towns; that ratio is one input to that grade. Values rose 4.4% in the past year while the Colorado typical home fell 1.3%.
For Vail, the going rate for rent is $1,606 a month. Values rose 4.4% in the 12 months to September 2026. A home in Vail typically sold within 47 days of listing.
$1.74MZillow home value
| Vail | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 61% | 71% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,606 a month | $1,812 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Vail$1.74M
Colorado$529K
Market temperature
47
days on market
94.5%
sale-to-list price
+4.4%
value change, 1 year
16
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsB+
Vail’s schools rank ahead of 66% of Colorado districts
Its two schools are below. Public schools: Eagle County School District No. Re 50. Vail’s only public school teaches 245 students.
66%of CO districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sandstone Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 245 | B |
| Vail Mountain School PrivateLargest high schoolGrades K–12 | Grades K–12 | 401 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CO on state tests and graduation
HealthA+
Among the healthiest U.S. towns
Its widest gap with Colorado is tooth loss: 4.4% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 9.2% statewide.
Vail: 7% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance. Only 7 of the 159 Colorado towns we compare have a lower share of adults who say their health is fair or poor than Vail. Just over a fifth of adults here have high blood pressure; 21% have obesity.
99%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| Vail | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 18% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 27% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 26% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 36% |
26 measures vs. Colorado
14 better12 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Vail | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.4% | 9.2% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7% | 11.1% |
Vail Health Hospital
0.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
93rd
percentile among CO towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
About one in three working residents works right in Vail
7,571 jobs are based in Vail, 1.5 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. The average commute takes 18.2 minutes, against 25.2 across Colorado.
The top destinations are Avon (11%), Denver (5%) and Edwards (4%). Among working residents in Vail, 40% work locally. The town had 7,571 jobs in 2023, up 799 from 2013. In Vail, the average commute is 18 minutes.
40%work in town
| Vail | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 40% | 7.5% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 14% | 18% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 8.5% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Vail40%
Avon11%
Denver5%
Edwards4%
Breckenridge3%
6 mi
median commute distance
7,571
jobs based in Vail
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 94% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyD
Vail earns a D for safety
At 55.9 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 81% of Colorado’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 237 to 168 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Vail’s violent offense rate comes in at 3.2 per 1,000 residents. The property offense rate locally is 35.2 per 1,000 residents.
7%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
| Vail | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 35.2 per 1,000 residents | 15.2 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.2 per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Vail3.2
Colorado4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Vail35.2
Colorado22.4
U.S.15.5
7th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
19th
percentile among CO towns
14
violent crimes reported in 2025
154
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Compared with most of Colorado and the rest of the country, the FEMA risk score in Vail is higher
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 97% of Colorado towns; that rating is what its D for hazard risk is built on.
Paid flood insurance claims in Vail since 1983: 5. Expected losses in Vail break down as 51% from inland flooding and 47% from avalanches.
93risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingAvalanches
5
paid flood claims since 1983
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsA+
Vail has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation
Its 935 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 95% of Colorado towns. Its A+ for the outdoors ranks #5 of 159 in Colorado.
Across 9 parks and preserves: 7.6 miles of trail. The biggest park or preserve is Ford Park, at 28 acres. Vail’s trail network density stands at 1.6 miles per square mile.
#62for trails in CO
31.1%
conserved · 935 of 3,005 acres
7.6 mi
of trails · 1.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Vail Nature Center | 0.7 mi | 6 |
| 2. Bighorn Park | 0.3 mi | 7 |
| 3. Ford Park | 0.2 mi | 28 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
A typical July afternoon in Vail is cooler than in the typical Colorado or U.S. town
The Vail weather station records that the frost-free season runs about 77 days, shorter than in 100% of U.S. towns. The Vail weather station records that 189 inches of snow fall in a normal winter, more than in 100% of U.S. towns.
The seasons in Vail: cold, snowy winters, cool summers. July afternoons reach 73° and January nights drop to 10°.
189″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–30°
Spring24–48°
Summer43–70°
Fall27–51°
Sep 7
typical first frost
Jun 21
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Nearby attractions
All 36 attractions →Vail and 18 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Vail. Close and well known come first.
in town Ski areaVail322 runs · 3,523 ft vertical
Big draw36 mi MountainMount Elbert
9 mi Ski areaBeaver Creek242 runs · 4,046 ft vertical
15 mi Ski areaCopper Mountain153 runs · 2,644 ft vertical
38 mi MountainMount Blue Sky
20 mi Ski areaBreckenridge157 runs · 3,193 ft verticalSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Vail: Rudi Riet from Washington, DC, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Mount Elbert: Hogs555 (talk · contribs), CC BY-SA 4.0 · Beaver Creek: Unknown, Public domain · Copper Mountain: Jarrod Doll from United States of America, CC BY 2.0 · Mount Blue Sky: Lookinhere, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Breckenridge: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Vail
20pages on Vail
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 66% of CO districts · 2 schoolsSafetyD3.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA+Better than CO on 14 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingD$1.74M typical home · up 4.4% in a yearWork & commuteC+$99K median household income · 7,571 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 93% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Vail; the nearest are
Colorado Mountain CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Glenwood Springs51.6 mi$2,616 in-state tuitionCommunity College of AuroraCommunity college · Public · Aurora83.1 mi$4,470 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Vail residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Colorado.
A job hub
Every workday, about 5,540 people come to Vail for work
Where Vail’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
7,571jobs based in Vail
40%of working residents work in town
6 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Vail
11 notable people were born in Vail.
,_Beaver_Creek.jpg){kind=link}
About Vail
Town in Colorado, United States
Vail is a home rule municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,835 in 2020. Home to Vail Ski Resort, the largest ski mountain in Colorado, the town is known for its hotels, dining, and for the numerous events the city hosts annually, such as the Vail Film Festival, Vail Resorts Snow Days, and Bravo! Vail.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1966
- Area
- 4.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 8,022 ft
- ZIP code
- 81657, 81658
Questions about Vail
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Vail, CO a good place to live?
Vail grades C overall, better than 32% of U.S. towns and #123 of 158 in Colorado. It grades A+ for health, D for safety and B+ for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Vail, CO expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
What is Vail, CO known for?
11 notable people were born here, including Mikaela Shiffrin and Jaelin Kauf.