Aspen, CO vs Telluride, CO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | AspenAspen, CO | TellurideTelluride, CO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Great | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | Very Safe | |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Defensible | Resilient |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 12 traffic deaths per 100,000 people, Aspen, CO and Telluride, CO show a notable gap in traffic safety, with Telluride recording 21 deaths per 100,000, a 79% higher rate, according to 2025 data. The average commute also differs sharply: Aspen residents spend 14.2 minutes traveling to work, placing it in the 2nd percentile, while Telluride's 25.5-minute average sits in the 64th percentile, 11 minutes longer. Property crime per 100,000 people is 2,449 in Aspen, 2.1 times higher than Telluride's 1,182, with Aspen in the 86th percentile and Telluride in the 40th. The poverty rate in Aspen is 11.8%, 5.6 percentage points higher than Telluride's 6.2%, placing Aspen in the 51st percentile and Telluride in the 20th.
Housing costs diverge substantially in these 2023 Census figures. Aspen's median home value is $1,375,000, 3.5 times higher than Telluride's $390,300, with Aspen in the 98th percentile and Telluride in the 70th. The comfortable income for a family of 4 in Aspen is $359,331, 3.2 times higher than Telluride's $111,468, with Aspen again in the 98th percentile. Telluride's median rent of $2,269 is 20% higher than Aspen's $1,897, and Telluride's median household income of $97,330 is 24% higher than Aspen's $78,636. The nearest large city to Aspen is 105 miles away, while Telluride is 641 miles from its nearest large city, a 6.1 times greater distance.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Telluride, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 29397th pctl | 17285th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Aspen, CO 293; Telluride, CO 172; Aspen is 70% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $1,375,00098th pctl | $390,30070th pctl | Median home value: Aspen, CO $1,375,000; Telluride, CO $390,300; Aspen is 3.5 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,89789th pctl | $2,26995th pctl | Median rent: Aspen, CO $1,897; Telluride, CO $2,269; Telluride is 20% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $78,63657th pctl | $97,33076th pctl | Median household income: Aspen, CO $78,636; Telluride, CO $97,330; Telluride is 24% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $244,44398th pctl | $75,82971st pctl | Comfortable income (single): Aspen, CO $244,443; Telluride, CO $75,829; Aspen is 3.2 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $359,33198th pctl | $111,46871st pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Aspen, CO $359,331; Telluride, CO $111,468; Aspen is 3.2 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Affordable | Housing affordability: Aspen, CO F; Telluride, CO B+; Telluride is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Telluride needs about
$44,000
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 293 vs 172). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Telluride, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.6%48th pctl | 3.9%62nd pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.9%74th pctl | +2.4%84th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $111,26697th pctl | $70,28492nd pctl | Per-capita income: Aspen, CO $111,266; Telluride, CO $70,284; Aspen is 58% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 11.8%51st pctl | 6.2%20th pctl | Poverty rate: Aspen, CO 11.8%; Telluride, CO 6.2%; Aspen is 5.6 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 14.2 min2nd pctl | 25.5 min64th pctl | Average commute: Aspen, CO 14.2 min; Telluride, CO 25.5 min; Telluride is 11 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 17.1%76th pctl | 26.6%93rd pctl | Work from home: Aspen, CO 17.1%; Telluride, CO 26.6%; Telluride is 9.5 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Strong | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Telluride, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 9318th pctl | 12224th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Aspen, CO 93; Telluride, CO 122; Telluride is 32% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,44986th pctl | 1,18240th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Aspen, CO 2,449; Telluride, CO 1,182; Aspen is 2.1 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Very Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Aspen, CO A-; Telluride, CO C+; Aspen is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Telluride, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Poor | Tap water: Aspen, CO A-; Telluride, CO F; Aspen is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | Moderate | Resilient | National disaster risk: Aspen, CO C; Telluride, CO A-; Telluride is graded higher. |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Colorado, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Colorado →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Telluride, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 105 mi49th pctl | 641 mi79th pctl | Nearest large city: Aspen, CO 105 mi; Telluride, CO 641 mi; Telluride is 6.1 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Good | Great | Target proximity: Aspen, CO A; Telluride, CO A+; Telluride is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 510 mi70th pctl | 422 mi60th pctl | Distance to international border: Aspen, CO 510 mi; Telluride, CO 422 mi; Aspen is 21% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 628 mi78th pctl | 529 mi71st pctl | Distance to coastline: Aspen, CO 628 mi; Telluride, CO 529 mi; Aspen is 19% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Defensible | Resilient | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Telluride, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,86223rd pctl | 2,59511th pctl | Population: Aspen, CO 6,862; Telluride, CO 2,595; Aspen is 2.6 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,77655th pctl | 1,17434th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Aspen, CO 1,776; Telluride, CO 1,174; Aspen is 51% higher. |
| Median age | 41.775th pctl | 42.478th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.3%93rd pctl | 85.9%99th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Aspen, CO 68.3%; Telluride, CO 85.9%; Telluride is 17.6 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 1.70th pctl | 27th pctl | Average household size: Aspen, CO 1.7; Telluride, CO 2; Telluride is 24% larger. |
More about Aspen's residents · Telluride's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Aspen and Telluride
- Median rent: $1,897 in Aspen, $2,269 in Telluride
- Median home value: $1,375,000 in Aspen, $390,300 in Telluride
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 293 in Aspen, 172 in Telluride
- Median household income: $78,636 in Aspen, $97,330 in Telluride
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $359,331 in Aspen, $111,468 in Telluride
- Unemployment: 3.6% in Aspen, 3.9% in Telluride
- Average commute: 14.2 min in Aspen, 25.5 min in Telluride
- Violent crime per 100k: 93 in Aspen, 122 in Telluride
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More places like Aspen and Telluride
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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