Aspen, CO vs Vail, CO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | AspenAspen, CO | VailVail, CO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Great | Great | Same |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | Safe | |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Defensible | Defensible |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 1,776 people per square mile, Aspen, CO and Vail, CO show notable differences in density, with Aspen 77% higher, placing Aspen in the 55th percentile and Vail in the 28th percentile according to 2023 Census figures. Violent crime per 100,000 people stands at 93 in Aspen versus 320 in Vail, a difference of 3.4× higher in Vail, with Aspen in the 18th percentile and Vail in the 65th percentile. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 12 in Aspen and 7 in Vail, making Aspen 60% higher, with Aspen in the 31st percentile and Vail in the 14th percentile.
Median household income is $78,636 in Aspen and $103,705 in Vail, with Vail 32% higher, placing Aspen in the 57th percentile and Vail in the 80th percentile. The poverty rate is 11.8% in Aspen and 6.6% in Vail, a difference of 5.2 points higher in Aspen, with Aspen in the 51st percentile and Vail in the 22nd percentile. Average commute times are 14.2 minutes in Aspen and 19 minutes in Vail, with Vail 5 minutes longer, placing Aspen in the 2nd percentile and Vail in the 20th percentile. Median age is 41.7 in Aspen and 49.5 in Vail, with Vail 7.8 years older, putting Aspen in the 75th percentile and Vail in the 92nd percentile.
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 | Vail, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 29397th pctl | 23194th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Aspen, CO 293; Vail, CO 231; Aspen is 27% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $1,375,00098th pctl | $1,040,10096th pctl | Median home value: Aspen, CO $1,375,000; Vail, CO $1,040,100; Aspen is 32% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,89789th pctl | $1,61075th pctl | Median rent: Aspen, CO $1,897; Vail, CO $1,610; Aspen is 18% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $78,63657th pctl | $103,70580th pctl | Median household income: Aspen, CO $78,636; Vail, CO $103,705; Vail is 32% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $244,44398th pctl | $202,07397th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Aspen, CO $244,443; Vail, CO $202,073; Aspen is 21% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $359,33198th pctl | $297,04797th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Aspen, CO $359,331; Vail, CO $297,047; Aspen is 21% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Vail needs about
$59,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 293 vs 231). 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 | Vail, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.6%48th pctl | 3.4%39th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.9%74th pctl | +1.6%67th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $111,26697th pctl | $97,79196th pctl | Per-capita income: Aspen, CO $111,266; Vail, CO $97,791; Aspen is 14% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 11.8%51st pctl | 6.6%22nd pctl | Poverty rate: Aspen, CO 11.8%; Vail, CO 6.6%; Aspen is 5.2 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 14.2 min2nd pctl | 19 min20th pctl | Average commute: Aspen, CO 14.2 min; Vail, CO 19 min; Vail is 5 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 17.1%76th pctl | 12.7%61st pctl | Work from home: Aspen, CO 17.1%; Vail, CO 12.7%; Aspen is 4.4 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 | Vail, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 9318th pctl | 32065th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Aspen, CO 93; Vail, CO 320; Vail is 3.4 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,44986th pctl | 3,51595th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Aspen, CO 2,449; Vail, CO 3,515; Vail is 44% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Safe | Crime & safety: Aspen, CO A; Vail, CO B; Aspen is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Vail, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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-; Vail, 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 | High-Risk | National disaster risk: Aspen, CO C; Vail, CO D-; Aspen is graded higher. |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: air quality isn't available for Vail, CO; 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 | Vail, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 105 mi49th pctl | 73 mi45th pctl | Nearest large city: Aspen, CO 105 mi; Vail, CO 73 mi; Aspen is 44% higher. |
| Target proximity | Good | Fair | Target proximity: Aspen, CO A; Vail, CO B; Aspen is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 510 mi70th pctl | 543 mi75th pctl | Distance to international border: Aspen, CO 510 mi; Vail, CO 543 mi; Vail is 6% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 628 mi78th pctl | 666 mi81st pctl | Distance to coastline: Aspen, CO 628 mi; Vail, CO 666 mi; Vail is 6% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Defensible | Defensible | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Vail, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,86223rd pctl | 4,72918th pctl | Population: Aspen, CO 6,862; Vail, CO 4,729; Aspen is 45% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,77655th pctl | 1,00428th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Aspen, CO 1,776; Vail, CO 1,004; Aspen is 77% higher. |
| Median age | 41.775th pctl | 49.592nd pctl | Median age: Aspen, CO 41.7; Vail, CO 49.5; Vail is 7.8 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.3%93rd pctl | 68.4%93rd pctl | About the same |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 1.70th pctl | 1.93rd pctl | Average household size: Aspen, CO 1.7; Vail, CO 1.9; Vail is 18% larger. |
More about Aspen's residents · Vail'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 Vail
- Median rent: $1,897 in Aspen, $1,610 in Vail
- Median home value: $1,375,000 in Aspen, $1,040,100 in Vail
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 293 in Aspen, 231 in Vail
- Median household income: $78,636 in Aspen, $103,705 in Vail
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $359,331 in Aspen, $297,047 in Vail
- Unemployment: 3.6% in Aspen, 3.4% in Vail
- Average commute: 14.2 min in Aspen, 19 min in Vail
- Violent crime per 100k: 93 in Aspen, 320 in Vail
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More places like Aspen and Vail
- 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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