Breckenridge, CO vs Vail, CO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | BreckenridgeBreckenridge, CO | VailVail, CO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Good | Great | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Defensible | Defensible | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 25.5 minutes, the average commute in Breckenridge, CO runs 7 minutes longer than the 19-minute average in Vail, CO, based on 2023 Census figures. Breckenridge also places in the 64th percentile for commute length versus Vail’s 20th percentile. Job growth over the past year diverges sharply: Breckenridge saw a -0.2% change, while Vail posted +1.6%, a 1.8-point gap that puts Breckenridge in the 17th percentile and Vail in the 67th. The work-from-home share is 19.2% in Breckenridge, 6.5 points higher than Vail’s 12.7%.
The median age in Vail is 49.5 years, 11.2 years older than Breckenridge’s 38.3, with Vail at the 92nd percentile and Breckenridge at the 53rd. Average household size is 2.3 in Breckenridge, 20% larger than Vail’s 1.9, which sits at the 3rd percentile. Property crime per 100,000 people is 3,515 in Vail, 61% higher than Breckenridge’s 2,185, placing Vail in the 95th percentile and Breckenridge in the 81st. Violent crime also runs higher in Vail at 320 per 100,000 versus 268 in Breckenridge, a 19% difference.
The comfortable income for a family of 4 is $297,047 in Vail, 96% higher than Breckenridge’s $151,390, with percentiles of 97 and 86 respectively. Median home values follow a similar gap: $1,040,100 in Vail versus $757,100 in Breckenridge, a 37% difference. Per-capita income is $97,791 in Vail, 66% higher than Breckenridge’s $58,796. The poverty rate is 6.6% in Vail, 3.0 points lower than Breckenridge’s 9.6%, and traffic deaths per 100,000 are 10 in Breckenridge versus 7 in Vail.
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 | Breckenridge, CO | Vail, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 18288th pctl | 23194th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Breckenridge, CO 182; Vail, CO 231; Vail is 27% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $757,10092nd pctl | $1,040,10096th pctl | Median home value: Breckenridge, CO $757,100; Vail, CO $1,040,100; Vail is 37% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,43866th pctl | $1,61075th pctl | Median rent: Breckenridge, CO $1,438; Vail, CO $1,610; Vail is 12% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $132,66691st pctl | $103,70580th pctl | Median household income: Breckenridge, CO $132,666; Vail, CO $103,705; Breckenridge is 28% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $102,98686th pctl | $202,07397th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Breckenridge, CO $102,986; Vail, CO $202,073; Vail is 96% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $151,39086th pctl | $297,04797th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Breckenridge, CO $151,390; Vail, CO $297,047; Vail is 96% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | Housing affordability: Breckenridge, CO C-; Vail, CO F; Breckenridge is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Vail needs about
$95,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 182 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 | Breckenridge, CO | Vail, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%29th pctl | 3.4%39th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.2%17th pctl | +1.6%67th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Breckenridge, CO -0.2%; Vail, CO +1.6%; Vail is 1.8 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $58,79686th pctl | $97,79196th pctl | Per-capita income: Breckenridge, CO $58,796; Vail, CO $97,791; Vail is 66% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 9.6%39th pctl | 6.6%22nd pctl | Poverty rate: Breckenridge, CO 9.6%; Vail, CO 6.6%; Breckenridge is 3.0 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25.5 min64th pctl | 19 min20th pctl | Average commute: Breckenridge, CO 25.5 min; Vail, CO 19 min; Breckenridge is 7 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 19.2%81st pctl | 12.7%61st pctl | Work from home: Breckenridge, CO 19.2%; Vail, CO 12.7%; Breckenridge is 6.5 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 | Breckenridge, CO | Vail, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 26858th pctl | 32065th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Breckenridge, CO 268; Vail, CO 320; Vail is 19% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,18581st pctl | 3,51595th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Breckenridge, CO 2,185; Vail, CO 3,515; Vail is 61% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Safe | Crime & safety: Breckenridge, CO A-; Vail, CO B; Breckenridge 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 | Breckenridge, 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: Breckenridge, CO A; Vail, CO F; Breckenridge 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 | Workable | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | Moderate | High-Risk | National disaster risk: Breckenridge, CO C-; Vail, CO D-; Breckenridge is graded higher. |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: air quality, 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 | Breckenridge, CO | Vail, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 58 mi42nd pctl | 73 mi45th pctl | Nearest large city: Breckenridge, CO 58 mi; Vail, CO 73 mi; Vail is 25% higher. |
| Target proximity | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 534 mi73rd pctl | 543 mi75th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 664 mi81st pctl | 666 mi81st pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Defensible | Defensible | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Breckenridge, CO | Vail, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,00119th pctl | 4,72919th pctl | Population: Breckenridge, CO 5,001; Vail, CO 4,729; Breckenridge is 6% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 82822nd pctl | 1,00428th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Breckenridge, CO 828; Vail, CO 1,004; Vail is 21% higher. |
| Median age | 38.353rd pctl | 49.592nd pctl | Median age: Breckenridge, CO 38.3; Vail, CO 49.5; Vail is 11.2 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.9%88th pctl | 68.4%93rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Breckenridge, CO 59.9%; Vail, CO 68.4%; Vail is 8.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.335th pctl | 1.93rd pctl | Average household size: Breckenridge, CO 2.3; Vail, CO 1.9; Breckenridge is 20% larger. |
More about Breckenridge'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.
| Measure | BreckenridgeBreckenridge, CO | VailVail, CO |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+20 | D+20 |
| 2024 presidential | D +39.0 pts | D +39.0 pts |
Full politics data: Breckenridge · Vail
Moving between Breckenridge and Vail
- Median rent: $1,438 in Breckenridge, $1,610 in Vail
- Median home value: $757,100 in Breckenridge, $1,040,100 in Vail
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 182 in Breckenridge, 231 in Vail
- Median household income: $132,666 in Breckenridge, $103,705 in Vail
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $151,390 in Breckenridge, $297,047 in Vail
- Unemployment: 3.2% in Breckenridge, 3.4% in Vail
- Average commute: 25.5 min in Breckenridge, 19 min in Vail
- Violent crime per 100k: 268 in Breckenridge, 320 in Vail
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Compare a different pair
More places like Breckenridge 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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