Garfield County
CO · Pop. 62,034 · Rural County
Garfield County sits in Colorado across 2,947 square miles, home to 62,034 people at 21 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, sorghum. A median home price of $491,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.43% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 141-day growing season, average summer highs of 87.9°F and average winter lows of 15.1°F. Annual rainfall averages 14.3 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Grand River Medical Center is 9.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 95.9% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.43% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 95.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Grand River Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 9.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- At 21 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.2% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A 141-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Annual rainfall of just 14.3 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- A median home price of $491,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
At a glance
Garfield County, CO is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 42/100
- Median home price
- $491k
- Property tax
- 0.43%
- Growing season
- 141 days (zone 6a)
- Annual rainfall
- 14.3"
- Broadband
- 95.9%
- Nearest hospital
- Grand River Medical Center, 9.2 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Garfield County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Garfield County?
- Garfield County is in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 141-day growing season, average summer highs of 87.9°F, and average winter lows of 15.1°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, sorghum.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $491,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.43%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 95.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Grand River Medical Center is 9.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
Explore Colorado Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Colorado
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The closest counties to Garfield County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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