Summit County
CO · Pop. 30,857 · Suburban County
Summit County sits in Colorado across 608 square miles, home to 30,857 people at 50.8 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, herbs. The median home price is $851,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.31%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 47-day growing season, average summer highs of 71.3°F and average winter lows of 2.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 14.6 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. St Anthony Summit Medical Center is 4.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.9% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.31% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 97.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- St Anthony Summit Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 4.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3% reflects a stable local job base.
- A low poverty rate of 7.4% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A 47-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Annual rainfall of just 14.6 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- A median home price of $851,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- Average winter lows of 2.5°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Summit County, CO is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 46/100
- Median home price
- $851k
- Property tax
- 0.31%
- Growing season
- 47 days (zone 5a)
- Annual rainfall
- 14.6"
- Broadband
- 97.9%
- Nearest hospital
- St Anthony Summit Medical Center, 4.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Summit County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Summit County?
- Summit County is in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 47-day growing season, average summer highs of 71.3°F, and average winter lows of 2.5°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, herbs.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $851,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.31%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 97.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- St Anthony Summit Medical Center is 4.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Colorado Resources
Partner links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
LandWatch
Browse rural land, farms, and ranches for sale across every state.
Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
Invest in farmland online — vetted properties with passive income potential.
More counties in Colorado
All Colorado countiesNearby counties
The closest counties to Summit 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.
Your brand here — Reach our audience of professional directory owners and boost your sales.