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Cortez, CO
City in Montezuma County, Colorado.
Population
8,976
Land area
6.2sq mi
People per sq mi
1,441
ZIP codes
0
Cortez and its ZIP codes
Cortez at a glance
- Cortez is about 25 times as dense as Colorado as a whole.
- It is the 76th most populous of 472 cities and towns in Colorado.
- Households here earn a median of $54,247 a year, 43% less than the Colorado figure of $95,470.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $272,900 (49% below Colorado) and median rent is $984 a month.
Local data for Cortez, CO
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Cortez, CO, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$54,247
Poverty rate
15.0%
Median home value
$272,900
Median rent
$984/mo
Homeownership
65.6%
Bachelor's or higher
26.6%
Median age
36.4
Average commute
15.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (1,282), German Americans (1,112), Mexican Americans (1,081).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Montezuma County. PPP loans are for Cortez.
Unemployment rate
5.1%
Sep 2026, +0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$48,248
9,321 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$55,437
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$269M
FY 2026, $10,415 per person
How people get to work
Cortez, CO, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.7%
- Carpooled10.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.2%
- Bicycle3.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.5%
- Worked from home6.7%
Average one-way commute: 15.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Cortez, CO, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
1,532
Countywide, mostly winter weather
Flood insurance policies
63
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
91° / 17°F
11.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Cortez, CO, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
28.1%
U.S. 33.3% -5.2 pts
Diabetes
10.9%
U.S. 12.1% -1.2 pts
Smoking
14.8%
U.S. 12.8% +2.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
12.1%
U.S. 11.1% +1.0 pts
Cities near Cortez
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| DoloresTown | 9.4 mi | 0.7 |
| LewisCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 3.1 |
| TowaocCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 3.6 |
| MancosTown | 15 mi | 0.6 |
| MarvelCensus-designated place | 30 mi | 0.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Cortez, CO in?
- Cortez is in Montezuma County, Colorado.
- What is the population of Cortez, CO?
- About 8,976 people live in Cortez, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Cortez?
- Nearby places include Dolores (9.4 mi), Lewis (12 mi), Towaoc (13 mi), Mancos (15 mi), Marvel (30 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023