Montrose, CO — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Colorado·Montrose

Montrose County · Montrose · population 21,646

Small-town feel
View watchlist →
75
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Montrose stands

At or near all-time high. rents up 9.0% in the last year.

Median home $467,456
1-year +2.2%
5-yr CAGR +6.5%
vs 5-yr peak -0.1%
Population +1.6%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-03$467k$208k$300k$393k$486k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
80/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,864/mo$1,398$1,687$1,97620242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent11012210012020242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 20.9
Lean rent

At a 20.9 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Montrose. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
61 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
72 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
74 · w16%
Rent YoY
85 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
79 · w10%
Long thesis

Montrose has held up across the cycle: home values at $467,456 with +6.5% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Montrose's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Montrose

Montrose is a city in Montrose County, Colorado, with an estimated population of 21,646. The population grew 1.6% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Montrose is $467,456 as of 2026-04, up 2.2% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.5% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Montrose average $1,864 per month, up 9.0% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 75 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

Bull case

Healthy 5-year run: +6.5% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
Quiet strength: +2.2% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
Net positive migration: population up 1.6% per year — demand fundamentals are intact.
Held the highs: currently -0.1% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
Hot rental market: rents up 9.0% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

Bear case

Rental squeeze: rents up 9.0% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.
Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Montrose County right now.

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Montrose County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Montrose

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
43° / 16°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
86° / 56°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
245
~67% of year
Annual precip
17″ rain
55″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Moderate
Wildfire
High
Earthquake
Low
Flood
Low

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Montrose listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Montrose area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
54%
Dry climate
Median household income
$87,600
Colorado state median
Top industries (state-level)
TechAerospaceHealthcare

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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