With 8,976 people, Cortez is a city in Colorado. That trails the Colorado median by roughly 43%. 2% of locals were born outside the United States. Getting to work takes 15 minutes on average. About 27% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The median household earns $54,247, about 34% below the national median.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $54,247, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 74%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Cortez
What changed most since 1990
Median home value (2024 dollars)$129,844 → $272,900(+110%)US over the same years: +67%
Its weight in Montezuma County
Cortez's population equals 34% of Montezuma County's. Its number of people who work from home equals 22% of the county's. Its number of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher equals 26% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)19.2%(121)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)25.1%(158)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35.7%(225)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War10%(63)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 630 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Cortez, decade by decade
Cortez population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
7,284
$51,681
$129,844
14.8%
43.8
2000
7,977
$52,420
$157,209
18.8%
51.4
2010
8,482
$50,294
$223,266
21.6%
56.1
2020
8,766
$51,203
$202,168
30.8%
69.8
2024
8,976
$54,247
$272,900
26.6%
68.0
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
