2012 · Center, Colorado · Wikimedia Commons
Center’s story
Center in pictures
5 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
CenterCO
A town of 2,120. A typical home worth about $194K.
Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0
Population
2,120
−13.5% since 2010
Typical home
$194K
−2.6% in a year
Household income
$46K
median
Median age
37.9
years
Jobs based here
521
Balanced
What makes Center stand out
The 3 things Center does most differently from other towns.
A shrinking town
Center has shrunk 13.5% since 2010
2,230 people in 2010; 2,120 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Center’s report card
Housing$194K64% below the CO typical homeSchoolsDBeats 6% of CO districtsHazards19/100Very low risk of storm & flood damageHealthCHealthier than 33% of U.S. townsClimate82°/3°Summer high · winter low · 25″ snowCommute12 miHalf of commuters travel lessSafetyB−Less crime than 53% of U.S. townsOutdoors0 miof trails · 0% conserved
Now in Center
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Center? Is a D for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Center’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →39°
Clear
H 68° · L 38°
Local news
All →- Brandi Carlile showcases new album at Stonewall National Monument Visitor CenterGay City News · Oct 1
- Suffolk Christian Fellowship Center receives $300K grant to expand food accessWTKR · Sep 29
- Weill Cornell receives $3M to launch research center for HIV’s effects on brainCornell Chronicle · Sep 29
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Center. Another town gets a different order.
Housing
A typical Center home is worth about $194K
The typical Center home is worth about $194,000, down 2.6% in a year, 64% below the Colorado typical home.
$194KZillow home value
Typical home value
Center$194K
Colorado$533K
−2.6%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Schools
Center’s public schools outperform 6% of Colorado districts
The public schools Center’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 94% of Colorado’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.
DSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haskin Elementary School | PK–5 | 312 | C− |
| Skoglund Middle School | 6–8 | 124 | D |
| Center High School | 9–12 | 153 | C |
| Center Virtual Academy | 9–12 | 23 | Not graded |
| The Academic Recovery Center of San Luis Valley | 9–12 | 16 | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CO on state tests and graduationAll 5 schools →
Natural hazards
Very low risk, with avalanches at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 19% of U.S. communities.
19risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
AvalanchesDroughtInland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Health
Healthier than 33% of U.S. towns
Center beats the Colorado average on 3 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 11.
CHealth Grade
26 measures vs. Colorado
3 better12 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Center | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5.4% | 7.8% |
| Fewer binge drinkers | 14.4% | 19% |
| More uninsured adults | 28.5% | 11.1% |
Rio Grande Hospital
8.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
4th
percentile among CO towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Center has cold winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 25 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
25″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–37°
Spring27–60°
Summer46–80°
Fall28–62°
Sep 24
typical first frost
May 24
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
About one in five working residents works right in Center
About one in 5 of Center’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Alamosa (9%), Monte Vista (6%) and Colorado Springs (3%). Half commute less than 12 miles.
20%work in town
Where working residents work
In Center20%
Alamosa9%
Monte Vista6%
Colorado Springs3%
Del Norte2%
12 mi
median commute distance
521
jobs based in Center
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 53% of U.S. towns
Center reports less crime per resident than 53% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
B−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Center0
Colorado4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Center3.7
Colorado22.3
U.S.15.5
53rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
63rd
percentile among CO towns
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
7
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Outdoors
0% of Center is conserved land
0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 627 acres
0.4 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Center Community Park | — | 21 |
| 2. Valle Vista Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
About Center
Statutory town in Saguache and Rio Grande counties, Colorado, USA
Center is a statutory town located in Saguache and Rio Grande counties, Colorado, United States. The town's population was 1,929 at the 2020 United States census with 1,885 residing in Saguache County and 44 residing in Rio Grande County.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 1,929
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 7,644 ft
- ZIP code
- 81125
- Area code
- 719
More about Center
Still missing for Center:upcoming events