Palisade is a statutory town in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,565 at the 2020 census, down from 2,692 in 2010. The community was named for the cliffs near the town site. Palisade is known for its peach orchards and wine vineyards. The climate, a 182-day growing season, and an average 78 percent of sunshine makes Palisade "The Peach Capital of Colorado".

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Palisade ranks

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#28Cheapest rent in CO #36Lowest property tax in CO #20Safest in CO All CO rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code81526

Area code970

Living in Palisade

Housing in Palisade

$567K▲ 1.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Palisade home is worth about $567,000, up 1.7% in a year, 6% above the Colorado typical home.

Only 3 sales in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Palisade

B⁺

Safety Grade B+

Palisade reports less crime per resident than 66% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Palisade 0.4

Colorado 4.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Palisade 8.4

Colorado 22.3

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Palisade

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Most working residents leave Palisade for work: only 10% work in town. The top destinations are Grand Junction (51%), Denver (4%) and Clifton (3%). Half commute less than 12 miles.

Grand Junction

51%

Denver

Clifton

Fruita

10%Work in townlive and work in Palisade 12 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 823Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Palisade →

Health in Palisade

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 74% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Colorado

2better than CO·8worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 16 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits 1▲ 3 close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind 1▼ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

15.8%Fewer binge drinkersCO 19% · better 73.2%More adults treating high blood pressureCO 69.5% · better 7.2%More adults with heart diseaseCO 5.1% · worse

Care nearby

Grand Junction VA Medical CenterGrand Junction · 10.5 mi · ER

Primehealth+ Main ClinicGrand Junction · 8.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Palisade · CMS · HRSAHealth in Palisade →

Natural hazards in Palisade

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 32% of U.S. communities.

🏔️ Avalanches🌊 Inland flooding

0Does Palisade flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 6 declared for Mesa County

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Palisade →

Climate in Palisade

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Palisade has chilly winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 13 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

42° / 21°Winter

67° / 39°Spring

90° / 59°Summer

67° / 39°Fall

How much snow does Palisade get?About 13 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 26, with the last in spring around Apr 17.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+2.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Palisade →

Schools in Palisade

All Palisade schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Palisade’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 55% of Colorado’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

#46Best public schoolsof 142 in CO

DistrictMesa County Valley School District No. 51Schools2

Taylor Elementary School BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 310 students Palisade High School B+High · Grades 9–12 · 1,073 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CO. Ratings are from neighbors.