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Brush vs Florence

152 miles apart. The biggest differences: household income (+46% in Brush) and average commute (10 min in Brush).

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Brush, COHomes around $299KColorado · 5,306 people
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Florence, COKnown for its schoolsColorado · 3,885 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

BrushHomes around $299K
Housing$299K typical home44% below the CO typical home HealthHealthier than 58%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates History5 historic places5 places on the National Register All about Brush →
FlorenceKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 68%of CO districts Housing$281K typical home47% below the CO typical home SafetySafer than 31%of U.S. towns we grade All about Florence →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Household income+46%
Households in Brush earn more
Brush $73,382Florence $50,262
Average commute10 min
Brush has the shorter commute
Florence 28 minBrush 18 min
Property tax bill+26%
Tax bills are bigger in Brush
Brush $1,480Florence $1,179
Street grid+44%
Brush has the more walkable street grid
Brush 64.8Florence 45.1
★ What stands out · Report cards

Florence places higher on 10 of 20 CO lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Colorado ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
–BrushNot graded CFlorenceSafer than 31% of U.S. towns
Schools
B−BrushBetter than 52% of districts in the state B+FlorenceBetter than 68% of districts in the state
Health
BBrushHealthier than 58% of U.S. towns C+FlorenceHealthier than 44% of U.S. towns
9Brush
10Florence

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Lowest depressionHealth · 160 towns #11#138 Highest graduation rateSchools · 142 towns #112#10 Shortest commuteGetting around · 160 towns #24#116 Best schoolsSchools · 142 towns #142#91 Fewest smokersHealth · 160 towns #100#148 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 160 towns #137#102 Most new homesHousing · 92 towns #76#58 Most walkableOutdoors · 160 towns #97#125

Left end = #1 in Colorado. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Brush’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Brush$1,700/mo
Typical home $299K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.54% · or rent about $692/mo · Housing →
Florence$1,580/mo
Typical home $281K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.47% · or rent about $754/mo · Housing →

The difference: $120 a month, about $1,500 a year, between Brush and Florence.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
BrushFlorence
Snow a year23″38″
January low13°F18°F
July high90°F89°F
Growing season (days)153d153d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)90th92nd
Outdoors & history
BrushFlorence
Trails1 mi—
Conserved land2.3%—
National Register places54
Archive photos—12
Famous people born here—10
Community
BrushFlorence
Library hours a week57 hrs35 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

152 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BrushCOFlorenceCO
Brush ↔ Florence152 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

BrushFlorence
People
Population 5,306Highest 3,885Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.3%Lowest CO: +14.8% -1.5%Highest CO: +14.8%
Median age 38.6±4.6Highest about the CO average 37.4±7.2Lowest about the CO average
Brush and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.8%±5.2Highest CO: 21% 20.5%±5.7Lowest CO: 21%
Brush and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 16.5%±4.2Lowest CO: 15.6% 19.2%±3.9Highest CO: 15.6%
Florence and Brush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 16.5%Lowest CO: 45.7% 17.1%Highest CO: 45.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.9%±2.6Lowest CO: 6.4% 4.7%±3Highest CO: 6.4%
Florence and Brush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $73,382±$8kHighest 23% below CO $50,262±$7kLowest 47% below CO
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $273,000±$36kHighest 49% below CO $249,700±$26kLowest 54% below CO
Brush and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $692±$236Lowest 61% below CO $754±$270Highest 57% below CO
Florence and Brush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,480Highest 43% below CO $1,179Lowest 55% below CO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 67%±30.4Highest CO: 52.9% 45.7%±23.3Lowest CO: 52.9%
Brush and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 14.2%Highest CO: 9.4% 12.2%Lowest CO: 9.4%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 60.5%Lowest CO: 66.2% 67.9%Highest CO: 66.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1972Lowest 16 yrs older than CO 1974Highest 14 yrs older than CO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 29% below CO 28 minHighest 9% above CO
Work from home 1.4%±2.1Lowest CO: 21% 7.8%±6Highest CO: 21%
Florence and Brush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 18.8%Highest 13.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.8 miLowest 28.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.61Highest 0.58Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Fort Morgan (28%)Cañon City (20%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in FlorenceFew work in Brush
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2.3%Highest 1.4%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.7 miLowest 0.9 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 64.8Highest 45.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #142 of 142 in CO#91 of 142 in CO
School district School District No. Re-2 BrushFremont Re-2
High school in town Brush High SchoolFlorence Jr./Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school 14.1Lowest 14.5Highest
Colorado average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Brush neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Brush’s Town Square.

Florence neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Florence’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Brush and Florence

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Colorado towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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