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.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

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.

Schools

CCraigBetter than 28% of districts in the state B−BrushBetter than 52% of districts in the state

Health

BCraigHealthier than 62% of U.S. towns BBrushHealthier than 58% of U.S. towns

10Craig

10Brush

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

Lowest depressionHealth · 160 towns #138#11 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 160 towns #155#96 Best schoolsSchools · 142 towns #108#142 Fewest smokersHealth · 160 towns #136#100 Lowest obesityHealth · 160 towns #93#119 Highest graduation rateSchools · 142 towns #135#112 Most activeHealth · 160 towns #107#131 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 160 towns #113#137

Left end = #1 in Colorado. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Craig’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.

Down paymentRate%

Craig$1,740/mo

Typical home $311K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.43% · or rent about $1,045/mo · Housing →

Brush$1,700/mo

Typical home $299K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.54% · or rent about $692/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

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.

Where they are

207 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

CraigCO BrushCO

Craig ↔ Brush207 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.

Only big differences vs Colorado average

CraigBrush

People

Population 8,991Highest 5,306Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -4.3%Lowest CO: +14.8% -2.3%Highest CO: +14.8%

Median age 40.2±2.5Highest 7% above CO 38.6±4.6Lowest about the CO average

Craig and Brush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 23.8%±3.2Highest CO: 21% 20.8%±5.2Lowest CO: 21%

Craig and Brush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 17.1%±3.1Highest CO: 15.6% 16.5%±4.2Lowest CO: 15.6%

Craig and Brush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 18.2%Highest CO: 45.7% 16.5%Lowest CO: 45.7%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.2%±1.6Lowest CO: 6.4% 3.9%±2.6Highest CO: 6.4%

Brush and Craig are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $72,636±$11kLowest 24% below CO $73,382±$8kHighest 23% below CO

Brush and Craig are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $278,500±$22kHighest 48% below CO $273,000±$36kLowest 49% below CO

Craig and Brush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,045±$145Highest 41% below CO $692±$236Lowest 61% below CO

Craig and Brush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,193Lowest 54% below CO $1,480Highest 43% below CO

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 33.3%±11.6Lowest CO: 52.9% 67%±30.4Highest CO: 52.9%

Brush and Craig are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 8.9%Lowest CO: 9.4% 14.2%Highest CO: 9.4%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 61.2%Highest CO: 66.2% 60.5%Lowest CO: 66.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 1975Highest 13 yrs older than CO 1972Lowest 16 yrs older than CO

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 30% below CO 18 minHighest 29% below CO

Work from home 2.3%±1.4Highest CO: 21% 1.4%±2.1Lowest CO: 21%

Craig and Brush are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 33.6%Highest 18.8%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 33.8 miHighest 9.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.63Highest 0.61Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Steamboat Springs (16%)Fort Morgan (28%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BrushFew work in Craig

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 1.2%Lowest 2.3%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.7 mi 0.7 mi

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.3 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 8Highest 2Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 75.0Highest 64.8Lowest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #108 of 142 in CO #142 of 142 in CO

School district Moffat County School District RE: No. 1School District No. Re-2 Brush

High school in town Moffat County High SchoolBrush High School

Students per teacherat that high school 14.5Highest 14.1Lowest

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.

Craig neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Craig’s Town Square.

Brush neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Brush’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Craig and Brush

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Towns like Craig

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La Junta7,140 people · $195K homes

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Sheridan6,005 people · $381K homes

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.

Craig vs Brush

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they differ most

Craig gets 90 more inches of snow a year

Grades and rankings, side by side

A typical home costs about the same each month

207 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Craig and Brush

Towns like Craig

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