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La Junta vs Florence

89 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2.1× in Florence) and street grid (2.7× in La Junta).

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La Junta, COHomes around $164KColorado · 7,140 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.

La JuntaHomes around $164K
Housing$164K typical home69% below the CO typical home Outdoors#19 most walkable in CO0.6 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves SafetySafer than 5%of U.S. towns we grade All about La Junta →
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 part ways

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

Property tax bill2.1×
Tax bills are bigger in Florence
Florence $1,179La Junta $562
Street grid2.7×
La Junta has the more walkable street grid
La Junta 120Florence 45.1
Work in town+26.2 pts
More of La Junta’s workers stay in town
La Junta 39.3%Florence 13.1%
Jobs per worker+83%
La Junta is more of a job hub
La Junta 1.06Florence 0.58
Average commute5 min
La Junta has the shorter commute
Florence 28 minLa Junta 22 min
Growth since 2010+5 pts
La Junta has grown faster since 2010
La Junta +3.5%Florence -1.5%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $680 more a month in Florence

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.

La Junta$900/mo
Typical home $164K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.29% · or rent about $642/mo · Housing →
Florence$1,580/mo
Typical home $281K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.47% · or rent about $754/mo · Housing →

The difference: $680 a month, about $8,200 a year, between Florence and La Junta.

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.

Report cards

La Junta places higher on 11 of 21 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
DLa JuntaSafer than 5% of U.S. towns CFlorenceSafer than 31% of U.S. towns
Schools
C−La JuntaBetter than 24% of districts in the state B+FlorenceBetter than 68% of districts in the state
Health
CLa JuntaHealthier than 28% of U.S. towns C+FlorenceHealthier than 44% of U.S. towns
11La Junta
10Florence

Lists won, of 21 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most walkableOutdoors · 160 towns #19#125 SafestSafety · 83 towns #74#38 Lowest depressionHealth · 160 towns #76#138 Shortest commuteGetting around · 160 towns #55#116 Highest graduation rateSchools · 142 towns #64#10 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 160 towns #157#98 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 160 towns #148#102 Lowest obesityHealth · 160 towns #150#108

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

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
La JuntaFlorence
Snow a year34″38″
January low17°F18°F
July high93°F89°F
Growing season (days)171d153d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)67th92nd
Outdoors & history
La JuntaFlorence
Trails1 mi—
Conserved land1.4%—
Settled1881—
National Register places94
Archive photos2312
Famous people born here—10
Community
La JuntaFlorence
Library hours a week49 hrs35 hrs
Colleges in town1—
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

89 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

La JuntaCOFlorenceCO
La Junta ↔ Florence89 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.

La JuntaFlorence
People
Population 7,140Highest 3,885Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +3.5%Highest CO: +14.8% -1.5%Lowest CO: +14.8%
Median age 38.2±3.2Highest about the CO average 37.4±7.2Lowest about the CO average
La Junta and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.6%±3.9Highest CO: 21% 20.5%±5.7Lowest CO: 21%
La Junta and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 21.5%±4Highest CO: 15.6% 19.2%±3.9Lowest CO: 15.6%
La Junta and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 18%Highest CO: 45.7% 17.1%Lowest CO: 45.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.1%±2Highest CO: 6.4% 4.7%±3Lowest CO: 6.4%
La Junta and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $52,315±$7kHighest 45% below CO $50,262±$7kLowest 47% below CO
La Junta and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $194,800±$40kLowest 64% below CO $249,700±$26kHighest 54% below CO
Florence and La Junta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $642±$202Lowest 64% below CO $754±$270Highest 57% below CO
Florence and La Junta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $562Lowest 78% below CO $1,179Highest 55% below CO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 45.1%±16.3Lowest CO: 52.9% 45.7%±23.3Highest CO: 52.9%
Florence and La Junta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 27.4%Highest CO: 9.4% 12.2%Lowest CO: 9.4%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 67%Lowest CO: 66.2% 67.9%Highest CO: 66.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1960Lowest 28 yrs older than CO 1974Highest 14 yrs older than CO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 22 minLowest 12% below CO 28 minHighest 9% above CO
Work from home 7.1%±4.1Lowest CO: 21% 7.8%±6Highest CO: 21%
Florence and La Junta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 39.3%Highest 13.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 5.3 miLowest 28.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.06Highest 0.58Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Colorado Springs (6%)Cañon City (20%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in FlorenceFew work in La Junta
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.4% 1.4%
Trailsmapped miles 0.6 miLowest 0.9 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 mi 0.2 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 120Highest 45.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #125 of 142 in CO#91 of 142 in CO
School district East Otero School District No. R1Fremont Re-2
High school in town La Junta Jr/Sr High SchoolFlorence Jr./Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school 15.9Highest 14.5Lowest
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.

La Junta neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to La Junta’s Town Square.

Florence neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Florence’s Town Square.

Add a town

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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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