Cortez

Cortez is home to just over 8,480 people. This area in southwestern Colorado has some very nice mountain views, although the actual town of Cortez tends to be a bit warmer than many areas of Colorado. There are some incredible hiking trails around here with views that are just breathtaking. The town itself is a mixed bag when it comes to housing. There are some very nice areas as well as some that are more run down and unkept looking. The median average home price in Cortez is $150,542 which is a good deal less than the Colorado average of $237,800. The average household income here is lower as well with a an average of $37,548. This is about $18,000 lower than the state average.

There are numerous restaurants in Cortez and a good portion of them are locally owned. You can find some really good, traditional Mexican food here, as well as the usual dose of fast food chains. Shopping here is also pretty good and there are a few charming gift shops around town where you can find locally crafted items.

About 70% of the population is white, followed by 16% Hispanic, and 11% Native American. Retail is the most common industry, followed by health care and social assistance, then construction. The crime rate in Cortez is lower than the national average, but higher than many other cities in Colorado.

Cortez, Colorado is about 20 miles from the four corners area where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah meet. A lot of tourists move through the town on their way to the Four Corners Monument, nearby Mesa Verde cliff dwellings and the indian reservations and forest access roads and trails that surround the desert area. There are a lot of ancient indian ruins around the area, Mesa Verde is the only one I have so far visited and it is spectacular. Cortez is also on the way to the Grand Canyon and onto Flagstaff, Arizona.

The town is not very big but it is spread out on the Montezuma Valley. Unlike its neighboring mountain town of Mancos to the east, Cortez really feels like the desert. It gets very hot in the summer and cold at night. You can see mountain views all around in the distance town itself is high (6,100 feet elevation) and flat southwest desert place.

San Juan National Forest surrounds the town to the north and east, and the Ute Indian Reservation is to the south along with Mesa Verde. There is a lot of wild and sometimes rough energy in town and a mix of people come and go using Cortez to get groceries and goods. The Latino population is strong along with the indian culture giving Cortez a true southwestern vibe.

The schools are part of the Montezuma-Cortez School District, there is only one middle school and one high school. I have not heard what the reputation of the schools are in Cortez.

There are a lot of trailer parks and dusty side streets with houses scattered here and there, I am not sure what the outskirts are like.