Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
February 27, 2024
TO: Members of the General Assembly
FROM: Marc Carey, Chief School Finance Officer, (303)866-4102
SUBJECT: 2023 School District Cost of Living Study
Summary
Legislative Council Staff conducts a study of the cost of living in each school district every two
years to update the cost of living factors used in the state's school finance funding formula as
required by state law.
1
The first study was conducted in 1993, and a study has been conducted
during the summer and fall of each odd-numbered year since. The 2023 study results are used
to determine school district cost-of-living factors for FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26. The results of
the 2023 study indicate that the cost of living, adjusted by where employees live, increased in all
178 school districts in the state. In 57 of these districts, the change in the cost of living from
2021 to 2023 was large enough to increase the cost of living factor used in the school finance
funding formula.
Study Results
The attached appendix shows the results of the 2023 study by school district, taking into
consideration where school district employees live. For example, the cost of living estimate for
the Mapleton School District in Adams County recognizes that 11 percent of its workforce lives
within the district, while the remaining 89 percent primarily live in nearby school districts, such
as Denver Public Schools or Jefferson County Public Schools. Compared with 2021, the cost of
living was higher in all of the 178 school districts in the state, with the change in the cost of
living ranging from a low of 1.3 percent to a high of 16.1 percent.
Study Methodology
The cost of living measure for each school district examines the cost of purchasing a similar
market basket of housing, goods and services, transportation, and other items in a school
district. The 2023 study uses representative purchases made by a three-person household
earning an average teacher's salary of $63,882 per year. This amount reflects the average salary
for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and ten or more years of teaching experience. The items
1
Section 22-54-104 (5)(c)(III), C.R.S.
Legislative Council Staff ∙ 200 E. Colfax Ave, Room 029 ∙ Denver CO 80203
Page | 2
included are based on the latest Consumer Expenditure Survey for this type of household,
prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Table 1 illustrates the composition of those
purchases in broad categories. Housing is the largest category of spending at 33.4 percent of
household income, followed by goods and services at 26.7 percent. Transportation accounts for
18.5 percent of spending, and other items represent 21.4 percent.
Table 1
Market Basket for Benchmark Household Earning $63,882
Expenditure Category Items Included
Share of
Income
Spending
Amount
Housing
Mortgage or rental payment, property taxes,
interest, home insurance, utilities, household
expenses
33.4% $21,313
Goods and services
Food at home, food away from home,
apparel, entertainment, heath care, alcohol,
cigarettes, personal care products, sales taxes
26.7% $17,011
Transportation
Car payment, gasoline, vehicle insurance, car
maintenance and repairs
18.5% $11,814
Other
Charitable donations, savings, life insurance,
federal and state income taxes
21.4% $13,684
TOTAL 100.0% $59,834
Vendors. For the 2023 study, Legislative Council Staff contracted with two private vendors to
provide data for computing the cost of a constant market basket in each school district. Corona
Insights provided data on goods and services, transportation, income taxes, and housing, with
the exception of home values. Prices for most retail goods and services were obtained by
making phone calls to individual businesses and visiting the websites of selected retailers. Retail
outlets were selected for price sampling based on estimated market share. Prices for most bills
were collected from information provided in government publications, other publically available
data, and through municipal authorities. Housing value data were provided by Wildrose
Appraisal, Inc. and forwarded to Corona by Legislative Council Staff. Corona then computed the
total cost of the market basket in each district.
Housing costs. Housing costs include mortgage costs of principal and interest, property taxes,
homeowner's insurance (PITI), as well as the cost of utilities, maintenance, household supplies
and operations, and household furnishings. PITI costs are based on the value of a 1,500 square-
foot house in each school district. Estimates of housing rental costs were also included.
Housing costs account for just over 33 percent of expenditures in a three-person household
with an income of $63,822.
Legislative Council Staff ∙ 200 E. Colfax Ave, Room 029 ∙ Denver CO 80203
Page | 3
Wildrose Appraisal, Inc. analyzed a database of nearly all single-family homes in the state to
estimate the market value of a 1,500 square foot home in each school district. The approach
used for about half of the school districts was to examine all home sales within each school
district over an 18-month period to determine the median sales price per square foot. The
housing value was determined by multiplying the median sales price per square foot in each
district by 1,500 square feet. In the remaining half of school districts, the database of homes
sold was supplemented by assessor-determined values to estimate the median sales price per
square foot. This approach was taken because of limited single-family home sales during the
18-month period in those districts.
Corona also provided information on the housing rental market for each school district. Rental
costs were primarily based on median gross rent estimates for a two- or three-bedroom home.
These data were supplemented with spatially interpolated estimates for many of the smaller
districts. Data on renter’s insurance premiums were included in these cost estimates.
Goods and services. Items in the goods and services component include groceries, meals away
from home, medical and dental care, recreation, and other day-to-day expenses. Data for the
goods and services component were obtained largely from a combination of telephone surveys
and third-party sources. The goods and services category consumes about 27 percent of
expenditures for a three-person household with earnings of $63,822. The 2023 study made
minor changes to the market basket of goods and services that were sampled.
Transportation. The transportation category consists of the annual cost of owning and
operating personal vehicles. These costs include vehicle maintenance and repairs, gasoline and
oil, insurance, and vehicle financing. The transportation component accounts for just over 18
percent of market basket expenditures.
Other costs. Finally, the other component primarily includes select services, education,
charitable donations, life insurance, federal and state income taxes, and local occupation (head)
taxes. Sales taxes are included under the goods and services component; property taxes are
included in the housing component. This category accounts for just over 21 percent of the
income level used in the study.
School District Shopping Patterns
The cost of living study recognizes that not all items in the market basket are purchased within
the school district for which the cost of living is being measured. Individuals travel outside
school district boundaries to make purchases for a number of reasons, including availability of
goods, price, selection, and convenience. The first geographic shopping pattern survey was
conducted in 1997. A comprehensive update was conducted in both 2007 and 2009, and
Legislative Council Staff ∙ 200 E. Colfax Ave, Room 029 ∙ Denver CO 80203
Page | 4
additional surveys were completed in 2011 to enhance the shopping pattern information for
more school districts in the state.
In 2019, Legislative Council Staff prioritized creating an updated shopping patterns model for
the first time since 2011. Corona Insights conducted a survey of residents in each district to
gather input about where they most recently purchased a series of goods. Data from these
surveys, in conjunction with mathematical modeling methods, were used to construct an
updated geographic shopping matrix, describing where the residents of each district typically
purchase particular products (i.e., what proportion of purchases were made in the home district,
neighboring districts, online, etc.). This shopping patterns model was not updated as part of the
2023 study.
Cost of Living Factor Calculation
The 2023 study found that the cost to a typical household of purchasing items consistent with
an average teacher salary of $63,822 ranged from a low of $52,110 to a high of $88,305 in
Colorado school districts. However, for a school district to realize additional per pupil funding
through the School Finance Act, its cost of living must increase by more than 6.77 percent — the
percentage by which the $63,882 salary level used in this year's study increased over the average
teacher salary of $59,834 in 2021. The percentage increase in cost of living meets this standard
in 57 school districts.
The map below illustrates the percentage change in the cost of living for all school districts, and
groups them into three categories:
districts with a change in cost of living below 6.77 percent;
districts with an increase in cost of living of between 6.77 percent and 10.51 percent; and
districts with an increase in cost of living of more than 10.51 percent.
The cost of living factor will not change for school districts in the first category. Starting in FY
2024-25, the cost of living factor will increase for districts in the latter two categories, with the
last group realizing a larger change.
The method for calculating changes in district cost of living factors — using the cost of living
dollar amounts contained in this report — is prescribed by state law. When the change in a
district's cost of living meets the standard for an increase, its cost of living factor is the prior
year's factor plus an amount equal to its percentage increase in cost of living divided by
6.77 percent divided by 1,000. Under state law, a district's cost of living factor cannot decrease.
Full Cost of Living Report
The full text of the report submitted by Corona Insights is available here.
State Average
21,313
$
11,814
$
17,011
$
13,684
$
63,822
$
63,882
$
59,834
$
6.77%
NA
1
Adams
Mapleton
20,825
$
12,427
$
17,126
$
13,684
$
64,062
$
65,207
$
61,070
$
6.78%
increase
2
Adams
Northglenn
21,748
$
12,195
$
16,763
$
13,684
$
64,390
$
64,865
$
61,036
$
6.27%
no change
3
Adams
Commerce City
20,023
$
12,186
$
16,769
$
13,684
$
62,662
$
65,143
$
61,009
$
6.78%
increase
4
Adams
Brighton
19,981
$
12,399
$
16,569
$
13,684
$
62,632
$
63,747
$
60,377
$
5.58%
no change
5
Adams
Bennett
19,723
$
12,839
$
15,858
$
13,684
$
62,103
$
63,181
$
60,090
$
5.14%
no change
6
Adams
Strasburg
20,541
$
12,388
$
15,448
$
13,684
$
62,061
$
62,061
$
59,710
$
3.94%
no change
7
Adams
Westminster
22,970
$
11,931
$
16,095
$
13,684
$
64,680
$
65,079
$
61,198
$
6.34%
no change
8
Alamosa
Alamosa
13,379
$
10,542
$
17,568
$
13,684
$
55,171
$
55,330
$
53,033
$
4.33%
no change
9
Alamosa
Sangre de Cristo
13,615
$
11,297
$
17,484
$
13,684
$
56,080
$
55,424
$
54,718
$
1.29%
no change
10
Arapahoe
Englewood
23,720
$
12,025
$
17,215
$
13,684
$
66,644
$
66,063
$
61,725
$
7.03%
increase
11
Arapahoe
Sheridan
21,820
$
11,975
$
16,949
$
13,711
$
64,455
$
65,717
$
61,461
$
6.92%
increase
12
Arapahoe
Cherry Creek
22,243
$
12,027
$
16,163
$
13,693
$
64,125
$
65,064
$
60,922
$
6.80%
increase
13
Arapahoe
Littleton
23,798
$
11,928
$
17,445
$
13,684
$
66,855
$
65,569
$
61,336
$
6.90%
increase
14
Arapahoe
Deer Trail
17,469
$
13,334
$
16,202
$
13,684
$
60,689
$
61,420
$
58,677
$
4.68%
no change
15
Arapahoe
Aurora
21,183
$
12,320
$
16,449
$
13,702
$
63,653
$
65,552
$
60,829
$
7.76%
increase
16
Arapahoe
Byers
19,142
$
13,250
$
15,961
$
13,684
$
62,037
$
62,858
$
59,335
$
5.94%
no change
17
Archuleta
Archuleta
17,245
$
11,379
$
18,069
$
13,684
$
60,377
$
60,391
$
56,998
$
5.95%
no change
18
Baca
Walsh
10,697
$
10,869
$
18,393
$
13,684
$
53,642
$
53,525
$
50,920
$
5.11%
no change
19
Baca
Pritchett
10,941
$
11,829
$
16,974
$
13,684
$
53,427
$
53,558
$
50,574
$
5.90%
no change
20
Baca
Springfield
10,636
$
9,978
$
17,812
$
13,684
$
52,110
$
52,598
$
50,415
$
4.33%
no change
21
Baca
Vilas
10,593
$
10,304
$
18,152
$
13,684
$
52,732
$
52,648
$
50,795
$
3.65%
no change
22
Baca
Campo
10,870
$
11,156
$
17,885
$
13,684
$
53,595
$
52,953
$
50,965
$
3.90%
no change
23
Bent
Las Animas
13,243
$
10,907
$
17,018
$
13,684
$
54,852
$
56,496
$
51,963
$
8.72%
increase
24
Bent
McClave
12,092
$
11,621
$
17,761
$
13,684
$
55,158
$
54,398
$
51,697
$
5.22%
no change
25
Boulder
St. Vrain
20,603
$
11,725
$
16,330
$
13,684
$
62,342
$
63,166
$
59,965
$
5.34%
no change
26
Boulder
Boulder
25,509
$
11,401
$
16,854
$
13,684
$
67,447
$
65,944
$
62,081
$
6.22%
no change
27
Chaffee
Buena Vista
19,983
$
11,344
$
18,297
$
13,684
$
63,308
$
63,319
$
58,859
$
7.58%
increase
28
Chaffee
Salida
19,430
$
11,382
$
18,432
$
13,684
$
62,928
$
62,962
$
58,038
$
8.49%
increase
29
Cheyenne
Kit Carson
10,909
$
11,795
$
18,327
$
13,684
$
54,716
$
54,716
$
51,761
$
5.71%
no change
30
Cheyenne
Cheyenne R-5
12,828
$
10,519
$
17,362
$
13,684
$
54,392
$
54,392
$
50,990
$
6.67%
no change
APPENDIX
2023 School District Cost-of-Living Study Results
ID
County School District
Housing
Costs /1
Transportation
Costs /2
Goods &
Services /3
Taxes &
Other /4
Cost of
Living
2023 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
/5
2021 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
Percent
Change
Districts with Cost
of Living Factor
Increase
Legislative Council Staff 6
APPENDIX
2023 School District Cost-of-Living Study Results
ID
County School District
Housing
Costs /1
Transportation
Costs /2
Goods &
Services /3
Taxes &
Other /4
Cost of
Living
2023 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
/5
2021 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
Percent
Change
Districts with Cost
of Living Factor
Increase
31
Clear Creek
Clear Creek
21,126
$
12,079
$
17,324
$
13,684
$
64,212
$
64,453
$
60,123
$
7.20%
increase
32
Conejos
North Conejos
11,935
$
11,360
$
17,588
$
13,684
$
54,567
$
54,678
$
52,599
$
3.95%
no change
33
Conejos
Sanford
11,719
$
11,333
$
17,665
$
13,684
$
54,401
$
54,471
$
52,016
$
4.72%
no change
34
Conejos
South Conejos
11,453
$
11,756
$
17,465
$
13,684
$
54,357
$
54,566
$
52,420
$
4.09%
no change
35
Costilla
Centennial
11,940
$
11,858
$
17,506
$
13,684
$
54,987
$
54,987
$
53,476
$
2.83%
no change
36
Costilla
Sierra Grande
13,606
$
11,173
$
17,355
$
13,684
$
55,818
$
55,699
$
53,225
$
4.65%
no change
37
Crowley
Crowley
14,734
$
11,651
$
17,812
$
13,684
$
57,881
$
56,493
$
52,477
$
7.65%
increase
38
Custer
Westcliffe
16,293
$
12,688
$
18,144
$
13,684
$
60,809
$
60,855
$
56,625
$
7.47%
increase
39
Delta
Delta
15,586
$
11,588
$
17,664
$
13,684
$
58,522
$
58,690
$
55,938
$
4.92%
no change
40
Denver
Denver
26,043
$
12,021
$
16,673
$
13,736
$
68,473
$
66,895
$
62,209
$
7.53%
increase
41
Dolores
Dolores County RE-2
14,365
$
11,106
$
19,792
$
13,684
$
58,947
$
59,086
$
54,726
$
7.97%
increase
42
Douglas
Douglas
22,384
$
11,776
$
16,269
$
13,684
$
64,112
$
64,303
$
60,937
$
5.52%
no change
43
Eagle
Eagle
24,246
$
11,430
$
19,794
$
13,684
$
69,154
$
69,166
$
63,231
$
9.39%
increase
44
Elbert
Elizabeth
19,279
$
13,204
$
16,298
$
13,684
$
62,465
$
63,226
$
59,987
$
5.40%
no change
45
Elbert
Kiowa
17,460
$
13,058
$
16,306
$
13,684
$
60,509
$
61,805
$
59,313
$
4.20%
no change
46
Elbert
Big Sandy
15,548
$
13,136
$
17,323
$
13,684
$
59,690
$
60,063
$
57,435
$
4.58%
no change
47
Elbert
Elbert
18,350
$
13,914
$
16,530
$
13,684
$
62,478
$
62,025
$
58,786
$
5.51%
no change
48
Elbert
Agate
16,913
$
14,907
$
16,271
$
13,684
$
61,774
$
61,385
$
58,838
$
4.33%
no change
49
El Paso
Calhan
16,589
$
13,100
$
17,844
$
13,684
$
61,217
$
61,895
$
58,857
$
5.16%
no change
50
El Paso
Harrison
19,538
$
11,650
$
17,341
$
13,684
$
62,213
$
62,972
$
59,048
$
6.64%
no change
51
El Paso
Widefield
20,892
$
11,521
$
17,403
$
13,684
$
63,499
$
63,118
$
59,490
$
6.10%
no change
52
El Paso
Fountain
20,887
$
11,540
$
17,485
$
13,684
$
63,596
$
63,037
$
59,437
$
6.06%
no change
53
El Paso
Colorado Springs
19,624
$
11,539
$
17,515
$
13,684
$
62,361
$
62,782
$
58,996
$
6.42%
no change
54
El Paso
Cheyenne Mountain
21,520
$
11,454
$
17,553
$
13,684
$
64,210
$
63,358
$
59,536
$
6.42%
no change
55
El Paso
Manitou Springs
21,467
$
11,983
$
17,313
$
13,684
$
64,447
$
63,187
$
59,952
$
5.40%
no change
56
El Paso
Academy
20,721
$
11,553
$
17,560
$
13,684
$
63,517
$
63,269
$
59,585
$
6.18%
no change
57
El Paso
Ellicott
17,115
$
12,444
$
17,966
$
13,684
$
61,210
$
62,111
$
59,068
$
5.15%
no change
58
El Paso
Peyton
19,011
$
12,939
$
17,976
$
13,684
$
63,610
$
63,126
$
59,232
$
6.57%
no change
59
El Paso
Hanover
16,749
$
12,758
$
17,548
$
13,684
$
60,739
$
62,504
$
58,856
$
6.20%
no change
60
El Paso
Lewis-Palmer
20,890
$
11,936
$
17,409
$
13,684
$
63,919
$
63,594
$
60,516
$
5.09%
no change
61
El Paso
Falcon
19,867
$
11,901
$
17,848
$
13,684
$
63,299
$
62,939
$
59,481
$
5.81%
no change
62
El Paso
Edison
15,528
$
13,431
$
17,589
$
13,684
$
60,231
$
60,290
$
58,301
$
3.41%
no change
63
El Paso
Miami-Yoder
15,685
$
13,360
$
17,692
$
13,684
$
60,421
$
61,991
$
58,736
$
5.54%
no change
Legislative Council Staff 7
APPENDIX
2023 School District Cost-of-Living Study Results
ID
County School District
Housing
Costs /1
Transportation
Costs /2
Goods &
Services /3
Taxes &
Other /4
Cost of
Living
2023 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
/5
2021 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
Percent
Change
Districts with Cost
of Living Factor
Increase
64
Fremont
Canon City
16,713
$
11,258
$
17,954
$
13,684
$
59,608
$
59,922
$
56,173
$
6.67%
no change
65
Fremont
Florence
16,096
$
12,314
$
18,129
$
13,684
$
60,223
$
60,378
$
56,447
$
6.96%
increase
66
Fremont
Cotopaxi
16,987
$
12,583
$
18,139
$
13,684
$
61,393
$
61,480
$
56,677
$
8.47%
increase
67
Garfield
Roaring Fork RE-1
23,699
$
12,000
$
19,026
$
13,684
$
68,409
$
68,234
$
64,807
$
5.29%
no change
68
Garfield
Rifle
18,925
$
12,234
$
18,969
$
13,684
$
63,811
$
63,589
$
59,858
$
6.23%
no change
69
Garfield
Parachute
15,659
$
13,110
$
18,956
$
13,684
$
61,409
$
61,337
$
57,357
$
6.94%
increase
70
Gilpin
Gilpin
18,673
$
11,654
$
15,634
$
13,684
$
59,644
$
62,033
$
59,589
$
4.10%
no change
71
Grand
West Grand
18,533
$
12,515
$
19,752
$
13,684
$
64,483
$
65,351
$
59,377
$
10.06%
increase
72
Grand
East Grand
22,670
$
11,398
$
19,356
$
13,684
$
67,107
$
67,086
$
61,163
$
9.68%
increase
73
Gunnison
Gunnison
21,847
$
11,355
$
18,250
$
13,684
$
65,136
$
65,136
$
60,073
$
8.43%
increase
74
Hinsdale
Hinsdale
16,997
$
11,273
$
18,406
$
13,684
$
60,360
$
60,424
$
56,965
$
6.07%
no change
75
Huerfano
Huerfano
14,015
$
11,792
$
17,979
$
13,684
$
57,469
$
57,527
$
54,495
$
5.56%
no change
76
Huerfano
La Veta
15,747
$
10,969
$
18,361
$
13,684
$
58,761
$
58,534
$
55,010
$
6.41%
no change
77
Jackson
North Park
13,803
$
12,631
$
17,681
$
13,684
$
57,799
$
57,799
$
55,189
$
4.73%
no change
78
Jefferson
Jefferson
22,501
$
12,128
$
15,795
$
13,684
$
64,107
$
64,374
$
60,682
$
6.08%
no change
79
Kiowa
Eads
11,881
$
10,574
$
17,679
$
13,684
$
53,818
$
53,948
$
51,717
$
4.32%
no change
80
Kiowa
Plainview
12,042
$
11,670
$
17,869
$
13,684
$
55,265
$
55,074
$
52,256
$
5.39%
no change
81
Kit Carson
Arriba-Flagler
13,585
$
10,926
$
18,908
$
13,684
$
57,103
$
57,107
$
53,720
$
6.30%
no change
82
Kit Carson
Hi Plains
14,249
$
11,336
$
17,581
$
13,684
$
56,850
$
57,035
$
54,225
$
5.18%
no change
83
Kit Carson
Stratton
14,825
$
10,655
$
17,981
$
13,684
$
57,144
$
57,083
$
53,205
$
7.29%
increase
84
Kit Carson
Bethune
15,175
$
10,995
$
17,051
$
13,684
$
56,905
$
56,925
$
53,307
$
6.79%
increase
85
Kit Carson
Burlington
15,307
$
10,540
$
17,108
$
13,684
$
56,638
$
56,652
$
53,111
$
6.67%
no change
86
Lake
Lake
20,295
$
12,151
$
19,460
$
13,684
$
65,589
$
65,499
$
57,730
$
13.46%
increase
87
La Plata
Durango
19,754
$
10,976
$
19,147
$
13,684
$
63,560
$
63,595
$
59,906
$
6.16%
no change
88
La Plata
Bayfield
17,646
$
11,821
$
18,896
$
13,684
$
62,046
$
62,344
$
58,630
$
6.33%
no change
89
La Plata
Ignacio
15,860
$
11,467
$
19,099
$
13,684
$
60,109
$
61,221
$
57,942
$
5.66%
no change
90
Larimer
Poudre
20,255
$
11,294
$
16,874
$
13,684
$
62,106
$
62,119
$
58,139
$
6.85%
increase
91
Larimer
Thompson
19,508
$
11,839
$
17,033
$
13,684
$
62,064
$
62,189
$
58,240
$
6.78%
increase
92
Larimer
Estes Park
23,177
$
11,267
$
17,295
$
13,684
$
65,422
$
65,253
$
61,670
$
5.81%
no change
93
Las Animas
Trinidad
12,773
$
10,861
$
17,066
$
13,684
$
54,383
$
54,526
$
52,317
$
4.22%
no change
94
Las Animas
Primero
13,134
$
12,691
$
17,227
$
13,684
$
56,736
$
56,126
$
53,337
$
5.23%
no change
95
Las Animas
Hoehne
12,899
$
11,381
$
17,143
$
13,684
$
55,107
$
54,700
$
52,816
$
3.57%
no change
96
Las Animas
Aguilar
13,309
$
12,181
$
17,570
$
13,684
$
56,744
$
55,815
$
52,727
$
5.86%
no change
Legislative Council Staff 8
APPENDIX
2023 School District Cost-of-Living Study Results
ID
County School District
Housing
Costs /1
Transportation
Costs /2
Goods &
Services /3
Taxes &
Other /4
Cost of
Living
2023 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
/5
2021 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
Percent
Change
Districts with Cost
of Living Factor
Increase
97
Las Animas
Branson
12,730
$
12,900
$
17,394
$
13,684
$
56,708
$
60,045
$
56,776
$
5.76%
no change
98
Las Animas
Kim
11,922
$
14,040
$
16,692
$
13,684
$
56,338
$
55,607
$
53,612
$
3.72%
no change
99
Lincoln
Genoa-Hugo
13,010
$
11,147
$
19,030
$
13,684
$
56,871
$
57,267
$
53,456
$
7.13%
increase
100
Lincoln
Limon
14,137
$
10,474
$
19,927
$
13,684
$
58,221
$
58,231
$
54,359
$
7.12%
increase
101
Lincoln
Karval
12,510
$
12,994
$
18,377
$
13,684
$
57,564
$
57,917
$
55,554
$
4.25%
no change
102
Logan
Valley
14,741
$
10,649
$
17,314
$
13,684
$
56,389
$
56,411
$
53,988
$
4.49%
no change
103
Logan
Frenchman
13,259
$
12,085
$
17,270
$
13,684
$
56,298
$
56,196
$
54,111
$
3.85%
no change
104
Logan
Buffalo
13,699
$
11,653
$
17,365
$
13,684
$
56,401
$
56,794
$
54,150
$
4.88%
no change
105
Logan
Plateau
13,723
$
11,421
$
17,330
$
13,684
$
56,157
$
56,297
$
54,165
$
3.94%
no change
106
Mesa
DeBeque
15,351
$
12,741
$
17,264
$
13,684
$
59,039
$
60,372
$
56,268
$
7.29%
increase
107
Mesa
Plateau Valley
15,920
$
11,921
$
16,904
$
13,684
$
58,428
$
58,366
$
55,372
$
5.41%
no change
108
Mesa
Mesa Valley
16,652
$
10,914
$
16,769
$
13,684
$
58,019
$
58,032
$
54,509
$
6.46%
no change
109
Mineral
Creede
14,988
$
10,788
$
17,300
$
13,684
$
56,761
$
56,808
$
53,816
$
5.56%
no change
110
Moffat
Moffat County RE 1
15,115
$
12,068
$
20,119
$
13,684
$
60,986
$
60,986
$
58,663
$
3.96%
no change
111
Montezuma
Montezuma
14,762
$
10,918
$
19,489
$
13,684
$
58,852
$
59,185
$
55,293
$
7.04%
increase
112
Montezuma
Dolores RE-4A
16,362
$
10,848
$
19,535
$
13,684
$
60,429
$
59,949
$
55,774
$
7.49%
increase
113
Montezuma
Mancos
15,701
$
11,631
$
19,474
$
13,684
$
60,490
$
60,398
$
56,308
$
7.26%
increase
114
Montrose
Montrose
17,381
$
11,070
$
18,808
$
13,684
$
60,943
$
60,794
$
56,522
$
7.56%
increase
115
Montrose
West End
14,529
$
12,010
$
18,861
$
13,684
$
59,083
$
59,196
$
55,635
$
6.40%
no change
116
Morgan
Brush
18,499
$
11,168
$
17,819
$
13,684
$
61,170
$
60,402
$
55,961
$
7.94%
increase
117
Morgan
Fort Morgan
17,616
$
11,006
$
17,730
$
13,684
$
60,036
$
60,218
$
56,061
$
7.41%
increase
118
Morgan
Weldon
16,389
$
12,074
$
17,914
$
13,684
$
60,061
$
60,836
$
55,568
$
9.48%
increase
119
Morgan
Wiggins
17,934
$
13,399
$
17,879
$
13,684
$
62,895
$
61,876
$
56,711
$
9.11%
increase
120
Otero
East Otero
13,192
$
10,517
$
15,894
$
13,684
$
53,287
$
53,653
$
50,078
$
7.14%
increase
121
Otero
Rocky Ford
13,403
$
11,055
$
16,133
$
13,684
$
54,275
$
54,597
$
50,744
$
7.59%
increase
122
Otero
Manzanola
12,682
$
12,314
$
16,562
$
13,684
$
55,242
$
55,142
$
52,643
$
4.75%
no change
123
Otero
Fowler
14,405
$
11,620
$
18,318
$
13,684
$
58,026
$
57,523
$
54,324
$
5.89%
no change
124
Otero
Cheraw
12,415
$
11,017
$
16,720
$
13,684
$
53,836
$
53,673
$
51,707
$
3.80%
no change
125
Otero
Swink
13,142
$
10,479
$
15,549
$
13,684
$
52,853
$
54,661
$
50,126
$
9.05%
increase
126
Ouray
Ouray
20,629
$
11,316
$
19,029
$
13,684
$
64,658
$
64,907
$
58,732
$
10.51%
increase
127
Ouray
Ridgway
21,891
$
12,055
$
18,900
$
13,684
$
66,531
$
65,332
$
59,686
$
9.46%
increase
128
Park
Platte Canyon
22,471
$
13,139
$
16,562
$
13,684
$
65,856
$
65,572
$
61,384
$
6.82%
increase
129
Park
Park County
21,373
$
12,729
$
16,576
$
13,684
$
64,361
$
64,361
$
59,820
$
7.59%
increase
Legislative Council Staff 9
APPENDIX
2023 School District Cost-of-Living Study Results
ID
County School District
Housing
Costs /1
Transportation
Costs /2
Goods &
Services /3
Taxes &
Other /4
Cost of
Living
2023 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
/5
2021 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
Percent
Change
Districts with Cost
of Living Factor
Increase
130
Phillips
Holyoke
12,227
$
10,968
$
18,318
$
13,684
$
55,196
$
55,351
$
52,409
$
5.61%
no change
131
Phillips
Haxtun
12,746
$
11,731
$
17,398
$
13,684
$
55,558
$
55,719
$
53,106
$
4.92%
no change
132
Pitkin
Aspen
45,454
$
11,452
$
20,421
$
10,978
$
88,305
$
80,514
$
69,655
$
15.59%
increase
133
Prowers
Granada
10,855
$
10,906
$
17,890
$
13,684
$
53,334
$
53,440
$
51,665
$
3.44%
no change
134
Prowers
Lamar
12,122
$
10,272
$
17,922
$
13,684
$
53,999
$
53,999
$
51,467
$
4.92%
no change
135
Prowers
Holly
11,850
$
10,303
$
18,118
$
13,684
$
53,955
$
53,962
$
52,177
$
3.42%
no change
136
Prowers
Wiley
11,529
$
10,896
$
17,922
$
13,684
$
54,030
$
54,021
$
51,720
$
4.45%
no change
137
Pueblo
Pueblo City
17,656
$
11,347
$
18,205
$
13,684
$
60,892
$
61,421
$
56,533
$
8.65%
increase
138
Pueblo
Pueblo Rural
19,023
$
11,857
$
18,145
$
13,684
$
62,708
$
62,089
$
56,883
$
9.15%
increase
139
Rio Blanco
Meeker
14,655
$
11,145
$
18,497
$
13,684
$
57,980
$
57,980
$
54,042
$
7.29%
increase
140
Rio Blanco
Rangely
12,751
$
10,475
$
19,123
$
13,684
$
56,033
$
56,033
$
52,960
$
5.80%
no change
141
Rio Grande
Del Norte
14,633
$
11,811
$
17,829
$
13,684
$
57,957
$
56,927
$
53,576
$
6.25%
no change
142
Rio Grande
Monte Vista
14,120
$
11,039
$
17,480
$
13,684
$
56,324
$
56,068
$
52,961
$
5.87%
no change
143
Rio Grande
Sargent
14,081
$
10,825
$
17,568
$
13,684
$
56,158
$
55,886
$
53,012
$
5.42%
no change
144
Routt
Hayden
18,654
$
12,452
$
19,980
$
13,684
$
64,768
$
65,376
$
60,759
$
7.60%
increase
145
Routt
Steamboat Springs
25,842
$
11,400
$
19,962
$
13,684
$
70,887
$
70,473
$
63,513
$
10.96%
increase
146
Routt
South Routt
20,354
$
12,331
$
19,926
$
13,684
$
66,294
$
67,236
$
61,136
$
9.98%
increase
147
Saguache
Mountain Valley
13,249
$
12,220
$
18,169
$
13,684
$
57,322
$
57,245
$
53,940
$
6.13%
no change
148
Saguache
Moffat 2
15,163
$
12,712
$
18,748
$
13,684
$
60,306
$
58,477
$
56,676
$
3.18%
no change
149
Saguache
Center
10,477
$
10,596
$
17,508
$
13,684
$
52,265
$
55,347
$
52,980
$
4.47%
no change
150
San Juan
Silverton
19,111
$
11,168
$
19,038
$
13,684
$
63,001
$
63,001
$
57,955
$
8.71%
increase
151
San Miguel
Telluride
25,448
$
10,819
$
19,933
$
13,684
$
69,884
$
68,818
$
62,194
$
10.65%
increase
152
San Miguel
Norwood
15,304
$
12,226
$
18,434
$
13,684
$
59,648
$
60,271
$
57,129
$
5.50%
no change
153
Sedgwick
Julesburg
11,827
$
11,161
$
17,118
$
13,684
$
53,789
$
58,692
$
56,092
$
4.63%
no change
154
Sedgwick
Platte Valley RE-3
11,311
$
12,378
$
16,836
$
13,684
$
54,209
$
54,341
$
52,293
$
3.92%
no change
155
Summit
Summit
30,776
$
11,603
$
20,028
$
13,684
$
76,090
$
75,295
$
64,873
$
16.07%
increase
156
Teller
Cripple Creek
18,885
$
12,595
$
17,931
$
13,684
$
63,094
$
63,302
$
59,229
$
6.88%
increase
157
Teller
Woodland Park
19,850
$
12,426
$
17,993
$
13,684
$
63,952
$
63,806
$
60,299
$
5.82%
no change
158
Washington
Akron
13,993
$
11,189
$
17,779
$
13,684
$
56,645
$
56,698
$
53,531
$
5.92%
no change
159
Washington
Arickaree
13,840
$
12,155
$
17,563
$
13,684
$
57,242
$
57,308
$
54,591
$
4.98%
no change
160
Washington
Otis
13,923
$
11,752
$
17,743
$
13,684
$
57,102
$
56,257
$
53,719
$
4.73%
no change
161
Washington
Lone Star
13,208
$
12,299
$
17,262
$
13,684
$
56,453
$
55,638
$
53,366
$
4.26%
no change
162
Washington
Woodlin
14,310
$
12,313
$
17,905
$
13,684
$
58,211
$
58,345
$
55,685
$
4.78%
no change
Legislative Council Staff 10
APPENDIX
2023 School District Cost-of-Living Study Results
ID
County School District
Housing
Costs /1
Transportation
Costs /2
Goods &
Services /3
Taxes &
Other /4
Cost of
Living
2023 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
/5
2021 Cost of
Living Based
on Where
Employees Live
Percent
Change
Districts with Cost
of Living Factor
Increase
163
Weld
Gilcrest
18,826
$
11,887
$
17,173
$
13,684
$
61,569
$
62,220
$
58,471
$
6.41%
no change
164
Weld
Eaton
17,901
$
11,564
$
17,539
$
13,684
$
60,688
$
61,363
$
57,988
$
5.82%
no change
165
Weld
Keenesburg
18,025
$
12,466
$
17,523
$
13,684
$
61,698
$
62,629
$
59,003
$
6.15%
no change
166
Weld
Windsor
19,966
$
11,540
$
17,382
$
13,684
$
62,572
$
62,387
$
58,620
$
6.43%
no change
167
Weld
Johnstown
19,628
$
11,934
$
17,171
$
13,684
$
62,416
$
62,345
$
58,533
$
6.51%
no change
168
Weld
Greeley
19,668
$
11,604
$
17,489
$
13,684
$
62,445
$
62,364
$
58,414
$
6.76%
no change
169
Weld
Platte Valley RE-7
17,388
$
11,906
$
17,523
$
13,684
$
60,500
$
61,649
$
57,510
$
7.20%
increase
170
Weld
Fort Lupton
20,208
$
12,219
$
17,068
$
13,684
$
63,178
$
63,068
$
59,362
$
6.24%
no change
171
Weld
Ault-Highland
17,417
$
12,144
$
16,789
$
13,684
$
60,034
$
61,724
$
58,252
$
5.96%
no change
172
Weld
Briggsdale
15,326
$
13,593
$
17,523
$
13,684
$
60,125
$
60,449
$
57,786
$
4.61%
no change
173
Weld
Prairie
12,628
$
12,947
$
16,859
$
13,684
$
56,117
$
57,469
$
55,036
$
4.42%
no change
174
Weld
Grover
13,655
$
13,678
$
17,210
$
13,684
$
58,227
$
58,336
$
55,791
$
4.56%
no change
175
Yuma
Yuma 1
12,593
$
10,632
$
17,560
$
13,684
$
54,469
$
54,549
$
52,568
$
3.77%
no change
176
Yuma
Wray
12,564
$
10,511
$
18,086
$
13,684
$
54,844
$
54,839
$
53,558
$
2.39%
no change
177
Yuma
Idalia
13,459
$
12,166
$
17,392
$
13,684
$
56,701
$
56,322
$
53,904
$
4.49%
no change
178
Yuma
Liberty
13,028
$
11,355
$
17,901
$
13,684
$
55,968
$
55,978
$
55,110
$
1.58%
no change
/5 This calculation takes into account where the employees of a school district live, which may not be in the district of employment.
/1 Housing includes principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI), plus utilities, maintenance, supplies, and furnishings.
/2 Transportation includes the costs for two vehicles, as well as gas, oil, insurance, and maintenance.
/3 Goods and services include food, clothing, health care, entertainment, etc., as well as applicable sales taxes.
/4 Other costs inclue long term savings, investments, charitable donations, life insurance, etc.
Taxes include state and federal income taxes and local occupation taxes.
Legislative Council Staff 11
