On the banks of the Animas River, Durango, Colorado is a no-frills town big on outdoor adventure. “In Durango, it’s not about what car you drive or the clothes you have, status is what mountain bike or kayak you own,” says Anne Zalbowitz of Keller Williams Realty Southwest Associates LLC, who has over two decades of experience in Durango. “We’re laid back and not trying to impress anyone." The active town has a population of just over 19,000, a 12% increase from 2010 census data. Durango is situated in the La Plata Mountains, in southwestern Colorado just 20 miles from New Mexico, and 85 miles from the Four Corners, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah converge. Durango residents are active and unpretentious. “You can spot the tourists in the restaurant because they’ll be more dressed up than any local. I’ve been to weddings where other attendees are wearing their fishing gear,” Zalbowitz says.
The Animas River Trail runs through Riverview.
There are many events throughout the year in nearby Downtown Durango.
A kayaker enjoys a sunny day on the crystal clear waters of Nighthorse Lake.
Pop Sushi crafts hand rolled sushi rolls and other Asian dishes right off Florida Rd.
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Animas River fishing, kayaking and whitewater rafting
The city has plenty of designated parks, but most residents take advantage of Durango’s natural landscape for recreation. “We have the river, we have hiking we have ski resorts -- sometimes literally in our backyard,” says Lindsay Lubrant of Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties, who has nearly a decade of experience in Durango. “We have people who float along the Animas or if you go north to the Upper Animas you have some serious white water rafting.” Fly fishing is another popular activity in the river, while the Animas River Trail is a 7-mile asphalt track along the waterway for joggers and bike riders. In the winter, residents trade out their kayaks and fishing poles for skis and snowboards. “Purgatory Ski Resort is about 25 miles away and Wolf Creek is about 60 miles away so they’re both easy day trips,” says Lubrant. “The locals like these mountains because there aren’t the tourists you get at an Aspen or a Vail.” Hikers can explore the terrain of the La Plata and San Juan Mountains. Durango, and the surrounding 30 miles, have 2,000 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing, including the popular Overend Mountain Park, a 300-acre park two miles from downtown.
The Animas River and the San Juan Mountains make The Grid a great home for outdoor lovers.
Skiing at the Purgatory Resort, just north of Needham.
The Animas River Trail is the perfect place to walk your pets.
A local enjoys fishing at a calm and quiet spot found along the Animas River.
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Large health care industry
With all the outdoor activities, it’s no surprise that tourism is a big industry in Durango. “Tourism is huge and a lot of people who live and work here were once former tourists who fell in love with the town,” says Lubrant. “But unlike Aspen or Telluride, we have a big local population and our tourism season is kind of year-round, so restaurants and shops never close for an off-season.” Another major employer is the CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital. The 82-bed acute-care hospital is located seven miles southeast of downtown and has drawn a lot of medical professionals to the city as the largest hospital in the Four Corners region.
CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital is located near the center of Three Springs.
There is an outdoor piano to enjoy with friends in Downtown Durango.
Main Avenue is Durango’s food epicenter, with upscale American, Italian and Asian options.
Fly fishing is common in the Animas River.
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Durango Cowboy Gathering and Snowdown
The city has plenty of annual events that show off its unique personality. The Durango Cowboy Gathering happens each autumn, celebrating the town’s western heritage. “They shut down Main Street and cowboys parade through on horses and giant longhorns are in the street,” says Zalbowitz. “The cowboys will head into bars and sing or hop up on table spurs and all and recite poetry.” Snowdown is a week-long festival each winter with live music, cook-offs and events at local bars and restaurants. Each Snowdown has a theme that dictates how the town and residents dress for the event; 2023’s was A Shakespeare Snowdown and 2024’s theme was Peace, Love and Snowdown.
The Durango Cowboy Gathering Parade honors the local cowboy history in Southern Colorado.
You can find covered wagons with musicians playing during the The Durango Cowboy Parade.
You can find era inspired attire throughout the Durango Cowboy Parade.
Everyone cheers on the Poo Patrol as they clean the streets during the Durango Cowboy Parade.
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Shopping and dining on Main Street
Durango is often listed among the top cities in the United States with the most restaurants per capita and many of those eateries are found downtown on Main Street. Locals can walk along Main and pop into upscale steakhouses or casual pizza joints. “Locals support locals, so you’re not going to find chains downtown,” says Lubrant. “It’s vibrant and you have diverse options from Italian to French to Asian fusion and Mexican.” There are also a handful of breweries downtown, as Durango has made a name for itself in the craft beer scene. Main Street is also home to high-end art galleries, upscale retail boutiques, bookshops and record stores. “There are grocery chains downtown, but most locals will choose to shop at Natural Grocers for organic food when they can,” says Zalbowitz. While residents typically frequent Durango’s local businesses, big box stores like Home Depot and Walmart are located a couple of miles south along Route 160.
Locals and tourist alike enjoy the large selection of beer brewed at Steamworks Brewery.
Locals visit eateries on Main Avenue, like 11th Street Station for coffee or breakfast.
Primi Pasta & Wine Bar has happy hour specials and Italian cuisine.
You can also shop for high end artwork at the many galleries in The Grid.
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Victorian and Modern Mountain homes
The median price for a single-family home in Durango was $852,500 as of December 2024. This is a 38% increase from three years ago and a 129% increase from the 2019 figure. “Everyone wants to be in The Grid because you’re walking distance from all the shops and restaurants, so naturally it’s one of the pricier neighborhoods,” says Gabi Bergstrom of RE/MAX Pinnacle, who has 17 years of experience in Durango. “Outside of that, the Edgemont area six miles northeast of the city has all the large new builds and people have been flocking there.” Homes in downtown neighborhoods like So Co, The Grid and West Avenues are Victorian homes from the turn of the century, while neighborhoods like Edgemont and Skyridge have large new Mountain Modern builds.
American flags fly outside of beautifully renovated Victorian homes in The Grid.
Other home styles can be found around The Grid including Craftsman and Spanish style homes.
The average home size in Edgemont is 2,578SF.
Homes in Edgemont sell after an average of 75 days on market.
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Durango School District No. 9-R and Fort Lewis College
Kids in Durango attend Durango School District No. 9-R, which has an A-minus overall grade on Niche. The district includes eight elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools, including Durango High, which offers mountain biking and Alpine skiing teams. A Durango High graduate has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since 1996. Two miles from downtown is Fort Lewis College, a four-year public liberal arts college with nearly 3,500 students. The college offers 60 bachelor's degrees, and many locals come to campus to cheer on the athletic teams or see live music at the school’s Community Concert Hall.
Durango High School is rated #2 best high school in La Plata County.
Escalante Middle School serves over 500 students from grades 6th through 8th in Durango, CO.
Park Elementary School is a Public Pre-K & Elementary School in So Co, Durango CO.
Fort Lewis College offers a wide range of undergraduate majors in Durango.
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Durango weather, crime and transportation
Durango residents will experience all four seasons with mild summers and snowy winters. The city reports an average snowfall of 71 inches each winter, but the snow melts quickly because of consistent sunshine. Temperatures reach the low 90s in the summer months. Residents can hop on Durango Transit buses for rides throughout the city, but many locals choose to walk or bike ride to their destinations. The Durango-La Plata Airport is 15 miles outside of the city and offers daily flights to Dallas, Denver and Phoenix. Route 550 leads out of Durango and connects with other mountain towns to the north like Silverton and Hermosa. The highway also runs 240 miles south to Albuquerque, the closest major metropolitan area. According to the FBI, Durango has a slightly lower violent crime rate than the Colorado and national averages, and property crime has decreased each year since 2021. Durango Police Department offers a Citizens’ Police Academy and Ride-Along programs to increase rapport between the local police and Durango residents. The city also sponsors neighborhood watch and business watch programs.
Born and raised in Durango CO, You wont find an agent with better knowledge and connections in the Area. TJ’s passion for Southwest Colorado serves his clients with insider knowledge. With his experience in competitive real estate markets, TJ’s efficiency and attention to detail bring optimal client outcomes to the closing table. TJ prides himself in providing the best possible service for his clients via dedicated marketing, thorough research, and detailed listings.
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