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201309_BPL_FIRESTONE
Firestone, CO
Michael Mauro

Top 50 rank: 24

Population: 10,629

A Rocky Mountain hamlet that's experienced a massive population boost (up 432% from 2000 to 2010) thanks to low taxes and new housing developments, Firestone's real estate market continues to grow.

Still, the town has maintained its open spaces and offers plenty of outdoor recreation, including St. Vrain's State Park, where visitors can camp, fish, and hike. Firestone does have some shops and restaurants but lacks an extensive downtown. Fortunately, Boulder is about 30 minutes away. --K.F.

Firestone, CO

Town stats

Firestone, CO

Town stats

Median family income (per year) $88,457
Job growth % (2010-2012) 7.56%
Median home price (2012) $217,500
Reading test scores (% above/below average) 7.5%
Math test scores (% above/below average) 8.9%
Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) 1
Property crime incidents (per 1,000) 8

Financials

Median family income (per year) $88,457
Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted) N.A.
Sales tax 4.90%
State income tax rate (highest bracket) 4.63%I
State income tax rate (lowest bracket) 4.63%I
Auto insurance premiums (Average price quotes, for the state) $1,543
Job growth % (2010-2012) 7.56%

Financials

Housing

Median home price (2012) $217,500
Average property taxes(2012) $1,661

Housing

Education

Colleges, universities andprofessional schools (within 30 miles) 26
Reading test scores (% above/below state average) 7.5%
Test scores math (% above/below average) 8.9%
% students attending public/private schools (located within town limits) 100.0/0.0

Education

Quality of life

Air quality index* (% of days AQI ranked as good) 70.2%
Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) 1
Property crime incidents (per 1,000) 8
Median commute time (in minutes) 31.2
% population with commute 45 mins. or longer 20.9%
% population walk or bike to work 2.7%

Quality of life

Leisure and culture

Movie theaters (within 15 miles) 6
Restaurants (within 15 miles) 605
Bars (within 15 miles) 53
Public golf courses (within 30 miles) 87
Libraries (within 15 miles) 11
Museums (accredited by AAM; within 30 miles) 7
Ski resorts (within 100 miles) N.A.
Arts funding (Dollars per person of state funds spent on arts) 0.3

Leisure and culture

Weather

Annual rainfall (inches) 15.81
% clear days in the area 67%
High temp in July ° F 88.9°
Low temp in Jan ° F 12°

Weather

Meet the neighbors

Median age 31.8
Completed at least some college (% of residents) 67.8%
Married % 62.0%
Divorced % 11.3%
Racial diversity index (100 is national average; higher numbers indicate greater diversity) 55.0

Meet the neighbors