Urblytica 30 days free banner
Urblytica - Free Event Listing
List Business List Event

Castle Rock, Colorado

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

70
Overall Score

Castle Rock, Colorado, named after its prominent castle-shaped rock outcropping near the center of town, is a vibrant and rapidly expanding home rule municipality serving as the county seat of Douglas County. Founded in 1874 and incorporated in 1881, the town has evolved from a historic mining and railroad hub into one of the most desirable and fastest-growing communities along the Front Range urban corridor. Blending a distinct small-town western charm with modern upscale developments, Castle Rock attracts families and professionals seeking an active lifestyle nestled between Denver and Colorado Springs.

About Colorado

Colorado is characterized by its diverse geography, ranging from the Rocky Mountains to the Eastern Plains, offering a lifestyle that blends natural beauty with community charm and extensive outdoor recreation opportunities. The state's economy is robust and diversified, with major industries including aerospace, bioscience, technology, energy and natural resources, financial services, and a strong tourism sector. Living in Colorado is generally more expensive than the national average, with housing costs being a primary driver. The climate is diverse, featuring four distinct seasons with abundant sunshine, though it can experience rapid weather shifts, including hot summers, cold winters, and occasional extreme weather events like flash floods and strong winds.

83,815
Population
$85K
Avg Salary
115
Cost Index
70.4
Quality Score
How this 70/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 88 / 100 88.0 30% 26.4
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 115.0 25.0 25% 6.3
Economy & jobs Median household income: $145,197 Income needed to live here: $66,996 Unemployment rate: 3.7% 89.4 20% 17.9
Growth Population growth rate: 2.72% Job growth rate: 2.5% 81.5 15% 12.2
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 76 / 100 76.0 10% 7.6
Overall score 70.4

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (ungrounded) (q=55, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 11 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

Businesses in Castle Rock

Featured local businesses in Castle Rock.

Put your business in front of people moving to Castle Rock Featured businesses appear here for everyone researching Castle Rock. Add a featured spot to your banner package, or start with a free listing.

Quality Scores

Business
76
Livability
85
Affordability
70
Growth
80

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Castle Rock is notably higher than the national average, driven largely by housing demand, high median household incomes, and robust local economic growth. While everyday expenses like groceries and utilities track relatively close to state norms, housing costs—both for purchasing single-family homes and renting apartments—remain well above typical US baselines. This higher cost structure is offset by a booming local economy, low poverty rates, and high average compensation across professional sectors.

Average Rent
$1,772/mo
Groceries
$400/mo
Transport
$120/mo
Utilities
$180/mo
Healthcare
$230/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$45.00
Cinema ticket
$14.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$22.00
Monthly groceries
$400.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$150.00

Salary Insights

Castle Rock boasts a dynamic and resilient job market anchored by professional, scientific, and technical services, healthcare, retail trade, and education. Major local employers include AdventHealth Castle Rock, the Douglas County School District, and numerous boutique firms, alongside a thriving community of entrepreneurs and remote workers taking advantage of the area's high-tech infrastructure. Job growth remains strong as commercial developments expand within business parks and retail centers like The Meadows and downtown.

The average salary in Castle Rock is $85,000 per year. You would need approximately $66,996 to live comfortably.

Top Industries

Retail Trade +1.50% Healthcare & Social Assistance +2.80% Accommodation and Food Services +2.20% Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services +3.10% Educational Services +2.00%

Climate

🌡️
50°F
Avg Temp
☀️
84°F
Summer High
❄️
17°F
Winter Low
🌧️
20.10"
Annual Rain
💧
45.00%
Humidity
🌤️
279
Sunny Days

Transport

Transportation in Castle Rock is predominantly car-dependent, with most residents driving alone or carpooling for their daily commutes along the Interstate 25 corridor. The average commute time sits at approximately 28 minutes, connecting locals to employment centers in Denver, Lone Tree, and the Tech Center. While public transit options are limited compared to core urban centers, the town features developing bike paths and pedestrian networks within its master-planned neighborhoods.

29 min
Avg Commute
11.00/10
Transit Score
64.00/10
Walkability
High
Car Dependency

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Ranked as one of the safest cities and suburbs in Colorado with low violent and property crime rates per FBI and SafeWise data.
Exceptional median household income of $145,197, outperforming state and national benchmarks significantly.
Robust outdoor amenity network featuring over 20 parks, 80 miles of trails, and the iconic Rock Park.
Top-rated healthcare infrastructure anchored by AdventHealth Castle Rock, a designated Level III trauma center with an 'A' safety grade.
Thriving local business environment and downtown district offering high-end dining, shopping, and community festivals.
Drawbacks
Cost of living and housing expenses run significantly higher than the national average, impacting affordability.
High car dependency with limited public mass transit options, leading to heavy reliance on I-25 for commuting.
Rapid population growth has intensified traffic congestion along key local arteries and the main interstate corridors.
Average rent and home purchase prices place a heavy financial burden on lower-income service workers and young adults.
Strict water conservation and growth management policies can face friction as the municipality approaches buildout caps.

Questions about Castle Rock

What people ask about living in and moving to Castle Rock, Colorado.

Gathering the most common questions about Castle Rock…

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

Get quotes from local pros in Castle Rock

Tell us what you need and we’ll pass it to companies that serve your area. It’s free, and there’s no obligation.

Compare Castle Rock with any city

See how it stacks up on cost, income, and quality of life.

Start Comparing

Sponsored