Sitting 39 miles from the Four Corners, Cortez is a southwestern Colorado town where locals can enjoy a rural lifestyle. “We have a small-town atmosphere, and while we have been growing some, you still have peace and quiet,” says Terry McCabe of RE/MAX Mesa Verde Realty, who has 30 years of experience in the area. The town of 8,800 is known for its proximity to some of the best outdoor recreation in Colorado, and it relies on visitors to Mesa Verde National Park, San Juan National Forest and other landmarks to boost its tourism industry. Cortez is home to one of the Four Corners' only major hospitals, a bustling downtown scene and an airport with quick flights to Denver and Phoenix.
While Colorado is known for its snow, Cortez gets a surprising amount even though it sits in the southern part of the state.
Cortez is a quiet rural town with natural beauty in every direction.
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Hiking at Mesa Verde National Park
Like in most Colorado towns, locals like to get outside and enjoy the mountain air. “Outdoor recreation is huge here,” McCabe says. “We have everything you can think of--fishing, hunting, hiking; it’s all right here.” Cortez is located 15 miles south of the San Juan National Forest, where locals can hunt mule deer, elk and more. The area also has hundreds of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. During the winter, locals snowshoe and cross-country ski on the paths at Mesa Verde National Park, which is located just 10 miles from town. The park is home to cliff dwellings of Ancestral Puebloans, which date back to the 13th century. In town, there's Totten Lake for fishing, and golfers can get a round in at Conquistador Golf Course. Parque de Vida is the town’s largest park with sports fields, a skate park and an amphitheater for events. Motocross racing is popular at Cortez BMX.
Totten Lake is a great escape for boating and fishing in Cortez.
Many hiking and walking trails can be found scattered around Cortez.
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New builds and 1920s cottages
Home styles in Cortez vary from Victorian cottages to stucco-sided ranch-style houses. Most properties sit on large lots and have large front and backyards. “You have some older homes from the 1920s downtown then some new builds out in the rural areas,” McCabe says. The median price for a single-family home in Cortez is $340,000.
New builds around Cortez include ranch style homes with wood siding.
Classic cottage style homes are commonly found around Cortez.
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Dining on West Main Street
Despite being a small town, there is no shortage of dining options for Cortez locals downtown. Sushi spots, bakeries and steakhouses line the town’s West Main Street. Locals can park downtown and easily walk to breweries, wine bars, coffee shops and dive bars. While Cortez has plenty of spots to grab food or a drink, the town doesn’t have the shopping options of bigger towns. “We don’t have a mall or anything like that,” McCabe says. “But it’s 2025. If you want to buy something, you just go online and get it in 24 hours, so it’s not a big deal.” Cortez does have a few boutiques along Main as well as national grocery chains.
Main Street Brewery is a favorite among Cortez residents due to their unique craft beers.
Shilo Steakhouse is a popular stop in Cortez, known for serving fresh Colorado beef and more.
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Montezuma-Cortez High has a new campus
Kids in the area attend the Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1, which has a C-plus overall grade on Niche. The district is comprised of 10 schools serving nearly 2,500 students and has a 17-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Teens head to Montezuma-Cortez High School, which has a B-minus grade. The high school opened a new $34 million campus across 35 acres before the 2015-16 school year.
Kemper Elementary School provides great education for the children in Cortez.
Montezuma-Cortez High School has a brand new building for their students.
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Access to the Cortez Municipal Airport
While there are no bus routes around town, Montezuma County offers a door-to-door transportation service for locals who make reservations. The Bustang is an intercity bus service throughout the state that takes residents from Cortez to nearby towns like Durango, Grand Junction and Telluride. The Cortez Municipal Airport is 3 miles outside of town and offers daily flights to Denver and Phoenix. Southwest Memorial Hospital has been the major medical provider in Cortez since 1914.
Cortez Police Department
The town is served by the Cortez Police Department. According to the FBI, violent crime rates in the town have increased over the past two years.
Mild summers and chilly winters
Despite being near the southern border of Colorado, Cortez stays cooler than much of the state due to its elevation of 6,200 feet above sea level. Temperatures reach highs of the upper 80s in the summers and chilly winters have lows in the teens. The city sees an average of 33 inches of snowfall per year, with January being the snowiest month.
Cortez sits in the southern part of Colorado and is known for its chilly winters.
Cotrez is filled with many outdoor opportunities that keeps residents moving all year round.
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Written By
John Moyer
Photography Contributed By
Kody Martin
Video By
Anne Sheridan
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Allen Elmore,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Cortez, CO sell after 85 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Cortez, CO over the last 12 months is $325,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This listing consists of 2 parcels of Commercial property in a prime location! Latest traffic count from CDOT is 13,000 vehicles average per day, nearly the highest in Montezuma County! The second parcel is on the corner of Canyon and Broadway. The parcels are contiguous. Combined, the two lots have 260' of frontage on Broadway. These lots are directly north of the NAPA Auto Parts store and
Discover your dream home in this beautifully renovated 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom affordable gem. Perfectly situated in a quiet neighborhood with unbeatable convenience. Just steps away from city parks, library, and the recreation center. This home offers the ideal blend of comfort, style and convenience. Fully remodeled interior, step into a fresh space with updated flooring, freshly painted walls
Large 1.0 acre Residential Lot! Currently zoned R1 but could possibly changed to R2 as there is a series of duplex apartments to the south. Zoning change would need City of Cortez approval. Currently 2 Cortez Sanitation sewer lines run through the parcel, buyer would need to confirm potential building plans with the City of Cortez and the Cortez Sanitation District. The Sanitation District
Charming 3-Bed, 2-Bath Home on Historic Montezuma Ave – Walk to Everything!Discover the perfect blend of modern updates and historic charm in this beautifully updated single-family home, just steps from downtown shops, restaurants, parks, and scenic trails.Home Highlights:3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Bathrooms – Including a brand-new, beautifully finished bathroomVersatile
Great one acre CRE lot that is adjacent to Hotels, Mini-Storage, Gas and retail. Traffic count at 160 intersection is 23k. Cortez is the county seat of Montezuma County and is situated in the Four Corners region, where the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet. One of the most famous attractions in the Cortez area is Mesa Verde National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is
Quiet country setting about 8 miles North of Cortez. Beautiful Mountain Views. Unfurnished. Most utilities paid and all appliances included. NO SMOKING!!! Landlords live in the other house onsite. 1 year lease required.
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