Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · Colorado

Best Places to Live in Colorado

Every Colorado county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Routt County leads at 69/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Colorado ranks #36 for homesteading and #31 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in Colorado

    How Colorado treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 64 Colorado counties, ranked

    1. 1Routt County69
    2. 2Costilla County69
    3. 3Delta County68
    4. 4Archuleta County68
    5. 5Montezuma County65
    6. 6Fremont County64
    7. 7La Plata County64
    8. 8Huerfano County64
    9. 9Mesa County63
    10. 10Custer County63
    11. 11Ouray County63
    12. 12Gunnison County63
    13. 13Eagle County63
    14. 14Lake County63
    15. 15Teller County63
    16. 16Garfield County62
    17. 17Dolores County62
    18. 18Conejos County61
    19. 19El Paso County60
    20. 20Summit County59
    21. 21Montrose County58
    22. 22Chaffee County58
    23. 23Park County58
    24. 24Rio Grande County57
    25. 25Grand County57
    26. 26Pitkin County57
    27. 27Saguache County57
    28. 28Larimer County55
    29. 29Las Animas County55
    30. 30Arapahoe County55
    31. 31Moffat County53
    32. 32Jackson County53
    33. 33San Miguel County52
    34. 34Rio Blanco County52
    35. 35Mineral County51
    36. 36Logan County51
    37. 37Pueblo County49
    38. 38Gilpin County49
    39. 39Elbert County48
    40. 40Alamosa County47
    41. 41Douglas County47
    42. 42Boulder County46
    43. 43Clear Creek County46
    44. 44Yuma County46
    45. 45Hinsdale County46
    46. 46Jefferson County44
    47. 47Weld County44
    48. 48Kit Carson County43
    49. 49Baca County43
    50. 50Washington County42
    51. 51Morgan County42
    52. 52Phillips County42
    53. 53Crowley County42
    54. 54Otero County41
    55. 55Sedgwick County41
    56. 56Lincoln County40
    57. 57Prowers County40
    58. 58Adams County40
    59. 59Cheyenne County38
    60. 60Broomfield County38
    61. 61Denver County38
    62. 62Bent County38
    63. 63San Juan County38
    64. 64Kiowa County36

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