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. Montezuma County leads at 73/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Colorado ranks #34 for homesteading and #22 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. 1Montezuma County73
    2. 2Routt County73
    3. 3Larimer County72
    4. 4Archuleta County69
    5. 5Costilla County69
    6. 6Fremont County67
    7. 7El Paso County66
    8. 8Delta County66
    9. 9La Plata County66
    10. 10Arapahoe County65
    11. 11Teller County65
    12. 12Garfield County64
    13. 13Park County64
    14. 14Mesa County63
    15. 15Huerfano County63
    16. 16Ouray County63
    17. 17Lake County63
    18. 18Custer County63
    19. 19Montrose County62
    20. 20Gunnison County61
    21. 21Eagle County61
    22. 22Grand County61
    23. 23Chaffee County60
    24. 24Dolores County60
    25. 25Conejos County60
    26. 26Boulder County58
    27. 27Pitkin County58
    28. 28Summit County57
    29. 29Gilpin County57
    30. 30Rio Grande County56
    31. 31Jefferson County55
    32. 32Las Animas County55
    33. 33Elbert County55
    34. 34Jackson County55
    35. 35Moffat County53
    36. 36San Miguel County52
    37. 37Saguache County51
    38. 38Rio Blanco County51
    39. 39Logan County51
    40. 40Mineral County50
    41. 41Clear Creek County50
    42. 42Pueblo County49
    43. 43Adams County46
    44. 44Hinsdale County46
    45. 45Alamosa County46
    46. 46Weld County46
    47. 47Yuma County45
    48. 48Douglas County45
    49. 49Crowley County43
    50. 50Kit Carson County42
    51. 51Morgan County42
    52. 52Baca County41
    53. 53Washington County41
    54. 54Phillips County40
    55. 55Otero County39
    56. 56Sedgwick County39
    57. 57Lincoln County39
    58. 58Prowers County38
    59. 59Cheyenne County38
    60. 60Broomfield County37
    61. 61Denver County37
    62. 62San Juan County36
    63. 63Bent County36
    64. 64Kiowa County34

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