Relocating To Norwood Colorado

Are you considering relocating Norwood? Let us help you find the information you’re looking for!

There is something special about the community of Norwood. Residents who move here leave behind the hustle and bustle to enjoy Norwood’s relaxed atmosphere and friendly community. Norwood is rich in history and culture with its century old ranching heritage and abundance of farming, ranching and agricultural opportunities. From its vibrant locally owned businesses, up and coming entrepreneurs as well as community visionaries, Norwood is attracting families, small business owners and start ups from across the country who are relocating to western Colorado seeking a better quality of life.

Norwood, Colorado Quick Facts

Year Incorporated:

1903

Elevation:

7,011 feet

Median Age:

47.5

Average Snowfall:

60 inches per year

Cost Of Living:

+5.4% > U.S. average (2016)

Warmest Months:

July and August

Average Rent:

$947

Population Change:

+30.8% since 2000

Geography & Climate

The Town of Norwood sits on top of Wright’s Mesa at 7,011 feet, surrounded by wide-open fields, and juniper, pinion and ponderosa forests. Wright’s Mesa is bordered by the San Miguel River to the North, desert canyons to the West, and the San Juan Mountains to the South and East.

Norwood averages 245 sunny days per year. The warmest month in Norwood is July where temperatures average a high of 84 degrees and a low of 52 degrees. Norwood’s coldest months are December and January which average a high of 39 degrees and a low of 13 degrees. Norwood has approximately 80 days of precipitation each year, and receives on average, 17 inches of rainfall and 74 inches of snow per year.

Demographics

Norwood has a population of 624 with a population density of approximately 2,000 per square mile. The median age of Norwood residents is 47.5 with 53.2% of the population being female and 46.8% male. Norwood’s population is 93.8% white and 6.3% hispanic.

There are approximately 239 households in Norwood, a median household income of approximately $50,000 and an average household size of 2.61. Norwood’s median home cost is $249,700 with home appreciation over the past 10 years has been 7.1% The overall cost of living in Norwood is 5.4% above the national average and 26.1% lower than the average cost of living Colorado.

*Information courtesy of BestPlaces

Economy

Norwood is a self-sustaining community whose locally owned businesses are at the forefront of the community’s success. Norwood’s businesses provide the community with a variety of every day goods, services and amenities, which contribute to a comfortable way of life and allows residents to support one another.

The unemployment rate in Norwood is 3.4% and recent job growth is positive at an increase of 1.9%. Future job growth over the next ten years is expected to reach 43.8%. Norwood’s sales tax is 6.9% and income tax is 4.9%. Norwood’s growing economy is a product of the community’s willingness to support its local businesses.

*Information courtesy of BestPlaces

Employment

Norwood’s proximity to Telluride combined with its affordable cost of living make it an ideal community for those looking to earn a living and benefit from Telluride’s vibrant tourism economy, while maintaining a quality work, life balance.

Skillful West End is a project that seeks to help curb job losses in the area and connect local talent to local business in San Miguel and Montrose counties. Funding is provided by Skillful Colorado, an initiative of the Markle Foundation, and the Telluride Foundation.

Job seekers often find open positions within the Classifieds section of the Telluride Daily Planet / Norwood Post. Local Facebook groups and job boards are also popular resources for job seekers.

Education

The Norwood School District serves western San Miguel and south eastern Montrose Counties with approximately 220 students. The Norwood School District exceeds expectations with a graduation rate of 100 percent over a four year rate. The Norwood School District also received an “Accreditation with Distinction” rating by the Colorado State Accountability Report in 2018 and 2019, the highest rating from the Colorado Department of Education.

The Wright Stuff Foundation has continued to serve the critical needs of working families in Norwood, Nucla, Naturita, Redvale and surrounding communities in southwest Colorado by offering early and continuing education programs. PRIME TIME Early Learning Center is dedicated to offering high quality early childhood education programs with a focus on social/emotional competencies. Before-and-After-School-Enrichment (BASE), Explore! teen programs, and Adult Education are also included.

There are numerous opportunities for continued learning at the Lone Cone Library, a tax supported stand-alone library in the Lone Cone Library District of San Miguel County. The Library reopened to the public at its new facility on May 6th, 2019 and was also recently named the 2019 Library of the Year by the Colorado Association of Libraries. The Library contains 10,000+ volumes, 1700+ dvd items, and 600+ audio books, and also offers references, fax & copy services, computer work stations, free WiFi, high speed internet access, programs for all ages, meeting room spaces, and study rooms.

Government

The Town of Norwood is located in the west end of San Miguel County. Below is a list of local government offices:

Town of Norwood
1670 Naturita St. / P.O. Box 528
Norwood, CO 81423
(970) 327-4288

San Miguel County
333 W Colorado Ave. 3rd Floor
Telluride, CO 81435
(970) 728-3844

Sheriff’s Office
(970) 728-1911

Clerk & Recorder
(970) 728-3954

San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation
P.O. Box 3140
226 E. Pacific Ave.
Telluride, Co 81435
(970) 239-6034

GMUG National Forest
P.O. Box 388 / 1150 Forest
Norwood, CO 81423
(970) 327-4261

Medical Services

Norwood has a wide variety of medical services ranging from healthcare and emergency services to dental care, behavioral health, physical therapy and pharmacy.

Uncompahgre Medical Center’s family physicians and medical support staff offer a wide range of services and provides comprehensive primary and preventative affordable healthcare care from infants to geriatrics with emergency ground and air services available when needed.

Uncompahgre Medical Center’s services include:
Affordable Health Care
Dental Care
Behavioral Health
Urgent Care
Pharmacy

The Norwood Fire Protection District, which includes volunteer fire, EMT, as well as Search and Rescue, covers an area of 380 square miles and serves a population of approximately 2,500 in south central Montrose County and central San Miguel County.

The Norwood Fire Protection District (NFPD) is an “all-hazard” fire district that responds to the needs of the community regardless of the nature of the incident. In 2018, the NFPD responded to 399 calls which are answered by our extremely dedicated 40-member volunteer members. This group of volunteers have dedicated their lives to serving their families, friends, neighbors and community without any expected gratitude or rewards.

Transportation

The San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) provides daily bus services from Norwood to Telluride with additional stops in Placerville, Sawpit and Lawson Hill. The cost to ride the bus to Telluride is $2, one-way, with pickup and drop off locations at the San Miguel County Fairgrounds, along Highway 145 at Pine Street and Lucerne Street, and the commuter parking at the top of Norwood Hill.

Monday-Friday Schedule:

Norwood to Telluride:
Depart Norwood: 6:55 am / 7:25 am
Arrive at Telluride: 8:00 am / 8:30 am

Telluride to Norwood:
Depart Telluride: 5:05 pm / 5:20 pm
Arrive at Norwood: 6:00 pm / 6:15 pm

Weekend Schedule

Norwood to Telluride:
Depart Norwood: 7:30 am
Arrive at Telluride: 8:30 am

Telluride to Norwood:
Depart Telluride: 5:05 pm
Arrive at Norwood: 6:00 pm

For more information on SMART and bus schedules, please visit www.colorado.gov/pacific/smarttelluride/smart-schedules

Investing

In additional being named a Certified Small Business Community, Norwood and the communities that make up Colorado’s West End are now part of the 126 urban and rural “Opportunity Zones” in Colorado. These Opportunity Zones provide federal tax incentives for investors looking to invest in Colorado’s rural communities.

Norwood is a prime location for those looking to invest in Colorado’s rural areas. With the resources to support sustainable development, unlimited real estate opportunities, broadband internet and a strong workforce, there is virtually no limit for investment opportunities in Norwood.

For more information on investing in Norwood, please visit:

Arts and Culture

The community of Norwood is rich in arts with a number of non profit organizations bringing art and cultural opportunities to children and adults alike.

Working in partnership with organizations including Norwood Park and Recreation District and the Lone Cone Library, Wide Sky Art Collective aims to enrich Norwood’s community with quality arts and learning opportunities for all ages, as well as facilitate experiences of creativity and cultural exchange, and empower artists and audiences to cultivate a local arts economy.

The Lone Cone Library offers additional programs for children including a drama club, as well as youth and adult arts and crafts, and dance classes. The Norwood Park and Recreation District offers events including Saturday Night at The Livery, which brings educational enlightenment and culture to the community through author’s book readings, travel stories, film, documentaries and a variety of social events.

History

Many of Norwood’s pioneers discovered the area while traveling west in search of land to homestead after leaving the mining communities of Telluride and Placerville behind. Wright’s Mesa was prime for agriculture and pioneer families went to work farming and raising livestock. Norwood quickly became a major provider of goods for the miners working in Telluride. We invite you to learn more about Norwood’s history by visiting Norwood’s History Museum, located with the old Log Cabin, Norwood’s first building.

For more information on the history of Norwood and Wright’s Mesa, please visit:

Outdoor Recreation

Norwood is the hidden gem of Colorado for its abundance of summer and winter activities. Norwood is an ideal location for outdoor recreation with its mild climate. With thousands of acres of BLM and National Forest public land, featuring varying terrain from high desert to rugged mountains and everything in between, Wright’s Mesa is the ultimate playground for outdoor lovers and enthusiasts alike.

For more information on recreation around Norwood, please visit:

Local Food Initiative

The heart of Norwood shines through its local food initiative. Highlighting Norwood’s farming and ranching heritage, F.R.E.S.H (Food Resources Encompassing a Social Hub) is the local food cooperative positioned at the forefront of Norwood’s the local food initiative. F.R.E.S.H is a grassroots program that aims to bring fresh, organic and locally grown produce to Norwood as well as surrounding communities through partnerships with local farms and ranches.

For more information on Norwood’s Local Food Initiative, please visit:

Dark Sky Community

Norwood, Colorado has been designated as the newest International Dark Sky Community by the International Dark-Sky Association. Norwood is the first International Dark-Sky Association “Dark Sky Community” on the Western Slope of Colorado and the second Dark Sky Community in the Colorado. Norwood is now part of 22 International Dark Sky Communities around the world, 15 of which are in the US, with others being in Canada, Denmark, Germany, Scotland, and the U.K.

To learn more about Norwood’s Dark Sky Community, visit: