Basalt, CO vs Fairmount, CO

Fairmount is moderately more affordable than Basalt, with a 11.1% lower cost of living index. Basalt scores 196 compared to 176 for Fairmount, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Basalt can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Basalt is $2,188/month compared to $2,505/month in Fairmount — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Basalt has cheaper rent, Fairmount actually has lower median home values ($772,600 vs $1,148,100).

Median household income in Basalt is $106,000 compared to $163,785 in Fairmount (-35.3%). Fairmount offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Basalt spend roughly 24.8% of their income on rent, more than the 18.4% in Fairmount.