Home

It goes without saying that Steamboat Springs is a ski resort town. But a look at 2000 Census data shows Steamboat may be less of a resort town than other resort towns in Colorado, especially when it comes to housing data.

True, among the 350 or so communities in the state, Steamboat ranks in the top 15 percent in the amount of housing per population, the percentage of housing that is seasonal or vacation homes and the percentage of housing units that are vacant much of the year.

But compared to other ski resort towns, Steamboat's numbers are modest. Steamboat has 65 homes for every 100 residents, higher than the state average of 42 homes per 100 residents. But consider that towns such as Dillon, Vail, Telluride and Winter Park all have more homes than people.

The census shows seasonal vacation homes make up 19 percent of Steamboat's housing, nearly five times the statewide average of 4 percent. But vacation homes make up much greater percentages of the markets in Breckenridge, 68 percent; Dillon, 66 percent; and Winter Park, 57 percent. Even in Aspen, known for its progressive housing initiatives, vacation homes make up 25 percent of the housing.

The census also shows Steamboat has grown its base of permanent residents in the past 10 years. The number of occupied homes increased 51 percent, while the number of vacant homes decreased 13 percent. In 1990, only 50 percent of the available housing in Steamboat was occupied. Now, 64 percent is. Ten years ago, seasonal or vacation housing made up nearly 41 percent of the total market. Now, such housing is just 19 percent of the market.

What all the numbers mean is more people are choosing to call Steamboat home instead of a place to spend a few days, a few weeks or a few months. There are fewer vacant homes than there were 10 years ago. More people own homes here, and for more of those homeowners, Steamboat is their primary residence. While the numbers are encouraging in many respects, they don't tell the whole story.

Yes, homeownership has risen in Steamboat. But those homeowners have increasingly come from a smaller and smaller group of people whose wealth has allowed them to keep pace with the dramatic increase in housing costs here. Unfortunately, the Census housing data reveal nothing about those forced to leave Steamboat in the past 10 years because they couldn't afford to live here.

It's good that the census shows Steamboat has achieved a better balance between housing dedicated to vacation use and housing for more permanent residents. The challenge in the next 10 years is to continue to work on that balance but in a way that allows a broader group of people to find housing here.