Summit County
Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper, A-Basin and Lake Dillon, right off I-70.
- County
- Summit (county seat: Breckenridge)
- Base elevation
- About 8,790 to 9,700 ft in the towns
- Population
- About 31,000 (31,055 in the 2020 census)
- Drive from Denver
- 70 to 80 mi ยท about 1.5 to 2 hr
- Nearest airport
- Denver International (DEN)
- Ski areas
- Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Arapahoe Basin
Drive times are typical and change with traffic and weather.
Living in Summit County
What it's like to live in Summit County
Summit County sits on I-70 just west of the Eisenhower Tunnel, about 70 to 80 miles from Denver. It holds Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, Keystone, and Copper Mountain, all a short drive from each other and from Lake Dillon. Breckenridge is the county seat and Silverthorne is the largest town. About 31,000 people live here year-round, and summer is busy too, with the lake, the trails, and about 55 miles of paved recreation path reachable from Frisco.
Homes run from condos near the lifts to large single-family homes on wooded lots. The county assessor's review of sales from July 2022 to June 2024 put the countywide median at about $1.89 million for a single-family home, $1.24 million for a townhome, and $822,000 for a condo, as reported by Summit Daily. Altitude MLS data shows a countywide median sale price of $1,170,000 for 2026 through October 1. There is deed-restricted workforce housing in several towns, and it comes with work and income rules.
Know the tradeoffs before you buy. Short-term rental rules change by address: Breckenridge, Frisco, and Silverthorne cap licenses, Keystone and Copper sit in a resort zone with no cap, and unincorporated neighborhoods have booking limits. I-70 gets slow on winter weekends and in storms, condos carry HOA dues, and wildfire is real here, as the Peak 2 Fire near Breckenridge showed when it forced more than 400 homes to evacuate. I live on the Front Range, so for Summit County I team up with a local agent I trust and stay with you through the whole move.
The map
Every town in this guide
Hover a pin for a quick look. Click to open that town's guide.
Neighborhoods
Where to look in Summit County
Breckenridge
The county seat, a historic mining town at the base of Breckenridge Ski Resort, with the widest range of homes and the highest prices.
Frisco
A small town on Lake Dillon with a busy Main Street, central to every resort in the county.
Silverthorne
The largest town, on the Blue River at I-70, with more single-family homes and the outlets.
Dillon
A lakeside town that moved uphill when the reservoir filled, home to the Dillon Marina.
Keystone
A resort town built around Keystone Resort, incorporated in 2024, mostly condos and townhomes.
Copper Mountain
An unincorporated ski village on I-70, almost all condos in three base villages.
Get outside
Things to do in Summit County
- 01
Breckenridge Ski Resort
Five peaks, from Peak 6 to Peak 10, with Peak 6 terrain added in 2013.
- 02
Arapahoe Basin
A high ski area with a base at 10,520 feet and a summit at 13,050 feet.
- 03
Keystone night skiing
Keystone has the only night skiing in the area.
- 04
Copper Mountain Resort
Opened in 1972, with terrain that gets harder as you move east across the mountain.
- 05
Lake Dillon
A 3,233-acre reservoir with marinas in Dillon and Frisco.
- 06
Summit County recpath
About 55 miles of paved path for biking and walking, reachable from Frisco.
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FAQ
Summit County questions, answered
How far is Summit County from Denver?
About 70 miles to Silverthorne and 80 miles to Breckenridge on I-70 through the Eisenhower Tunnel. Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours, and more on winter weekends or in storms.
Can I short-term rent a home in Summit County?
It depends on the address. Breckenridge, Frisco, and Silverthorne cap licenses. Keystone and the resort zone at Copper have no license cap. Unincorporated neighborhoods allow 35 bookings a year. Rules change, so confirm with the town or county before you buy.
What about property taxes and HOA dues?
Colorado taxes homes on a share of their value, then local mill levies apply. For 2025 the residential assessment rate was 7.05 percent for schools and 6.25 percent for local government. Most condos and many townhomes also carry HOA dues, so get the mill levy and the HOA budget before you write an offer.
Can I live in Summit County year-round?
Yes. Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, and Dillon are full towns with schools, groceries, and services, and summer brings the lake, trails, and festivals. Winters are long, and spring and fall are quieter.
How high is Summit County?
The towns sit between about 8,790 feet in Silverthorne and 9,712 feet at the Copper Mountain base. Expect thinner air, stronger sun, and longer winters than the Front Range.
Which school district serves Summit County?
Summit School District RE-1 runs the public schools in the county. Confirm the school for any address with the district.