Population 5,549 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bent County
Household size in Bent County
| Period | Bent County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.35 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.04 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.19 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Bent County are small: just 2.28 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.35 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Bent County
| Period | Bent County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.2 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.5 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.7 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Bent County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.7, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.5, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Bent County
| Period | Bent County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.7% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.7% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.6% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Bent County: 14.6% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 3.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Colorado's 64 counties, only two have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Bent County
Renters in Bent County
| Period | Bent County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.6% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.7% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.4% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.8% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Bent County is just as common as it is nationally: 34.8% of households rent. Among homeowners, 50.8% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the northeast. The renter share is up 2.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Bent County
| Period | Bent County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 23.2% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Bent County than nationally: 12.8%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.0 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Bent County
| Period | Bent County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1963 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Bent County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1963, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1954 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southwest.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Bent County
| Period | Bent County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $586 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $700 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $639 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,203 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$616 | +$912 | +$606 |
Rent in Bent County runs $1,203 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $616 a month since 2006–10, up 105%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 33.0% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Bent County
Bachelor's degrees in Bent County
| Period | Bent County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Bent County: 16.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.8 points, mirroring the country. Only one other Colorado county has a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Bent County
| Period | Bent County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.9% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.9% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.6% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.6% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Bent County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.7 points, in line with the national trend. Only two of Colorado's 64 counties have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Bent County
| Period | Bent County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.0% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.0 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Bent County is close to the national rate: 6.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Colorado as a whole (4.6%). Unemployment is down 9.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Bent County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bent County | 2.28 | 42.7 | 14.6% | 34.8% | 12.8% | 1963 | $1,203 | 16.0% | 83.6% | 6.0% |
| Otero County | 2.47 | 41.0 | 12.9% | 31.1% | 14.6% | 1959 | $862 | 20.0% | 88.8% | 6.8% |
| Prowers County | 2.51 | 37.4 | 11.5% | 32.9% | 14.5% | 1968 | $865 | 19.2% | 86.8% | 5.0% |
| Crowley County | 3.58 | 39.1 | 9.2% | 30.5% | 13.5% | 1955 | $1,041 | 10.1% | 78.6% | 4.5% |
| Hamilton County | 3.28 | 33.7 | 20.1% | 22.9% | 24.0% | 1970 | $773 | 20.7% | 80.1% | 3.0% |
| Kearny County | 2.69 | 36.2 | 12.0% | 28.3% | 11.6% | 1973 | $1,039 | 18.5% | 81.7% | 2.2% |
| Custer County | 2.08 | 53.4 | 5.1% | 14.7% | 43.7% | 1994 | $1,025 | 43.3% | 93.9% | 3.3% |
| Finney County | 2.92 | 33.3 | 15.9% | 35.1% | 10.0% | 1978 | $1,069 | 18.5% | 70.8% | 3.8% |
| Saguache County | 1.98 | 50.1 | 10.4% | 23.1% | 13.4% | 1987 | $940 | 30.9% | 91.8% | 9.2% |
| Hodgeman County | 2.38 | 49.0 | 7.5% | 20.9% | 15.5% | 1957 | $937 | 30.2% | 95.5% | 0.6% |
| Edwards County | 2.35 | 44.6 | 11.8% | 20.8% | 24.5% | 1947 | $736 | 19.7% | 85.7% | 7.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Daggett County, UT · Pike County, AR · Pennington County, MN · Pecos County, TX · Chouteau County, MT · Ontonagon County, MI · Lake of the Woods County, MN · Custer County, ID · Lake County, MN · LaSalle Parish, LA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Bent County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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