Population 20,178 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Chaffee County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Chaffee County
Household size in Chaffee County
| Period | Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.20 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.21 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.22 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.98 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.23 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Chaffee County are small: just 1.98 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. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.20, a much bigger shift than 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 Chaffee County
| Period | Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.9 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.4 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.1 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.0 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Chaffee County skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 44.9 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Chaffee County
| Period | Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Chaffee County: 5.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Chaffee County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Colorado counties.
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 Chaffee County
Renters in Chaffee County
| Period | Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.1% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.3% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.2% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.9% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Chaffee County own their homes; 25.9% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About four in ten owners (40.3%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the center. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.8 points, 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 Chaffee County
| Period | Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 23.7% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Chaffee County: 13.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has fallen 7.9 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Chaffee County
| Period | Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +7 | +6 |
Chaffee County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1988, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the east has the oldest housing.
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 Chaffee County
| Period | Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $609 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $834 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $916 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,890 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,281 | +$912 | +$606 |
Rent in Chaffee County runs $1,890 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,281 a month from 2006–10, a 210% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northwest and lowest in the southeast.
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 Chaffee County
Bachelor's degrees in Chaffee County
| Period | Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.6% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.7% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.0% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.8% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +15.1 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Chaffee County is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (47.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 15.1 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the north.
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 Chaffee County
| Period | Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.5% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.2% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.4% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.8% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Chaffee County: 94.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.3 points, as it has nationally.
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 Chaffee County
| Period | Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.2%, unemployment in Chaffee County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Chaffee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaffee County | 1.98 | 47.0 | 5.3% | 25.9% | 13.2% | 1988 | $1,890 | 47.8% | 94.8% | 5.2% |
| Gunnison County | 1.89 | 39.7 | 5.6% | 33.2% | 21.9% | 1986 | $1,435 | 62.5% | 97.4% | 5.7% |
| Delta County | 2.42 | 48.6 | 8.6% | 22.1% | 11.9% | 1981 | $1,162 | 26.4% | 91.1% | 2.7% |
| Grand County | 2.14 | 40.0 | 11.1% | 29.7% | 15.6% | 1986 | $1,246 | 37.6% | 94.6% | 1.6% |
| Lane County | 2.05 | 49.9 | 10.7% | 11.1% | 19.2% | 1958 | $590 | 24.5% | 94.9% | 0.4% |
| Sevier County | 2.96 | 36.3 | 6.7% | 22.2% | 14.5% | 1978 | $841 | 23.5% | 93.2% | 3.9% |
| Rush County | 2.08 | 45.0 | 6.9% | 22.4% | 17.5% | 1948 | $686 | 20.8% | 90.6% | 3.9% |
| Ellsworth County | 2.28 | 44.8 | 8.7% | 19.8% | 21.3% | 1952 | $734 | 22.7% | 94.2% | 1.9% |
| Morris County | 2.07 | 47.5 | 6.5% | 19.9% | 14.2% | 1959 | $721 | 29.5% | 93.9% | 2.5% |
| Osage County | 2.43 | 44.1 | 8.4% | 17.6% | 11.9% | 1972 | $792 | 21.7% | 93.8% | 2.1% |
| Franklin County | 2.52 | 39.8 | 11.5% | 27.8% | 8.4% | 1973 | $1,008 | 24.7% | 92.3% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Hertford County, NC · Pamlico County, NC · Pacific County, WA · Owyhee County, ID · Owen County, IN · Orange County, VT · Nicholas County, WV · Neshoba County, MS · Hocking County, OH · Hill County, MT
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 Chaffee 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.