Population 5,862,189 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Colorado
Household size in Colorado
| Period | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.03 |
The average household in Colorado has 2.54 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.57, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in eastern Colorado and smallest in southwestern Colorado.
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 Colorado
| Period | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +2.3 |
At 39.1, the median age in Colorado is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.9, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in northeastern Colorado, the oldest in southwestern Colorado.
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 Colorado
| Period | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Colorado than nationally: 9.3%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Colorado has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of states.
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 Colorado
Renters in Colorado
| Period | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in Colorado rent their homes (33.8%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 30.5% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.4 points, as it has nationally.
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 Colorado
| Period | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Colorado: 7.3% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 3.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few states have a lower vacancy rate: only four of 51.
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 Colorado
| Period | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Colorado is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1988, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Colorado has newer homes than at least four in five states.
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 Colorado
| Period | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$912 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Colorado costs $1,963 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $912 a month since 2006–10, up 87%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in eastern Colorado; the most affordable are in southwestern Colorado.
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 Colorado
Bachelor's degrees in Colorado
| Period | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Colorado is highly educated: more than four in ten adults 25 and older (45.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Few states have a higher share of college graduates: only two of 51.
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 Colorado
| Period | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Colorado is above the national rate: 92.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Colorado
| Period | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Colorado than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Colorado compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 2.54 | 39.1 | 9.3% | 33.8% | 7.3% | 1988 | $1,963 | 45.9% | 92.8% | 4.6% |
| Wyoming | 2.39 | 40.2 | 9.2% | 28.2% | 12.1% | 1981 | $1,091 | 30.6% | 94.1% | 3.8% |
| New Mexico | 2.63 | 40.5 | 14.4% | 30.0% | 11.9% | 1985 | $1,188 | 30.2% | 87.5% | 6.0% |
| Utah | 3.11 | 33.1 | 8.9% | 29.8% | 7.3% | 1991 | $1,701 | 38.3% | 93.5% | 3.5% |
| Nebraska | 2.51 | 38.3 | 10.4% | 33.5% | 7.8% | 1975 | $1,159 | 34.9% | 91.8% | 3.1% |
| Kansas | 2.53 | 38.8 | 10.5% | 32.8% | 9.7% | 1976 | $1,159 | 35.6% | 91.7% | 4.0% |
| South Dakota | 2.48 | 38.9 | 10.7% | 31.4% | 10.3% | 1981 | $1,000 | 32.5% | 93.1% | 3.1% |
| Oklahoma | 2.58 | 38.0 | 12.0% | 34.2% | 11.3% | 1982 | $1,127 | 28.9% | 89.3% | 5.0% |
| Idaho | 2.79 | 38.2 | 9.3% | 27.9% | 9.3% | 1989 | $1,407 | 31.7% | 92.1% | 3.8% |
| Nevada | 2.73 | 40.0 | 12.8% | 40.0% | 9.0% | 1995 | $1,787 | 27.5% | 87.1% | 6.9% |
| Iowa | 2.43 | 39.8 | 10.0% | 28.3% | 8.8% | 1971 | $1,020 | 32.3% | 93.0% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Alaska · Hawaii · Puerto Rico · Alabama · Wisconsin · Washington · Vermont · Texas · Oregon · North Dakota
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 Colorado. 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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