Population 44,147 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Golden
Household size in Golden
| Period | Golden | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.58 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.66 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.68 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.44 | 2.57 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | −0.01 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Golden run small, averaging 2.44 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.28, even as the national average fell.
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 Golden
| Period | Golden | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7 | 36.7 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.1 | 37.3 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.8 | 38.0 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.2 | 38.5 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.5 | +1.8 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Golden are younger than 39.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has dropped from 40.7 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the southwest.
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 Golden
| Period | Golden | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 10.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 11.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 9.8% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 9.6% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Golden: 8.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has risen 1.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Golden
Renters in Golden
| Period | Golden | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.0% | 33.5% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.7% | 36.4% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.0% | 36.1% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.9% | 35.9% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +2.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Golden is about as common as it is nationally: 32.9% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the Denver area overall (35.9%). Among homeowners, 37.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest.
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 Golden
| Period | Golden | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 8.5% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 6.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 5.5% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 6.0% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −2.5 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Golden than nationally: 6.4%, against 9.6% for the U.S. That is in line with the rest of the Denver area.
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 Golden
| Period | Golden | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1980 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1981 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1982 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1987 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +8 | +7 | +6 |
The typical home in Golden was built around 1983, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Golden
| Period | Golden | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,068 | $1,128 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,228 | $1,245 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,614 | $1,606 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,254 | $2,181 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,186 | +$1,053 | +$912 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Golden costs $2,254 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,186 a month since 2006–10, up 111%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 34.5% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the center.
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 Golden
Bachelor's degrees in Golden
| Period | Golden | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.5% | 38.1% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 55.6% | 40.0% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.7% | 43.5% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 61.6% | 49.1% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.1 pts | +11.0 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Golden is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (61.6%) 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 9.1 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
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 Golden
| Period | Golden | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.8% | 88.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.2% | 89.8% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.7% | 91.1% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.5% | 92.1% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Golden: 97.5% 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 1.7 points, mirroring the country.
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 Golden
| Period | Golden | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.2% | 7.5% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Golden runs below the national rate: 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 1.7 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).
Golden compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden | 2.44 | 39.2 | 8.5% | 32.9% | 6.4% | 1983 | $2,254 | 61.6% | 97.5% | 4.6% |
| West Pleasant View | 2.29 | 37.7 | 8.8% | 50.6% | 5.3% | 1980 | $2,064 | 34.8% | 94.5% | 4.6% |
| Applewood | 2.42 | 44.5 | 6.6% | 17.1% | 4.7% | 1972 | $2,177 | 72.1% | 99.3% | 3.3% |
| Fairmount | 2.58 | 44.3 | 4.8% | 7.9% | 2.4% | 1988 | $2,711 | 67.6% | 97.8% | 1.9% |
| Idledale | 2.21 | 56.0 | 5.0% | 15.5% | 11.2% | 1969 | $2,341 | 62.9% | 96.0% | 4.1% |
| Mount Vernon Club Place | 2.10 | 53.3 | 4.3% | 10.3% | 7.4% | 1988 | $2,153 | 65.4% | 99.2% | 3.9% |
| Wheat Ridge | 2.15 | 41.9 | 7.8% | 45.3% | 6.0% | 1972 | $1,692 | 49.2% | 95.2% | 5.0% |
| Lakewood | 2.32 | 40.2 | 9.5% | 37.3% | 5.5% | 1978 | $2,061 | 46.3% | 94.6% | 4.1% |
| Edgewater | 2.11 | 36.4 | 9.6% | 58.2% | 8.6% | 1971 | $1,632 | 41.3% | 89.4% | 6.1% |
| Arvada | 2.55 | 41.3 | 7.3% | 24.0% | 5.2% | 1983 | $2,215 | 51.6% | 95.3% | 3.6% |
| Kittredge | 2.88 | 38.6 | 1.3% | 2.8% | 28.1% | 1952 | $2,078 | 77.2% | 97.1% | 10.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Avon, IN · Woonsocket, RI · Winder, GA · Wentzville, MO · Vestavia Hills, AL · The Acreage, FL · St. Charles, IL · Pine Bluff, AR · North Augusta, SC · Gig Harbor, WA
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 Golden. 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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