Population 579,377 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jefferson County
Household size in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.46 | 2.58 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.66 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.68 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.43 | 2.57 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
The average household in Jefferson County has 2.43 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the center. Compared with other Colorado counties, though, Jefferson County has larger households than most.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4 | 36.7 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.0 | 37.3 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.4 | 38.0 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.3 | 38.5 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +1.8 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
At 41.3, the median age in Jefferson County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in the Denver area overall, where the median age is 38.5. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 40.4, 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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 10.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 11.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 9.8% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 9.6% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.8% of households in Jefferson County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Jefferson County
Renters in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.0% | 33.5% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.9% | 36.4% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.3% | 36.1% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.3% | 35.9% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +2.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Jefferson County rent their homes (29.3%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among owners, 29.4% have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share has edged up 1.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 8.5% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 5.5% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 6.0% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.5 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Jefferson County: 5.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has edged down 0.5 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Jefferson County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Colorado counties.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1980 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1981 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1982 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1987 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +8 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Jefferson County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1982, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in the Denver area overall, where the median home dates to 1987. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the east.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,112 | $1,128 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,225 | $1,245 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,567 | $1,606 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,135 | $2,181 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,023 | +$1,053 | +$912 | +$606 |
Rent in Jefferson County runs $2,135 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,023 a month from 2006–10, a 92% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.1% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the east.
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 Jefferson County
Bachelor's degrees in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7% | 38.1% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.8% | 40.0% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.7% | 43.5% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.4% | 49.1% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.6 pts | +11.0 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Jefferson County is highly educated: just over half of adults 25 and older (52.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 12.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the east.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.9% | 88.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.8% | 89.8% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.6% | 91.1% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.8% | 92.1% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Jefferson County: 95.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.9 points from 2006–10, 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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Denver area | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 7.5% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Jefferson County runs below the national rate: 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.8 points, as it has nationally. 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).
Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 2.43 | 41.3 | 7.8% | 29.3% | 5.8% | 1982 | $2,135 | 52.4% | 95.8% | 3.9% |
| Denver County | 2.24 | 36.4 | 9.5% | 51.2% | 7.5% | 1979 | $2,029 | 55.9% | 91.0% | 4.9% |
| Adams County | 2.92 | 35.4 | 12.3% | 31.4% | 4.6% | 1990 | $2,089 | 29.4% | 85.4% | 4.6% |
| Arapahoe County | 2.66 | 38.8 | 10.8% | 35.3% | 5.6% | 1988 | $2,201 | 46.1% | 91.5% | 4.9% |
| Gilpin County | 1.93 | 46.9 | 14.0% | 12.5% | 16.7% | 1981 | $1,658 | 48.7% | 92.8% | 2.8% |
| Clear Creek County | 1.99 | 49.2 | 5.2% | 18.4% | 15.1% | 1970 | $1,601 | 57.7% | 93.3% | 5.0% |
| Eagle County | 2.64 | 39.7 | 9.0% | 34.1% | 20.4% | 1995 | $2,051 | 50.5% | 94.9% | 4.2% |
| Cheyenne County | 2.18 | 46.1 | 6.2% | 22.1% | 16.8% | 1951 | $664 | 22.2% | 88.7% | 2.4% |
| Rawlins County | 2.12 | 46.2 | 10.3% | 29.3% | 14.2% | 1955 | $827 | 20.0% | 95.1% | 1.2% |
| Decatur County | 2.02 | 48.4 | 7.4% | 22.3% | 16.4% | 1952 | $668 | 26.3% | 94.2% | 4.0% |
| Norton County | 2.12 | 41.6 | 8.7% | 23.8% | 17.2% | 1953 | $721 | 22.4% | 95.2% | 1.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Bucks County, PA · Jefferson County, AL · Summit County, OH · Stanislaus County, CA · Delaware County, PA · Dane County, WI · Volusia County, FL · Chester County, PA · Camden County, NJ · Bristol County, MA
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 Jefferson 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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