Population 16,985 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Pitkin County
Household size in Pitkin County
| Period | Pitkin County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.86 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.40 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Pitkin County are small: just 1.86 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 2.26, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Colorado's 64 counties, only two have smaller households.
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 Pitkin County
| Period | Pitkin County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.9 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.6 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.0 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.8 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.9 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Pitkin County skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.8, 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 42.9 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 Pitkin County
| Period | Pitkin County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Pitkin County: 4.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few Colorado counties have a lower share of single-parent households: only two of 64.
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 Pitkin County
Renters in Pitkin County
| Period | Pitkin County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.5% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.8% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.0% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.2% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a third of households in Pitkin County rent their homes (37.2%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Colorado as a whole (33.8%). Among homeowners, 47.0% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Only five of Colorado's 64 counties have a higher share of renters.
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 Pitkin County
| Period | Pitkin County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.8% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 42.2% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −11.2 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 23.5% of the housing in Pitkin County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 11.2 points, 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 Pitkin County
| Period | Pitkin County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Pitkin County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. Colorado as a whole looks much the same. The median year built has moved up from 1981 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 Pitkin County
| Period | Pitkin County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,268 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,319 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,522 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,864 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$596 | +$912 | +$606 |
Rent in Pitkin County runs $1,864 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in Colorado overall ($1,963). Rents are up $596 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 35.1% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Pitkin County
Bachelor's degrees in Pitkin County
| Period | Pitkin County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.5% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 56.4% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.8% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 61.5% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Pitkin County is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (61.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 1.9 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Of Colorado's 64 counties, only five have a higher 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 Pitkin County
| Period | Pitkin County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.7% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.2% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.8% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.3% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Pitkin County: 96.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged up 0.6 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Pitkin County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Colorado counties.
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 Pitkin County
| Period | Pitkin County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.7% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Pitkin County has been low: just 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Pitkin County has lower unemployment than at least four in five Colorado counties. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Pitkin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitkin County | 1.86 | 47.8 | 4.0% | 37.2% | 23.5% | 1986 | $1,864 | 61.5% | 96.3% | 2.7% |
| Lake County | 2.50 | 37.9 | 9.2% | 24.4% | 22.7% | 1965 | $1,254 | 49.0% | 93.5% | 1.5% |
| Park County | 2.06 | 50.0 | 6.1% | 13.8% | 33.8% | 1993 | $2,269 | 43.4% | 98.3% | 2.7% |
| Elbert County | 2.83 | 44.9 | 6.2% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 1997 | $1,953 | 36.5% | 96.5% | 3.5% |
| Lincoln County | 2.31 | 44.2 | 7.3% | 28.3% | 15.3% | 1963 | $1,129 | 32.3% | 89.0% | 1.2% |
| Emery County | 2.91 | 37.3 | 9.2% | 19.9% | 16.3% | 1979 | $730 | 18.9% | 94.7% | 3.6% |
| Kit Carson County | 2.39 | 39.5 | 6.3% | 27.4% | 15.3% | 1967 | $1,129 | 21.1% | 91.1% | 2.8% |
| Sanpete County | 3.09 | 33.4 | 8.3% | 25.7% | 13.1% | 1980 | $980 | 23.7% | 92.1% | 4.9% |
| Sherman County | 2.27 | 38.9 | 12.1% | 34.5% | 19.1% | 1963 | $977 | 21.8% | 91.2% | 0.5% |
| Millard County | 3.00 | 34.7 | 9.3% | 18.2% | 14.3% | 1973 | $861 | 24.2% | 91.8% | 5.3% |
| Thomas County | 2.49 | 35.5 | 8.9% | 24.8% | 11.0% | 1966 | $773 | 38.0% | 96.6% | 0.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Skamania County, WA · Franklin Parish, LA · Freestone County, TX · Fremont County, ID · Frio County, TX · Shoshone County, ID · Sibley County, MN · Sierra County, NM · Sitka City and Borough, AK · Franklin County, TX
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 Pitkin 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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