Population 11,321 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Rio Grande County
Household size in Rio Grande County
| Period | Rio Grande County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.30 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.30 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −1.00 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Rio Grande County is a place of small households, averaging 2.30 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 3.30 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the northwest.
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 Rio Grande County
| Period | Rio Grande County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.1 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.9 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.5 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.3 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.3 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Rio Grande County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.1, 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 Rio Grande County
| Period | Rio Grande County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Rio Grande County (11.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Colorado overall (9.3%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 2.1 points, 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 Rio Grande County
Renters in Rio Grande County
| Period | Rio Grande County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.1% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.9% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.8% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.9% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +11.8 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in Rio Grande County rent their homes (32.9%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 39.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 11.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Rio Grande County
| Period | Rio Grande County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.4% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −22.4 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Rio Grande County: 16.7% of homes are empty, 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. Vacancy has fallen 22.4 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 Rio Grande County
| Period | Rio Grande County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Housing in Rio Grande County leans a little older: the median home dates to 1975, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the south 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 Rio Grande County
| Period | Rio Grande County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $568 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $632 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $560 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $974 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$406 | +$912 | +$606 |
Rent in Rio Grande County runs $974 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $406 a month from 2006–10, a 71% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 27.5% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are in the northwest.
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 Rio Grande County
Bachelor's degrees in Rio Grande County
| Period | Rio Grande County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.9% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.1% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.6% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.9% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.0 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Rio Grande County as nationally: 33.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in Colorado as a whole (45.9%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 14.0 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Rio Grande County
| Period | Rio Grande County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.0% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.6% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.2% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.6% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Rio Grande County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.6 points, as it has nationally. Rio Grande County has a lower 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 Rio Grande County
| Period | Rio Grande County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Rio Grande County: 11.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. No other Colorado county has higher unemployment. 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).
Rio Grande 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande County | 2.30 | 44.3 | 11.7% | 32.9% | 16.7% | 1975 | $974 | 33.9% | 87.6% | 11.8% |
| Mineral County | 1.88 | 56.4 | 1.0% | 30.3% | 67.3% | 1985 | $928 | 51.7% | 98.4% | 9.1% |
| Huerfano County | 2.27 | 52.5 | 9.9% | 24.9% | 29.7% | 1964 | $906 | 23.6% | 90.1% | 7.5% |
| Dolores County | 1.95 | 53.0 | 6.5% | 18.7% | 17.6% | 1978 | $1,116 | 27.3% | 95.8% | 2.4% |
| San Juan County | 3.11 | 35.2 | 14.3% | 19.1% | 19.2% | 1987 | $904 | 20.9% | 87.7% | 11.6% |
| Stanton County | 2.42 | 37.7 | 5.1% | 23.5% | 11.2% | 1969 | $686 | 23.7% | 78.6% | 1.7% |
| Grant County | 3.29 | 37.3 | 5.2% | 23.3% | 16.9% | 1975 | $708 | 22.6% | 76.1% | 0.7% |
| Gray County | 2.69 | 37.4 | 6.1% | 22.9% | 9.0% | 1977 | $853 | 25.0% | 77.4% | 2.6% |
| Garfield County | 2.46 | 40.0 | 5.0% | 29.7% | 30.3% | 1979 | $1,050 | 28.4% | 95.4% | 4.0% |
| Ford County | 2.87 | 34.2 | 18.9% | 37.5% | 8.8% | 1970 | $1,077 | 20.7% | 75.4% | 5.0% |
| Iron County | 3.06 | 32.4 | 9.3% | 31.7% | 10.5% | 1996 | $1,393 | 31.3% | 92.9% | 3.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Montmorency County, MI · Nome Census Area, AK · Nolan County, TX · Newton County, MS · Morrow County, OR · Morgan County, WV · Morgan County, TN · Morgan County, MO · Morgan County, GA · Moore 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 Rio Grande 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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