Lakewood, CO Local Data & Statistics

State: CO

Total population: 156,583 Household income: $89,792 Rent: $1,806

Overview

Total population

156,583

Rent

$1,806

Year built

1977

Household income

$89,792

Per capita income

$53,749

Poverty rate

9.2%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

53.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Colorado

Total population

156,583

Adults over 25

117,037

Total households

69,799

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$89,792

Per capita income

$53,749

Poverty rate

9.2%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Rent over 30% of income

53.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,806

Year built

1977

Households that rent

41.9%

Households that own

58.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.3

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

73.8%

Black

1.5%

Asian

3.6%

Two or more races

16.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

22.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

77.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

76.6%

Commute time to work

26 mins

Work from home

23.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

23.9%

High school graduate or GED

21.6%

Some college or associate degree

9.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

45.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Lakewood, CO with: Colorado United States

Lakewood, CO

Total population156,583

Rent$1,806

Year built1977

Household income$89,792

Per capita income$53,749

Poverty rate9.2%

Unemployment rate4.6%

Colorado State

Total population5,862,189

Rent$1,761

Year built1988

Household income$95,470

Per capita income$52,636

Poverty rate9.4%

Unemployment rate4.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityLakewood, CO	StateColorado	CountryUnited States
Total population	156,583	5,862,189	334,922,499
Rent	$1,806	$1,761	$1,413
Year built	1977	1988	1980
Household income	$89,792	$95,470	$80,734
Per capita income	$53,749	$52,636	$44,673
Poverty rate	9.2%	9.4%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	4.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Lakewood, CO, Colorado and United States →

Summary for Lakewood, CO

Lakewood is located in Colorado.

Rent & Income

In Lakewood, the typical monthly rent is $1,806 and the typical household income is $89,792. Rent here is similar to Colorado and higher than the U.S., and household income is lower than Colorado and higher than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 9.2%, which is similar to the Colorado rate and lower than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 41.9% of households. About 53.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 45.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.6%, which is higher than both Colorado and the national rate.

Lakewood, CO — Rent vs Household Income

Lakewood, CO — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Lakewood, CO compares in Colorado (19 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,806	7 / 19	from lower rent	$1,082 – $2,148
Household income	$89,792	11 / 19	from higher income	$56,664 – $145,197
Poverty rate	9.2%	12 / 19	from lower poverty	3.3% – 21.5%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	12 / 19	from lower unemployment	3.9% – 6.6%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Colorado with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Lakewood, CO

Rent

Lakewood ranks 7th out of 19 large places in Colorado for rent. Statewide rents range from $1,082 in Pueblo, CO to $2,148 in Centennial, CO.

Household income

For median household income, Lakewood is ranked 11th out of 19 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $56,664 in Pueblo, CO to $145,197 in Castle Rock, CO.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Lakewood in 12th place among 19 significant areas. Across Colorado, poverty ranges between 3.3% and 21.5%.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Lakewood ranks 12th out of 19 significant areas. Across Colorado, unemployment varies from 3.9% in Fort Collins, CO to 6.6% in Pueblo, CO.

💰 Rent in Lakewood, CO (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,806 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Lakewood, CO

Annual Household Income: $89,792

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Lakewood, CO

Estimated Rate: 9.2%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Lakewood, CO

In Lakewood, CO, households that rent: 29,247 (41.9%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	29,247	41.9%
Owner-Occupied	40,552	58.1%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Lakewood, CO

In Lakewood, CO, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 15,595 (53.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	15,595	53.3%
Other renter households	13,652	46.7%
Total renter households	29,247	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Lakewood, CO

Less than High School: 27,930 people (23.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 25,230 people (21.6%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 10,868 people (9.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 53,009 people (45.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 117,037

📊 Unemployment Rate in Lakewood, CO

Estimated Rate: 4.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Alexandria, VA156,788 Killeen, TX156,144 Murfreesboro, TN157,547 Paterson, NJ157,660 Kansas City, KS154,776 Springfield, MA154,751 Corona, CA158,839 Hayward, CA159,201 Sunnyvale, CA153,455 Hollywood, FL152,935

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.