Colorado State, Local Data & Statistics

Population, Income, Rent & Housing Statistics

Total population: 5,862,189 Household income: $95,470 Rent: $1,761

Overview

Total population

5,862,189

Rent

$1,761

Year built

1988

Household income

$95,470

Per capita income

$52,636

Poverty rate

9.4%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

50.4%

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

5,862,189

Adults over 25

4,095,727

Total households

2,374,218

Household size

2.4 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

$95,470

Per capita income

$52,636

Poverty rate

9.4%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Rent over 30% of income

50.4%

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

Housing

Rent

$1,761

Year built

1988

Households that rent

33.8%

Households that own

66.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.7

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

Race

White

70.5%

Black

Asian

3.3%

Two or more races

14.9%

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

22.5%

Not Hispanic or Latino

77.5%

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

79%

Commute time to work

25 mins

Work from home

21%

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

25%

High school graduate or GED

19.7%

Some college or associate degree

9.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

45.7%

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

Comparison of Colorado with: Arizona Oklahoma Utah United States

Colorado

Total population5,862,189

Rent$1,761

Year built1988

Household income$95,470

Per capita income$52,636

Poverty rate9.4%

Unemployment rate4.3%

Arizona

Total population7,378,838

Rent$1,543

Year built1992

Household income$79,964

Per capita income$42,503

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate3.6%

Oklahoma

Total population4,028,634

Rent$1,014

Year built1980

Household income$65,039

Per capita income$35,624

Poverty rate15.3%

Unemployment rate3.3%

Utah

Total population3,392,331

Rent$1,496

Year built1992

Household income$95,166

Per capita income$40,873

Poverty rate8.5%

Unemployment rate3.2%

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	StateColorado	StateArizona	StateOklahoma	StateUtah	CountyUnited States
Total population	5,862,189	7,378,838	4,028,634	3,392,331	334,922,499
Rent	$1,761	$1,543	$1,014	$1,496	$1,413
Year built	1988	1992	1980	1992	1980
Household income	$95,470	$79,964	$65,039	$95,166	$80,734
Per capita income	$52,636	$42,503	$35,624	$40,873	$44,673
Poverty rate	9.4%	12.5%	15.3%	8.5%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.3%	3.6%	3.3%	3.2%	4%

Colorado is compared to its neighboring states — Arizona, Oklahoma and Utah — plus the United States overall.

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Colorado

Colorado has about 5,862,189 residents.

RENT & INCOME

Monthly rent in Colorado is $1,761, which is higher than the United States level of $1,413. Household income in Colorado is $95,470, higher than the United States figure of $80,734. Additionally, the share of residents living below the poverty line is 9.4%, lower than the U.S. rate of 12.5%.

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY

Owner-occupied households represent 66.2% of homes. About 33.8% of households in Colorado are renters. Around 50.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high housing cost burden statewide. Homes are a mix of older and newer construction, with many built around 1988.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Educational attainment is very high, with about 45.7% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment in Colorado is 4.3%, very close to the U.S. rate of 4%.

Colorado — Rent vs Household Income

Colorado — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Colorado (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,761 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 Colorado

Annual Household Income: $95,470

💡 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 Colorado

Estimated Rate: 9.4%

💡 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 Colorado

In Colorado, households that rent: 802,483 (33.8%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	802,483	33.8%
Owner-Occupied	1,571,735	66.2%

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 Colorado

In Colorado, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 404,262 (50.4%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	404,262	50.4%
Other renter households	398,221	49.6%
Total renter households	802,483	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 Colorado

Less than High School: 1,025,906 people (25%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 808,163 people (19.7%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 389,989 people (9.5%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 1,871,669 people (45.7%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 4,095,727

📊 Unemployment Rate in Colorado

Estimated Rate: 4.3%

💡 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%.

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.