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COUNTY

Chaffee County

Colorado · 20,831 residents (2025 est.) · 1,013.408 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#50Most work-from-homeof 3,14424.5%#60Most expensive homesof 3,139$665,700#135Most educatedof 3,14447.0%
The short version

Chaffee County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $84,132. Population has grown 24% since 2000. 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $665,700. With a median age of 48.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 5% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
47% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 149%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,178
+24%since 2000
from 16,242 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
20 / sq mi
+20%since 2009
from 17 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
48.7
+17%since 2000
from 41.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:20,831 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K14K16K19K21K1990201020202024Chaffee County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.5%(714)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(958)
US avg: 6%
10 to 143.2%(647)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 192.5%(505)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.2%(855)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.3%(2,484)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4415.1%(3,043)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.2%(2,655)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.9%(3,010)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7416.9%(3,404)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.5%(1,306)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3%(597)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$84,132
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,368 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$48,535
+150%since 2000
from $19,430 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
54.7%
+31.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.419
−8%since 2010
from 0.456 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade12.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Information7.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade4.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$665,700
+149%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $146,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,611
+71%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $517 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 73.4% in 2000
25.9% rent
Vacancy rate
14.1%
−10.2 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 29.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.9
+41%since 2009
from 5.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
98
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chaffee County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87.3%(14,174)
Black1.6%(257)
Hispanic / Latino8.6%(1,393)
Asian0.4%(65)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.2%(16,995)
Black1.2%(243)
Hispanic / Latino9.8%(1,983)
Asian0.5%(108)
Other4.2%(849)
Diversity Score
35
+18%since 2009
from 29 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
21
−11%since 2020
from 24 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.8%(759)
Spaniard0.8%(167)
Guatemalan0.8%(162)
Cuban0.5%(98)
Puerto Rican0.2%(36)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(28)
Singaporean0.1%(25)
Vietnamese0.1%(24)
Hmong0.1%(19)
Japanese0.1%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(1)
Ancestry
German20.7%(4,182)
English17.5%(3,541)
Irish13.1%(2,649)
Italian6.2%(1,245)
Scottish4.9%(990)
Swedish3.9%(778)
Polish3.6%(730)
American3.6%(721)
Dutch3%(607)
British2.4%(481)
Norwegian2%(403)
Scotch-Irish1.7%(353)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
French1.6%(332)
Russian1.4%(281)
Austrian0.8%(153)
Danish0.7%(146)
Slovak0.7%(138)
Welsh0.6%(127)
Czech0.5%(96)
Lithuanian0.5%(93)
Swiss0.4%(78)
Ukrainian0.4%(75)
Portuguese0.3%(54)
Canadian0.2%(36)
Finnish0.2%(36)
Belgian0.2%(33)
Hungarian0.1%(29)
Slovene0.1%(26)
Greek0.1%(25)
Serbian0.1%(23)
Croatian0.1%(13)
Romanian0.1%(12)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
47.0%
+22.7 ptssince 2000
from 24.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.7%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 88.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.7%
+10.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.1 min
+50%since 2000
from 12.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
59.6%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 66.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
24.5%
+11.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
4.1%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.8%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 58.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.2%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
54.8%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 60.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
Female
46.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.6%
−47.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.4%
−1.5 ptssince 2012
from 12.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.5%
−76.5 ptssince 2013
from 83.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.7%
+9.4 ptssince 2017
from 80.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2016
from 93.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 4.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married22.6%(2,151)
Married62.9%(5,977)
Widowed2.8%(264)
Divorced11.7%(1,108)
Women 15+
Never married14.3%(1,192)
Married63.8%(5,337)
Widowed8.4%(702)
Divorced13.5%(1,128)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Chaffee County to nearby counties

CHAFFEE COUNTY VS
Lake County
Income$96,575+15%
Home value$466,100−30%
Population7,552−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAFFEE COUNTY VS
Park County
Income$103,670+23%
Home value$532,100−20%
Population18,314−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAFFEE COUNTY VS
Gunnison County
Income$84,527same
Home value$621,800−7%
Population17,439−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAFFEE COUNTY VS
Pitkin County
Income$102,645+22%
Home value$1,139,100+71%
Population16,625−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chaffee County, Colorado?

Chaffee County, Colorado has about 20,178 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chaffee County, Colorado?

The typical household in Chaffee County, Colorado earns about $84,132 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chaffee County, Colorado expensive?

In Chaffee County, Colorado, the median home is worth about $665,700, and the typical rent is about $1,611 a month.

How educated are people in Chaffee County, Colorado?

About 47.0% of adults age 25 and over in Chaffee County, Colorado hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chaffee County, Colorado?

About 8.3% of people in Chaffee County, Colorado live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chaffee County, Colorado grown since 1990?

Yes, Chaffee County, Colorado has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,494 residents, a change of about 59 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 2Census Tract 4.02Census Tract 3Census Tract 4.04Census Tract 4.03Census Tract 1
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 81201ZIP 81211ZIP 81236ZIP 81242ZIP 81227ZIP 81228
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →