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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Chaffee County

Colorado · 12,684 residents · 1,013.408 sq mi
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The short version

Chaffee County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $21,174. Population has fallen 22% since 2000, a loss of 3,558 residents. Median home value is $62,600. Households here earn about 30% less than the Colorado median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 37.4
US median: 33.0
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,684
−22%vs 2000
vs 16,242 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
37.4
−11%vs 2000
vs 41.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K14K16K19K21K1990201020202024Chaffee County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 55.4%(680)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.1%(779)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.1%(904)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.3%(800)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.3%(799)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3415.1%(1,910)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4416.3%(2,062)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.3%(1,305)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6410.5%(1,334)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 749.6%(1,221)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 845.6%(715)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.4%(175)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$21,174
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $34,368 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$10,788
−44%vs 2000
vs $19,430 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
14.3%
+2.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 11.7% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$62,600
−44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $146,500 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$336
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $517 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
70.9%
−2.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 73.4% in 2000
29.1% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic95.4%(12,095)
Black1.3%(171)
Hispanic / Latino9.9%(1,262)
Asian0.2%(23)
Other3.1%(395)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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
15.2%
−9.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 24.3% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
81.0%
−7.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 88.5% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
4.7%
−3.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 8.0% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.8 min
+47%vs 2000
vs 12.1 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
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

Places similar to Chaffee County

Pike County
Pop 20,932
Greene County
Pop 21,367
Gunnison County
Pop 17,439
Banks County
Pop 21,273
Places similar to Chaffee County
Head to head

Compare Chaffee County to nearby counties

CHAFFEE COUNTY VS
Lake County
Income$96,575+356%
Home value$466,100+645%
Population7,552−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAFFEE COUNTY VS
Park County
Income$103,670+390%
Home value$532,100+750%
Population18,314−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAFFEE COUNTY VS
Gunnison County
Income$84,527+299%
Home value$621,800+893%
Population17,439−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAFFEE COUNTY VS
Pitkin County
Income$102,645+385%
Home value$1,139,100+1720%
Population16,625−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chaffee County, Colorado?

Chaffee County, Colorado has about 12,684 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Chaffee County, Colorado earns about $21,174 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 $62,600, and the typical rent is about $336 a month.

How educated are people in Chaffee County, Colorado?

About 15.2% 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 14.3% of people in Chaffee County, Colorado live below the federal poverty line.

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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 →