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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Chaffee County

Colorado · 16,242 residents · 1,013.408 sq mi
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The short version

Chaffee County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $34,368. Population has grown 28% since 1990. Median home value has more than doubled since 1990, reaching $146,500. With a median age of 41.8, the population is older than the US median of 35.2. Households here earn about 27% less than the Colorado median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 41.8
US median: 35.2
Average education
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 78%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,242
+28%since 1990
from 12,684 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
16 / sq mi
+28%since 1990
from 13 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
41.8
+12%since 1990
from 37.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K14K16K19K21K1990201020202024Chaffee County
202420K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$34,368
+23%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $21,174 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,430
+80%since 1990
from $10,788 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
11.7%
−2.6 ptssince 1990
from 14.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$146,500
+78%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $62,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$517
+17%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $336 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
73.4%
+2.4 ptssince 1990
from 70.9% in 1990
26.6% rent
Afford Score
4.3
+44%since 1990
from 3.0 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chaffee County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic95.4%(12,095)
Black1.3%(171)
Hispanic / Latino9.9%(1,262)
Asian0.2%(23)
Diversity Score29.8%(3,784)
2000
White, non-Hispanic87.3%(14,174)
Black1.6%(257)
Hispanic / Latino8.6%(1,393)
Asian0.4%(65)
Diversity Score24.5%(3,985)
Diversity Score
25
−18%since 1990
from 30 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.3%
+9.1 ptssince 1990
from 15.2% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
88.5%
+7.5 ptssince 1990
from 81.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
8.0%
+3.4 ptssince 1990
from 4.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.1 min
−32%since 1990
from 17.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

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+181%
Home value$466,100+218%
Population7,552−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAFFEE COUNTY VS
Park County
Income$103,670+202%
Home value$532,100+263%
Population18,314−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAFFEE COUNTY VS
Gunnison County
Income$84,527+146%
Home value$621,800+324%
Population17,439−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAFFEE COUNTY VS
Pitkin County
Income$102,645+199%
Home value$1,139,100+678%
Population16,625−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chaffee County, Colorado?

Chaffee County, Colorado has about 16,242 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Chaffee County, Colorado earns about $34,368 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 $146,500, and the typical rent is about $517 a month.

How educated are people in Chaffee County, Colorado?

About 24.3% 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 11.7% 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 3,558 residents, a change of about 28 percent over that period.

Keep going

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

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