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COUNTY

La Plata County

Colorado · 56,898 residents (2025 est.) · 1,689.682 sq mi
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Part of the Durango micropolitan area
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Notable rankings
#88Most expensive homesof 3,139$591,500#107Most educatedof 3,14449.3%
The short version

La Plata County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $86,056. Population has grown 28% since 2000. 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $591,500. 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 43.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
49% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 86%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
56,331
+28%since 2000
from 43,941 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
33 / sq mi
+13%since 2009
from 29 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.2
+21%since 2000
from 35.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:56,898 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
30K37K44K52K59K1990201020202024La Plata County
202456K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54%(2,274)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.6%(2,610)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.5%(3,081)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.5%(3,689)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(3,330)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.9%(6,707)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.9%(7,831)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.6%(7,122)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.1%(7,959)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.7%(7,692)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.8%(3,246)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.4%(790)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$86,056
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,159 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$49,353
+129%since 2000
from $21,534 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
55.8%
+21.1 ptssince 2009
from 34.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.7%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.459
+10%since 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade3.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing1.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$591,500
+86%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $174,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,504
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $655 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 68.4% in 2000
29.1% rent
Vacancy rate
15.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.8%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.2%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 44.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.9
+12%since 2009
from 6.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
62
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in La Plata County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.3%(36,168)
Black0.3%(120)
Hispanic / Latino10.4%(4,571)
Asian0.4%(174)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic76.1%(42,847)
Black0.2%(110)
Hispanic / Latino12.9%(7,244)
Asian0.8%(452)
Other10.1%(5,678)
Diversity Score
49
+19%since 2009
from 41 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
16
−5%since 2020
from 17 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
Mexican6.3%(3,531)
Spaniard0.8%(459)
Colombian0.4%(246)
Puerto Rican0.2%(107)
Cuban0.1%(68)
Guatemalan0.1%(57)
Chilean0%(23)
Peruvian0%(15)
Argentine0%(14)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(141)
Chinese0.2%(97)
Vietnamese0.2%(93)
Asian Indian0.1%(44)
Japanese0.1%(36)
Thai0%(9)
Korean0%(5)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(2)
Ancestry
German19.3%(10,872)
Irish15%(8,456)
English14.8%(8,330)
Scottish4.6%(2,575)
Italian4.5%(2,557)
American3%(1,690)
French2.5%(1,408)
Swedish2.4%(1,373)
Norwegian2.1%(1,192)
Polish1.8%(1,004)
Dutch1.6%(910)
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh1%(579)
Danish0.7%(384)
Swiss0.6%(366)
British0.5%(308)
Greek0.4%(247)
Russian0.3%(190)
Czech0.3%(186)
Finnish0.3%(174)
Slovak0.3%(173)
Lithuanian0.3%(168)
Hungarian0.3%(163)
Canadian0.3%(159)
Austrian0.3%(147)
Ukrainian0.2%(91)
Australian0.2%(85)
Armenian0.1%(84)
Croatian0.1%(75)
Portuguese0.1%(74)
Arab0.1%(57)
Belgian0.1%(56)
Slovene0.1%(51)
Romanian0.1%(44)
Lebanese0.1%(43)
Bulgarian0%(21)
Serbian0%(20)
Latvian0%(4)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
49.3%
+12.9 ptssince 2000
from 36.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.5%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 91.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
19.2%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.3 min
+46%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
66.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 67.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
18.1%
+10.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.9%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 69.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
47.2%
−17.3 ptssince 2009
from 64.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Female
49.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Foreign born
3.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−43.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 9.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.2%
−73.5 ptssince 2013
from 81.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.0%
+12.9 ptssince 2017
from 77.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.5%
+2.8 ptssince 2016
from 89.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.7%
−2.3 ptssince 2016
from 6.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.8%(7,265)
Married55.9%(13,632)
Widowed2%(477)
Divorced12.3%(2,992)
Women 15+
Never married25.8%(6,192)
Married55.2%(13,239)
Widowed6.5%(1,548)
Divorced12.6%(3,021)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare La Plata County to nearby counties

LA PLATA COUNTY VS
San Juan County
Income$77,824−10%
Home value$432,500−27%
Population813−99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LA PLATA COUNTY VS
Montezuma County
Income$65,244−24%
Home value$331,400−44%
Population26,678−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LA PLATA COUNTY VS
Archuleta County
Income$83,065−3%
Home value$478,100−19%
Population14,306−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LA PLATA COUNTY VS
Hinsdale County
Income$75,972−12%
Home value$437,900−26%
Population753−99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in La Plata County, Colorado?

La Plata County, Colorado has about 56,331 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in La Plata County, Colorado?

The typical household in La Plata County, Colorado earns about $86,056 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is La Plata County, Colorado expensive?

In La Plata County, Colorado, the median home is worth about $591,500, and the typical rent is about $1,504 a month.

How educated are people in La Plata County, Colorado?

About 49.3% of adults age 25 and over in La Plata County, Colorado hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in La Plata County, Colorado?

About 11.7% of people in La Plata County, Colorado live below the federal poverty line.

Has La Plata County, Colorado grown since 1990?

Yes, La Plata County, Colorado has grown since 1990. The population has added about 24,047 residents, a change of about 74 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

12 census tracts
Census Tract 9708Census Tract 9403Census Tract 9707.03Census Tract 9706.02Census Tract 9404Census Tract 9707.01Census Tract 9711Census Tract 9709Census Tract 9706.01Census Tract 9710Census Tract 9707.05Census Tract 9707.06
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 81301ZIP 81303ZIP 81122ZIP 81137ZIP 81326
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →