Chaffee County, CO Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Chaffee County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,736 | 5,847,426 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 20.4 | 56.2 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.04% | 1.14% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 45.1 | 35.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 9,195 | 2,319,504 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Chaffee County grew by 17.8% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 19,876 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Chaffee County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Chaffee County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,601 | $93,055 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.74% | 5.76% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 4.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Chaffee County is about 23% lower than in Colorado.
Housing
| Metric | Chaffee County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $667,525 | $480,058 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,514 | $1,692 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.9% | 66.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Chaffee County is about 36.8 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,514 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Chaffee County spend about 21 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 89 hours, about 3.7 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Chaffee County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 10.7 | 22.2 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 21.4 | 44.3 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 89 | 185 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $2,767 | $5,727 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 19.6% | 18.8% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,469 | 8,183 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 543 | 1,277 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Colorado:
Hinsdale County (6.4 min), Rio Blanco County (7.7 min), Prowers County (8.0 min).
Slowest:
Park County (42.2 min), Elbert County (42.2 min), Custer County (30.9 min).
The average commute time in Chaffee County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Colorado.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Chaffee County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Chaffee County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.3% | 40.2% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.00 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Colorado:
Boulder County (0.5), Douglas County (0.4), Broomfield County (0.4).
Lowest:
Crowley County (0.2), Bent County (0.2), Lincoln County (0.2).
Health
Chaffee County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Chaffee County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.0 | 80.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.2% | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 15.0% | 16.1% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Colorado:
Douglas County (0.9), Boulder County (0.8), Broomfield County (0.8).
Lowest:
Costilla County (0.8), Otero County (0.8), Bent County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Chaffee County, Colorado.
What is the population of Chaffee County, Colorado?
The population of Chaffee County, Colorado is 20,736, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Chaffee County, Colorado?
The population density of Chaffee County, Colorado is 20.4 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Chaffee County, Colorado?
The median household income in Chaffee County, Colorado is $71,601, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Chaffee County, Colorado?
The median home price in Chaffee County, Colorado is $667,525, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Chaffee County, Colorado?
The unemployment rate in Chaffee County, Colorado is 5.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.