Chaffee County, Colorado Income Statistics
Chaffee County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Chaffee County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Chaffee County | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $83,141 | $95,803 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,626 | $68,113 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.2% | 5.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.8% | 18.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.3% | 17.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Chaffee County is about 13% lower than in Colorado. Income has been growing faster in Chaffee County (6.2%/yr) than in Colorado (5.4%/yr).
About 13% of adults in Chaffee County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Colorado average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Chaffee County, Colorado grew by 93.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $83,141 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Chaffee County
| Metric | Chaffee County | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.502 | 0.524 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $73,547 | $78,863 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $60,724 | $64,818 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.4% | 17.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Chaffee County, it is 0.502, lower than Colorado's 0.524, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 21% more than women's income in Chaffee County, Colorado. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $448,805 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chaffee County, Colorado has narrowed from about 25% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2015, and was narrowest at 10% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,056 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Chaffee County | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 24.5% | 21.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 11 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 472 people are unemployed in Chaffee County, Colorado.
The average commute time in Chaffee County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Colorado.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Chaffee County, Colorado has fallen from 8.3% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 2.3% in 2020.
Chaffee County, CO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Chaffee County, CO is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 20,178 residents against a local median of 17,241. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Chaffee County, CO an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 12% above the local median at 4.8% against 4.2%. Chaffee County, CO has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaffee County, CO | 20,178 | $83,141 #3/6 | 6.2%/yr #4/6 | 4.8% #5/6 | 0.502 #3/6 |
| Lake County, CO | 7,380 | $95,046 | 9.0%/yr | 2.2% | 0.480 |
| Park County, CO | 17,906 | $101,077 | 6.3%/yr | 3.3% | 0.469 |
| Saguache County, CO | 6,580 | $50,043 | 5.5%/yr | 10.3% | 0.525 |
| Fremont County, CO | 49,630 | $63,374 | 5.2%/yr | 4.2% | 0.597 |
| Gunnison County, CO | 17,241 | $81,977 | 6.2%/yr | 4.7% | 0.508 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Chaffee County, Colorado has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than Colorado, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Chaffee County, Colorado.
How Rich Is Chaffee County, Colorado?
Chaffee County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $83,141, about 13% lower than the Colorado average of $95,803.
How has median household income changed in Chaffee County, Colorado?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Chaffee County, Colorado rose 94%, from $42,875 to $83,141. Over the same years, income here outpaced Colorado as a whole: +94% against +70%.
What was the median household income in Chaffee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Chaffee County, Colorado was $71,601, up 8% from $66,392 in 2022. The Colorado median that year was $93,071.
What was the median household income in Chaffee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Chaffee County, Colorado was $56,017. By 2024 it had risen 48% to $83,141.
What is the Gini coefficient in Chaffee County, Colorado?
The Gini coefficient in Chaffee County is 0.502. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Chaffee County, Colorado?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chaffee County, Colorado has narrowed from about 25% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2015, and was narrowest at 10% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,056 since 2009.
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