Jefferson County, CO

County

Add Comparison

2021 Population

580,130

0.231% 1-year growth

US Senator

Michael Bennet

Democratic Party

US Senator

John Hickenlooper

Democratic Party

2021 Median Age

40.2

0% 1-year change

2021 Poverty Rate

6.82%

1.22% 1-year increase

2021 Median Household Income

$93,933

6.99% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$463,400

7% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

319,473

0.552% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Jefferson County, CO had a population of 580k people with a median age of 40.2 and a median household income of $93,933. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Jefferson County, CO grew from 578,795 to 580,130, a 0.231% increase and its median household income grew from $87,793 to $93,933, a 6.99% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Jefferson County, CO are White (Non-Hispanic) (77%), White (Hispanic) (9.08%), Two+ (Hispanic) (3.97%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.89%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.76%).

None of the households in Jefferson County, CO reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.2% of the residents in Jefferson County, CO are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Jefferson County, CO are Red Rocks Community College (2,151 degrees awarded in 2021), Colorado School of Mines (1,676 degrees), and Colorado Christian University (1,379 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Jefferson County, CO was $463,400, and the homeownership rate was 70.8%.

Most people in Jefferson County, CO drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 27.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Jefferson County, CO was 2 cars per household.

Jefferson County, CO borders Adams County, CO, Arapahoe County, CO, Boulder County, CO, Broomfield County, CO, Clear Creek County, CO, Denver County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Gilpin County, CO, Park County, CO, and Teller County, CO.

Photo by Kent Kanouse

United States Colorado Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Population & Diversity

Jefferson County, CO is home to a population of 580k people, from which 97.2% are citizens. As of 2021, 6.27% of Jefferson County, CO residents were born outside of the country (36.4k people).

In 2021, there were 8.48 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (447k people) in Jefferson County, CO than any other race or ethnicity. There were 52.7k White (Hispanic) and 23k Two+ (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.2%

2021 Citizenship

97.1%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 97.2% of Jefferson County, CO residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Jefferson County, CO was 97.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Jefferson County, CO compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Jefferson County, CO

White (Non-Hispanic)
447k ± 711
White (Hispanic)
52.7k ± 1.98k
Two+ (Hispanic)
23k ± 1.94k

15.7%

Hispanic Population

91.1k people

15.7% of the people in Jefferson County, CO are hispanic (91.1k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Jefferson County, CO as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Colorado.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
210,883 ± 11,065 people
India
21,272 ± 3,574 people
China
18,229 ± 3,310 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Colorado was Mexico, the natal country of 210,883 Colorado residents, followed by India with 21,272 and China with 18,229.

Foreign-Born Population

6.27%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

36.4k people

6.25%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

36.2k people

As of 2021, 6.27% of Jefferson County, CO residents (36.4k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Jefferson County, CO was 6.25%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Jefferson County, CO compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
12,849 ± 696
Gulf War (2001-)
7,632 ± 668
Gulf War (1990s)
4,436 ± 572

Jefferson County, CO has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.68 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Jefferson County, CO employs 319k people. The largest industries in Jefferson County, CO are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (40,376 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (38,781 people), and Retail Trade (32,509 people), and the highest paying industries are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($106,838), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($105,566), and Utilities ($100,000).

Males in Colorado have an average income that is 1.31 times higher than the average income of females, which is $61,864. The income inequality in Colorado (measured using the Gini index) is 0.465, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

319k

2021 Value

± 4,139

0.552%

1 Year growth

± 1.8%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Jefferson County, CO grew at a rate of 0.552%, from 318k employees to 319k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Jefferson County, CO, are Management Occupations (45,579 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (33,392 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (33,187 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Jefferson County, CO.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Colorado (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

View Full Dashboard

Industries

Employment by Industries

319k

2021 Value

± 4,139

0.552%

1 Year growth

± 1.8%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Jefferson County, CO grew at a rate of 0.552%, from 318k employees to 319k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Jefferson County, CO, are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (40,376 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (38,781 people), and Retail Trade (32,509 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Jefferson County, CO, though some of these residents may live in Jefferson County, CO and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$62,214

Median earning men ± $1,079

$44,284

Median earning women ± $803

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Public Administration ($88,034), Information ($86,850), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($83,455).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($72,679), Public Administration ($65,627), and Information ($56,958).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Colorado. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Colorado.

View Full Dashboard

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

7,448
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
5,144
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services
4,360
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$4.12M
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$3.22M
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services
$2.51M
Manufacturing

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Colorado to other states, or from other states to Colorado.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

Mixed freight
$23.8B
Coal-n.e.c.
$17.7B
Machinery
$15.3B

In 2020, the top outbound Colorado product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $23.8B, followed by Coal-n.e.c. ($17.7B) and Machinery ($15.3B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Colorado products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Colorado.

$207B

2020 Value in Colorado

$434B

Projected 2050 Value in Colorado

110% growth

In 2020, total outbound Colorado trade was $207B. This is expected to increase 110% to $434B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Colorado trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Colorado to other states, or from other states to Colorado.

Most Common Trade Partners

California
$9.69B
Texas
$8.1B
Wyoming
$8.09B

In 2020, the top outbound Colorado domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was California with $9.69B, followed by Texas with $8.1B and Wyoming and $8.09B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Colorado shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Jefferson County, CO went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 57.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (39.3%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.69%).

Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper are the senators currently representing the state of Colorado. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Colorado is currently represented by 8 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (57.9%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (39.3%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.69%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Jefferson County, CO for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Colorado

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Colorado.

Michael Bennet

Senator from Colorado

Assumed office on January 21, 2009
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Ken Salazar, who had become Secretary of the Interior.

John Hickenlooper

Senator from Colorado

Assumed office on January 3, 2021

Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper are the senators currently representing Colorado.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Colorado over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Colorado

Colorado is currently represented by 8 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Colorado have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Jefferson County, CO awarded 5,876 degrees. The student population of Jefferson County, CO in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 11,452 male students and 13,332 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Jefferson County, CO are White (3,948 and 69.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (809 and 14.2%), Unknown (242 and 4.26%), and Black or African American (235 and 4.13%).

The largest universities in Jefferson County, CO by number of degrees awarded are Red Rocks Community College (2,151 and 36.6%), Colorado School of Mines (1,676 and 28.5%), and Colorado Christian University (1,379 and 23.5%).

The most popular majors in Jefferson County, CO are Mechanical Engineering (361 and 6.14%), General Business Administration & Management (356 and 6.06%), and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic) (274 and 4.66%).

The median tuition costs in Jefferson County, CO are $24,503 for private four year colleges, and $10,420 and $26,781 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Jefferson County, CO, the percentage of applicants admitted was 57.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 21.7%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 24,784 (46.2% men and 53.8% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 24,784 students enrolled in Jefferson County, CO, 46.2% men and 53.8% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 15,939 records, of which 52.6% were women and 47.4% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Computer Science
144 degree-majors awarded
Chemical Engineering
144 degree-majors awarded
Mechanical Engineering
299 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Jefferson County, CO was Computer Science with 144 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Jefferson County, CO according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Red Rocks Community College
2,151 degrees awarded
Colorado School of Mines
1,676 degrees awarded
Colorado Christian University
1,379 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Red Rocks Community College with 2,151 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 2,898 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Jefferson County, CO, which is 0.973 times less than the 2,978 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,948 degrees mean that there were 4.88 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 809 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($24,503) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,544) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,650) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Colorado.

Measure

In 2021, 0.83% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.785% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Colorado.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were Bachelors Degree (1.12M), Some college (999k), and High School or Equivalent (988k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Jefferson County, CO was $463,400 in 2021, which is 1.89 times larger than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $433,100 to $463,400, a 7% increase. The homeownership rate in Jefferson County, CO is 70.8%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Jefferson County, CO have an average commute time of 27.3 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Jefferson County, CO is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Jefferson County, CO is $93,933. In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Jefferson County, CO was Census Tract 117.24 with a value of $181,208, followed by Census Tract 120.35 and Census Tract 120.34, with respective values of $174,861 and $174,000.

In 2022, 14.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Jefferson County, CO. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 0.612%.

Housing

Property

$463,400

Median Property Value 2021

±$2,497

$167,370

Median Property Taxes

±$2,660

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Jefferson County, CO the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Jefferson County, CO compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

70.8%

Homeownership

2021

69.8%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 70.8% of the housing units in Jefferson County, CO were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 71.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Jefferson County, CO compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 117.24
Census Tract 120.35
Census Tract 120.34

In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Jefferson County, CO was Census Tract 117.24 with a value of $181,208, followed by Census Tract 120.35 and Census Tract 120.34, with respective values of $174,861 and $174,000.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Jefferson County, CO colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$93,933

Median Household Income

± $1,400

236k

Number of Households

± 3,561

In 2021, the median household income of the 236k households in Jefferson County, CO grew to $93,933 from the previous year's value of $87,793.

The following chart displays the households in Jefferson County, CO distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Jefferson County, CO is from Colorado.

0.465

2021 Wage GINI in Colorado

0.467

2020 Wage GINI in Colorado

In 2021, the income inequality in Colorado was 0.465 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.376% decline from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Colorado was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Colorado in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Colorado across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (72.2%)
Worked At Home (16.1%)
Carpooled (6.47%)

In 2021, 72.2% of workers in Jefferson County, CO drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (16.1%) and those who carpooled to work (6.47%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

27.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Jefferson County, CO have a longer commute time (27.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 1.58% of the workforce in Jefferson County, CO have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Jefferson County, CO compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Jefferson County, CO distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Jefferson County, CO have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2022, 14.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Jefferson County, CO. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 0.612%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

6.82% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Jefferson County, CO (38.9k out of 571k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 18 - 24.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Jefferson County, CO is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2022, 6.6% of the children was living in poverty in Jefferson County, CO. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 6.1%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 254 in Jefferson County, CO. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 16 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Error: TypeError: measure_.at is not a function

Health

94.7% of the population of Jefferson County, CO has health coverage, with 56.9% on employee plans, 10.7% on Medicaid, 12.8% on Medicare, 13.3% on non-group plans, and 1.02% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Jefferson County, CO see 1166 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.93% decrease from the previous year (1189 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1029 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 277 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.5% were men and 50.5% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,166 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Jefferson County, CO

Primary care physicians in Jefferson County, CO see an average of 1,166 patients per year. This represents a 1.93% decrease from the previous year (1,189 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Jefferson County, CO in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 20.8% under 18 years, 21.4% between 18 and 34 years, 41.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.5% were men and 50.5% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

5.32%

Uninsured

56.9%

Employer Coverage

10.7%

Medicaid

12.8%

Medicare

13.3%

Non-Group

1.02%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Jefferson County, CO grew by 0.399% from 5.3% to 5.32%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Jefferson County, CO changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2022, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 39.2 in Jefferson County, CO.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Jefferson County, CO.

Error: TypeError: measure_.at is not a function

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2022, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 24.5% in Jefferson County, CO.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Jefferson County, CO.

Error: TypeError: measure_.at is not a function