Bent County, Colorado Demographics 2026
Bent County, Colorado has a population of 5,549, the 50th most populous county in Colorado. The median household income is $50,179 and the median home value is $146,900. The poverty rate is 28.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Bent County Quick Facts
How Bent County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,524 | 5,549 | +0.5% |
| Median household income | $49,194 | $50,179 | +2.0% |
| Median home value | $137,900 | $146,900 | +6.5% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 52 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Bent County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Animas | 2,540 | $51,875 | 35.7% | $132,700 |
| McClave | 128 | $59,236 | 11.7% | $136,800 |
| Hasty | 125 | N/A | 19.2% | $126,300 |
Explore Colorado Rankings
Population Overview
Bent County is located in Colorado with a total population of 5,549. It is the 50th most populous county out of 64 in Colorado. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bent County is 40.6 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 37.7 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bent County is $50,179. This is 47% lower than the state median of $95,470. It is also 38% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.4%. This is 200% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.8%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 4.6%. The median home value is $146,900. Housing costs are 73% lower than the state median of $539,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Bent County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 66.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Bent County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 32.5%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 3.2%.
Education
15.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 45.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Bent County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Colorado and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Bent County, Colorado?
Bent County has a population of 5,549, making it the 50th most populous county in Colorado.
What is the median income in Bent County?
The median household income in Bent County is $50,179 with a poverty rate of 28.4%.
How many cities are in Bent County, Colorado?
Bent County contains 3 Census-designated places.