Chaffee County, Colorado Demographics 2026

Name: Chaffee County, Colorado Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Chaffee County, Colorado has a population of 20,178, the 26th most populous county in Colorado. The median household income is $84,132 and the median home value is $665,700. The poverty rate is 8.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Chaffee County Quick Facts

Population 20,178

Median Household Income $84,132

Median Home Value $665,700

Poverty Rate 8.3%

Unemployment Rate 4.8%

Median Age 48.7 years

Homeownership Rate 74.1%

Affordability Ratio 7.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 47.0%

High School Graduation 94.7%

Cities/Places 8

Population 20,178 26th of 64

Median Income $84,132 12% lower than state

Poverty Rate 8.3%

Unemployment 4.8%

How Chaffee 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	19,876	20,178	+1.5%
Median household income	$70,909	$84,132	+18.6%
Median home value	$598,500	$665,700	+11.2%

Median Household Income

Chaffee

$84,132

$95,470

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Chaffee

$665,700

$539,400

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.7%

$25K-$50K 17.3%

$50K-$100K 30.6%

$100K+ 40.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.1%

$10K-$15K

4.9%

$15K-$20K

1.9%

$20K-$25K

1.8%

$25K-$30K

3.6%

$30K-$35K

3.4%

$35K-$40K

4.2%

$40K-$45K

2.2%

$45K-$50K

4.0%

$50K-$60K

5.7%

$60K-$75K

10.6%

$75K-$100K

14.3%

$100K-$125K

7.2%

$125K-$150K

8.0%

$150K-$200K

14.8%

$200K+

10.3%

Employment

4.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.6%|National: 5.2%

55.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 74.1%

Renter 25.9%

Affordability Index Very Expensive

7.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,611/mo 23.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

13.9%

18-34

16.7%

35-54

28.2%

55-74

31.8%

75+

9.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 52 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Chaffee County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Salida	5,861	$70,045	11.1%	$648,500
Buena Vista	3,010	$78,323	7.3%	$572,700
Poncha Springs	959	$97,139	0.4%	$522,900
Maysville	235	N/A	20.8%	$1,321,800
Smeltertown	188	N/A	76.6%	N/A
Nathrop	187	$30,040	0.0%	$125,500
Johnson Village	129	N/A	13.2%	N/A
Garfield	93	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore Colorado Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Chaffee County is located in Colorado with a total population of 20,178. It is the 26th most populous county out of 64 in Colorado. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chaffee County is 48.7 years. This is 29% higher than the state median of 37.7 years. Only 13.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chaffee County is $84,132. This is 12% lower than the state median of $95,470. It is also 4% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.3%. This is 12% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 4.6%. The median home value is $665,700. Housing costs are 23% higher than the state median of $539,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 66.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chaffee County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.8%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (9.8%) is well below the state average of 22.5%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.2%.

Education

47.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% higher 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 94.7%. Notably, 18.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Chaffee 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 Chaffee County, Colorado?

Chaffee County has a population of 20,178, making it the 26th most populous county in Colorado.

What is the median income in Chaffee County?

The median household income in Chaffee County is $84,132 with a poverty rate of 8.3%.

How many cities are in Chaffee County, Colorado?

Chaffee County contains 8 Census-designated places.