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Dolores County, Colorado Demographics 2026

Dolores County, Colorado has a population of 2,432, the 57th most populous county in Colorado. The median household income is $64,907 and the median home value is $247,600. The poverty rate is 21.6%.

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

Dolores County Quick Facts

Population 2,432
Median Household Income $64,907
Median Home Value $247,600
Poverty Rate 21.6%
Unemployment Rate 2.5%
Median Age 56.7 years
Homeownership Rate 81.3%
Affordability Ratio 3.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 28.1%
High School Graduation 95.5%
Cities/Places 2
Population 2,432 57th of 64
Median Income $64,907 32% lower than state
Poverty Rate 21.6%
Unemployment 2.5%

How Dolores County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population2,3852,432+2.0%
Median household income$70,490$64,907-7.9%
Median home value$231,900$247,600+6.8%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.3%
$25K-$50K 21.9%
$50K-$100K 23.7%
$100K+ 37.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
8.6%
$10K-$15K
7.6%
$15K-$20K
0.8%
$20K-$25K
0.3%
$25K-$30K
8.0%
$30K-$35K
3.4%
$35K-$40K
3.8%
$40K-$45K
3.9%
$45K-$50K
2.9%
$50K-$60K
6.6%
$60K-$75K
12.1%
$75K-$100K
4.9%
$100K-$125K
17.5%
$125K-$150K
1.0%
$150K-$200K
9.4%
$200K+
9.1%

Employment

2.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.6%|National: 5.2%
63.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.3%
Renter 18.7%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $986/mo 18.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

30out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 52 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Dolores County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Dove Creek651$62,83135.0%$149,600
Rico414$104,25017.6%$560,400

Population Overview

Dolores County is located in Colorado with a total population of 2,432. It is the 57th most populous county out of 64 in Colorado. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dolores County is 56.7 years. This is 50% higher than the state median of 37.7 years. Only 14.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dolores County is $64,907. This is 32% lower than the state median of $95,470. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.6%. This is 129% 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 2.5%. This is 46% lower than the state rate of 4.6%. The median home value is $247,600. Housing costs are 54% lower than the state median of $539,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 66.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Dolores County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (9.9%) is well below the state average of 22.5%.

Education

28.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% 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 95.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Dolores 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 Dolores County, Colorado?

Dolores County has a population of 2,432, making it the 57th most populous county in Colorado.

What is the median income in Dolores County?

The median household income in Dolores County is $64,907 with a poverty rate of 21.6%.

How many cities are in Dolores County, Colorado?

Dolores County contains 2 Census-designated places.