La Plata County, Colorado Demographics 2026
La Plata County, Colorado has a population of 56,331, the 14th most populous county in Colorado. The median household income is $86,056 and the median home value is $591,500. The poverty rate is 11.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
La Plata County Quick Facts
How La Plata 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 | 56,088 | 56,331 | +0.4% |
| Median household income | $85,296 | $86,056 | +0.9% |
| Median home value | $549,100 | $591,500 | +7.7% |
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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 52 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in La Plata County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durango | 19,411 | $78,602 | 13.0% | $668,400 |
| Bayfield | 2,901 | $93,125 | 8.4% | $412,500 |
| Ignacio | 1,250 | $67,593 | 16.1% | $246,200 |
| Marvel | 100 | $56,719 | 8.0% | $309,500 |
| Southern Ute | 67 | N/A | 0.0% | $281,300 |
Explore Colorado Rankings
Population Overview
La Plata County is located in Colorado with a total population of 56,331. It is the 14th most populous county out of 64 in Colorado. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in La Plata County is 43.2 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 37.7 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in La Plata County is $86,056. This is 10% lower than the state median of $95,470. It is also 7% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 4.6%. The median home value is $591,500. Housing costs are 10% higher than the state median of $539,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 66.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in La Plata County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.9%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.2%.
Education
49.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% 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 96.5%. Notably, 19.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for La Plata 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 La Plata County, Colorado?
La Plata County has a population of 56,331, making it the 14th most populous county in Colorado.
What is the median income in La Plata County?
The median household income in La Plata County is $86,056 with a poverty rate of 11.7%.
How many cities are in La Plata County, Colorado?
La Plata County contains 5 Census-designated places.