La Veta, Colorado Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 804, La Veta's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

La Veta is a small community located in Colorado, within Huerfano County. The total population is 804. It ranks as the 245th most populous out of 472 Census-designated places in Colorado.

Age Demographics

The median age in La Veta is 68.7 years. This is 82% higher than the state median of 37.7 years. Only 2.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 26.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in La Veta is $52,804. This is 45% lower than the state median of $95,470. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.6%. This is 65% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 4.6%. The median home value is $389,300. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $539,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 61.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 66.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

La Veta has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 22.5%.

Education

39.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 45.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 22.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for La Veta, Colorado is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Colorado state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 472 Census-designated places in Colorado. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.