Rio Grande County, Colorado Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Rio Grande County is located in Colorado with a total population of 11,394. It is the 37th most populous county out of 64 in Colorado.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rio Grande County is 43.2 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 37.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rio Grande County is $62,166. This is 33% lower than the state median of $92,470. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 21% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.9%. This is 59% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. The unemployment rate is 8.0%. This is 78% higher than the state rate of 4.5%. The median home value is $215,400. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $502,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 68.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 66.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rio Grande County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 55.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 40.6%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (40.6% vs 22.2%). The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 3.2%.

Education

31.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 44.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.3%.