Wheat Ridge city, Colorado Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Wheat Ridge city is a mid-sized community located in Colorado. The total population is 32,158. It ranks as the 30th most populous out of 471 cities and towns in Colorado.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wheat Ridge city is 42.1 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 37.5 years. 10.1% 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 Wheat Ridge city is $87,598. This is 5% lower than the state median of $92,470. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 12% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.2%. This is 9% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 4.5%. The median home value is $584,700. Housing costs are 16% higher than the state median of $502,200. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 52.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 66.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wheat Ridge city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 21.2%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 3.2%.

Education

44.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about average 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 94.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wheat Ridge city, Colorado is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Colorado state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 471 Census-designated places in Colorado. For official data, visit data.census.gov.