La Plata County, CO

County

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2023 Population

56,088

0.188% 1-year growth

US Senator

Michael Bennet

Democratic Party

US Senator

John Hickenlooper

Democratic Party

2023 Median Age

42.3

1.2% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

12.4%

9% 1-year increase

2023 Median Household Income

$85,296

4.1% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$549,100

10.3% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

29,059

0.602% 1-year decline

About

In 2023, La Plata County, CO had a population of 56.1k people with a median age of 42.3 and a median household income of $85,296. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of La Plata County, CO grew from 55,983 to 56,088, a 0.188% increase and its median household income grew from $81,936 to $85,296, a 4.1% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in La Plata County, CO are White (Non-Hispanic) (76.6%), White (Hispanic) (6.81%), American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) (5.39%), Two+ (Hispanic) (4.01%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.28%).

None of the households in La Plata County, CO reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.8% of the residents in La Plata County, CO are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in La Plata County, CO are Fort Lewis College (645 degrees awarded in 2022).

In 2023, the median property value in La Plata County, CO was $549,100, and the homeownership rate was 71%.

Most people in La Plata County, CO drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.7 minutes. The average car ownership in La Plata County, CO was 2 cars per household.

La Plata County, CO borders Archuleta County, CO, Dolores County, CO, Hinsdale County, CO, Montezuma County, CO, San Juan County, CO, and San Juan County, NM.

United States Colorado Durango, CO

Population & Diversity

La Plata County, CO is home to a population of 56.1k people, from which 98.8% are citizens. As of 2023, 2.54% of La Plata County, CO residents were born outside of the country (1.42k people).

In 2023, there were 11.2 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (42.9k people) in La Plata County, CO than any other race or ethnicity. There were 3.82k White (Hispanic) and 3.02k American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.8%

2023 Citizenship

98.8%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 98.8% of La Plata County, CO residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in La Plata County, CO was 98.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in La Plata County, CO compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in La Plata County, CO

White (Non-Hispanic)
42.9k ± 457
White (Hispanic)
3.82k ± 378
American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic)
3.02k ± 207

12.7%

Hispanic Population

7.15k people

12.7% of the people in La Plata County, CO are hispanic (7.15k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in La Plata County, CO as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Colorado.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
206,571 ± 10,957 people
India
22,427 ± 3,670 people
China
17,909 ± 3,280 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Colorado was Mexico, the natal country of 206,571 Colorado residents, followed by India with 22,427 and China with 17,909.

Foreign-Born Population

2.54%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

1.42k people

2.44%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

1.36k people

As of 2023, 2.54% of La Plata County, CO residents (1.42k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in La Plata County, CO was 2.44%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in La Plata County, CO compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,068 ± 157
Gulf War (2001-)
769 ± 193
Gulf War (1990s)
538 ± 169

La Plata County, CO has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.39 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of La Plata County, CO employs 29.1k people. The largest industries in La Plata County, CO are Health Care & Social Assistance (3,872 people), Retail Trade (3,828 people), and Educational Services (2,788 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($74,135), Utilities ($71,699), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($71,454).

Males in Colorado have an average income that is 1.31 times higher than the average income of females, which is $67,859. The income inequality in Colorado (measured using the Gini index) is 0.464, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

29.1k

2023 Value

± 1,271

−0.602%

1 Year decline

± 6.21%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in La Plata County, CO declined at a rate of −0.602%, from 29.2k employees to 29.1k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in La Plata County, CO, are Management Occupations (4,176 people), Sales & Related Occupations (3,277 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,633 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of La Plata County, CO.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Colorado (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

29.1k

2023 Value

± 1,271

−0.602%

1 Year decline

± 6.21%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in La Plata County, CO declined at a rate of −0.602%, from 29.2k employees to 29.1k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in La Plata County, CO, are Health Care & Social Assistance (3,872 people), Retail Trade (3,828 people), and Educational Services (2,788 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of La Plata County, CO, though some of these residents may live in La Plata County, CO and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$53,693

Median earning men ± $2,652

$41,015

Median earning women ± $1,549

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($83,333), Information ($73,750), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($72,627).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Wholesale Trade ($179,808), Public Administration ($60,045), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($57,083).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Colorado.

Y-Axis

1.73%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 2.87M people employed in Colorado. This represents a 1.73% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 11.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Colorado.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

284
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
244
Construction
166
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Depending on the option selected, the visualization shows the number of employees or number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$187k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$130k
Retail Trade
$112k
Construction

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in La Plata County, CO went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 57.6% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (39.9%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.49%).

Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper are the senators currently representing the state of Colorado. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Colorado is currently represented by 8 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (57.6%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (39.9%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.49%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in La Plata County, CO for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Colorado

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Colorado.

Michael Bennet

Senator from Colorado

Assumed office on January 21, 2009
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Ken Salazar, who had become Secretary of the Interior.

John Hickenlooper

Senator from Colorado

Assumed office on January 3, 2021

Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper are the senators currently representing Colorado.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Colorado over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Colorado

Colorado is currently represented by 8 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Colorado have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in La Plata County, CO awarded 645 degrees. The student population of La Plata County, CO in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 1,517 male students and 1,883 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in La Plata County, CO are White (307 and 48%), followed by American Indian or Alaska Native (164 and 25.7%), Hispanic or Latino (79 and 12.4%), and Two or More Races (69 and 10.8%).

The largest universities in La Plata County, CO by number of degrees awarded are Fort Lewis College (645 and 100%).

The most popular majors in La Plata County, CO are General Business (64 and 9.92%), General Psychology (48 and 7.44%), and Kinesiology & Exercise Science (34 and 5.27%).

The median tuition cost in La Plata County, CO for a public four year colleges is $7,200 for in-state students and $17,712 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2022 in La Plata County, CO, the percentage of applicants admitted was 91%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 19%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 3,400 (44.6% men and 55.4% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2022 there were 3,400 students enrolled in La Plata County, CO, 44.6% men and 55.4% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 1,383 records, of which 49.9% were women and 50.1% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Kinesiology & Exercise Science
34 degrees awarded
General Business
64 degrees awarded
General Psychology
48 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in La Plata County, CO was Kinesiology & Exercise Science with 34 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in La Plata County, CO according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Fort Lewis College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

645 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Fort Lewis College with 645 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2022, 288 men were awarded degrees from institutions in La Plata County, CO, which is 0.807 times less than the 357 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 307 degrees mean that there were 1.87 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, American Indian or Alaska Native, with 164 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($7,200) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 4-year or above ($2,012) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,240) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Colorado.

Measure

In 2022, 0.886% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.84% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Colorado.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were Bachelors Degree (1.16M), Some college (997k), and High School or Equivalent (997k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in La Plata County, CO was $549,100 in 2023, which is 1.81 times larger than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $497,800 to $549,100, a 10.3% increase. The homeownership rate in La Plata County, CO is 71%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in La Plata County, CO have an average commute time of 20.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in La Plata County, CO is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in La Plata County, CO is $85,296. In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in La Plata County, CO was Census Tract 9707.01 with a value of $99,125, followed by Census Tract 9707.03 and Census Tract 9710, with respective values of $91,525 and $87,768.

In 2023, 14.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in La Plata County, CO. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 2.93%.

Housing

Property

$549,100

Median Property Value 2023

±$17,287

$16,462

Median Property Taxes

±$896

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In La Plata County, CO the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in La Plata County, CO compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

71%

Homeownership

2023

71.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 71% of the housing units in La Plata County, CO were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 70.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in La Plata County, CO compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9707.01
Census Tract 9707.03
Census Tract 9710

In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in La Plata County, CO was Census Tract 9707.01 with a value of $99,125, followed by Census Tract 9707.03 and Census Tract 9710, with respective values of $91,525 and $87,768.

The following map shows all of the tracts in La Plata County, CO colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$85,296

Median Household Income

± $3,572

23.2k

Number of Households

± 1,065

In 2023, the median household income of the 23.2k households in La Plata County, CO grew to $85,296 from the previous year's value of $81,936.

The following chart displays the households in La Plata County, CO distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for La Plata County, CO is from Colorado.

0.464

2022 Wage GINI in Colorado

0.465

2021 Wage GINI in Colorado

In 2022, the income inequality in Colorado was 0.464 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.265% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Colorado was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Colorado in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Colorado across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (66.7%)
Worked At Home (17.9%)
Carpooled (7.52%)

In 2023, 66.7% of workers in La Plata County, CO drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (17.9%) and those who carpooled to work (7.52%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in La Plata County, CO have a shorter commute time (20.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 1.29% of the workforce in La Plata County, CO have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in La Plata County, CO compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in La Plata County, CO distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in La Plata County, CO have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2023, 14.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in La Plata County, CO. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 2.93%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

12.4% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in La Plata County, CO (6.76k out of 54.3k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 18 - 24, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 18 - 24.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in La Plata County, CO is White, followed by Hispanic and Native American.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2023, 12.1% of the children was living in poverty in La Plata County, CO. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 3.1%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

90.5% of the population of La Plata County, CO has health coverage, with 41.7% on employee plans, 15.4% on Medicaid, 16% on Medicare, 16.3% on non-group plans, and 1.08% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in La Plata County, CO see 775 patients per year on average, which represents a 4.91% decrease from the previous year (815 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1061 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 208 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.5% were men and 50.5% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

775 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in La Plata County, CO

Primary care physicians in La Plata County, CO see an average of 775 patients per year. This represents a 4.91% decrease from the previous year (815 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in La Plata County, CO in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 19.6% under 18 years, 19.5% between 18 and 34 years, 41% between 35 and 64 years, and 19.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.5% were men and 50.5% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

9.53%

Uninsured

41.7%

Employer Coverage

15.4%

Medicaid

16%

Medicare

16.3%

Non-Group

1.08%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in La Plata County, CO grew by 0.223% from 9.51% to 9.53%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in La Plata County, CO changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2023, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 54.6 in La Plata County, CO.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in La Plata County, CO.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2023, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 23.4% in La Plata County, CO.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in La Plata County, CO.