Demographics
Colorado Springs is rapidly changing in terms of demographics composition. Studying our population is one of the best ways we can understand our community. Explore this page to learn about who lives in the Pikes Peak Region!
Report Summary:
Demographics
The Colorado Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is different than the United States in many ways and is rapidly changing in terms of demographic composition. A variety of data sources and timeframes illustrate where we have been, where we are today and where we are headed. Check out the sources section at the bottom for an explanation of the different sources, and the best places to use them.
How do we compare?
Click on each graphic for more!
Colorado Springs MSA Stats
Slower-Growing Population
Between 2018 and 2019, Colorado was among the top 10 states for numeric and percentage growth (Johnson, 2019). In 2023, Colorado’s population was 5,876,300, an increase of slightly more than 36,000 residents from the previous year, based on state estimates. (Military personnel domiciled in Colorado are included in population numbers.)
Over the past five years, Colorado Springs MSA has grown at about the same rate as Colorado (0.7% annually). Teller County’s population is nearly unchanged during that time, with slight decreases recorded in 2022 and 2023. According to the State Demography Office, El Paso and Teller Counties hit their peak population increases in 2016 and have seen smaller increases since, with growth falling below 1.0% in 2020 and below 0.5% in 2022.
Diversity
Community diversity includes racial and ethnic identity, languages spoken, immigration status, religion, beliefs, backgrounds, sexual orientation, gender, age, and social class. There are hundreds of variances in individuals that demonstrate the array of peoples within a community. These charts provide snapshots of some of the area’s diverse characteristics.
Age
35.8
±0.2
Median age
about 90 percent of the figure in United States: 39.2
Sex
Education
95.4%
High school grad or higher
a little higher than the rate in United States: 89.8%
44.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher
about 25 percent higher than the rate in United States: 36.2%
Income
$46,474
Per capita income
about 10 percent higher than the amount in United States: $43,313
$89,792
Median household income
about 20 percent higher than the amount in United States: $77,719
Proportions of household composition (e.g., married, single parent, nonfamily household) changed slightly since 2018, with nonfamily households rising nearly 1% and female householders dropping by more than 1%. Recognizing the variety among the MSA’s household composition guides the community in considering ways to support the well-being of its residents.
Households
2.4
Persons per household
a little less than the figure in United States: 2.5
From 2019 to 2023, Colorado Springs’ non-white population rose by 3% and now reflects more than a third of the community. Those identifying as Hispanic rose from 17% to 19%; those indicating multiple ethnicities rose from 5% to 6%. According to the State Demography Office, our MSA is expected to see a significant increase in both the Hispanic and Asian populations by 2050 and a significant decrease (approximately 13.5%) in the White population.
NOTE: According to the State Demography Office, race and ethnicity in the U.S. Census are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, indicating whether they are of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Race and ethnicity are considered separate and distinct identities.
Race & Ethnicity
Source: 2023 ACS 1 Year estimates
Place of Birth
6.8%
(52,227 ±5,374)
Foreign-born population
about half the rate in United States: 14.3%
Veteran Status
15.3%
Population with veteran status
more than double the rate in the United States: 6.1%
85,085 Total Veterans
69,867 Male
15,218 Female
Components of Change
The Colorado Springs MSA, located on the fast-growing Front Range, reflects the popularity of the state for employers and residents. In 2022, El Paso County’s population experienced the fifth-largest growth in Colorado (after Weld, Douglas, Adams and Larimer counties), increasing by 3,350. While births have remained relatively steady over the last several years, natural increase has slowed due to increasing deaths as the population ages. Net migration has also decreased since 2018, when El Paso Country was the fastest-growing county in the state. Colorado Springs MSA’s growth rate is expected to rebound, with projected additions of 10,000 to 12,000 people annually over the next decade.
Population Trends
Overall, our population is expected to age and to become more diverse over the course of the next five years according to the State Demography Office. From 2025 to 2030, the population of those aged 70 and over is projected to increase by 22.5% in the MSA. There will also be double-digit growth in the 30-to-49-year-old group, which is economically favorable, given that those are prime working ages. A smaller increase will be seen in the age 20-to-29 cohort, while there is a projected decrease for the age 50-to-69 cohort. The five-year forecast for population growth is 1.4% in the United States and 6.2% in the state of Colorado, with Colorado Springs at 7.6% (Colorado Office of State Planning).
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Sources
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