492,204
Colorado Springs is a city located in Elbert County, El Paso County, and Fremont County Colorado. Colorado Springs has a 2024 population of 492,204. It is also the county seat of El Paso County. Colorado Springs is currently growing at a rate of 0.61% annually and its population has increased by 2.48% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 480,292 in 2020.
The average household income in Colorado Springs is $102,139 with a poverty rate of 10.41%. The median age in Colorado Springs is 35.1 years: 34 years for males, and 36.5 years for females.
Colorado Springs is the most populous city in El Paso County, Colorado and sits at the base of Pikes Peak, one of the most famous mountains in the Americas.
Population Density in Colorado Springs
While Colorado Springs is a large city with much land, it still faces the same problems of any city with fast growth: congested roads, crime, and budget issues. Despite its problems, it was chosen in 2006 by Money magazine as the number one Best Big City to live in and earned the first place in Outside magazine's 2009 list of America's Best Cities.
Colorado Springs Population Growth
Colorado Springs has enjoyed steady growth since the earliest census in 1870, with the slowest growth occurring from 1910 to 1920 (just 3.5%). Since then, every census has reported double-digit growth in The Springs.
Still, the number of people moving to the area from other parts of the country has slowed, and demographers believe it may be signs of a troubled economy. There may be some association between the local city-wide ban of recreational cannabis retail stores - while there are over 100 medical cannabis dispensaries in the city.
The most substantial growth in recent years has come from births and from abroad, especially soldiers returning home. In 2010, a survey estimated 3,800 people moved to El Paso County in the last year, compared to just 777 two years later. According to some experts, the region has been one of the slowest to recover from the recession, and job growth isn't as strong as other areas in Colorado.
The Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance is already moving quickly to reverse this trend and focusing on areas that work well with the community, particularly sporting, defense and aerospace industries. The city is also working harder to increase tourism to its region, believing that once people visit for the scenery and lifestyle, they'll want to settle in Colorado Springs to stay.
The area of Pikes Peak was first inhabited by Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Kiowa and Ute Indians, who gathered each year at present-day Garden of the Gods park. General William Palmer, a Civil War General, first came to the area in 1870 and founded Denver, the Rio Grande Railroad and Colorado Springs a year later. He worked to lay out the plans for the city and donated land for schools and churches, envisioning the area as a resort destination, hence the town's first nickname: Little London.
The gold rush of the 1890s led to a settlement just west of Colorado Springs, and the town quickly became the "city of millionaires" by the beginning of the 19th century. By 1904, 35 of the country's 100 millionaires had come from the gold that was mined out of the area.
A Fort Carson Army installation was constructed in the city in the 1940s, and Colorado Springs still has a strong military presence to this day with the Peterson Air Force Base, the US Air Force Academy, US Space Command and more. Colorado Springs has posted positive population growth since its founding, with particularly strong growth during the 1960s and 70's when most large cities in the US were losing people to the suburbs. The crime rates are unusually high in Colorado Springs especially in regards to robbery and assaults.
Colorado Springs Demographics
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Colorado Springs was:
- White: 73.39%
- Two or more races: 11.48%
- Black or African American: 6.02%
- Other race: 4.61%
- Asian: 3.14%
- Native American: 1.09%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.27%
State
Colorado
County
Elbert County
El Paso County
Fremont County
Land Area (mi²)
201.9
sq mi
Density (mi²)
2,438.30
/sq mi
Growth Since 2020
2.48% (
11,912
)
The current population of Colorado Springs, Colorado is 492,204 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 480,292.
Population by Race
White
Two or more races
Black or African American
Other race
Asian
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Colorado Springs Population by Race
Colorado Springs Population Pyramid 2024
Colorado Springs Median Age
35.1
Total
34
Male
36.5
Female
Colorado Springs Adults
There are 373,643 adults, (68,487 of whom are seniors) in Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs Age Dependency
57.2
Age Dependency Ratio
22.4
Old Age Dependency Ratio
34.7
Child Dependency Ratio
Colorado Springs Sex Ratio
Female | 238,758 | 49.78% |
Male | 240,854 | 50.22% |
Colorado Springs Population by Age
Colorado Springs Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 193,149 | 2.44 | 61.1 | 38.9 |
Married | 91,989 | 3.06 | 76.9 | 23.1 |
Non Family | 71,438 | 1.32 | 46.2 | 53.8 |
Female | 19,909 | 3.25 | 47.5 | 52.5 |
Male | 9,813 | 3 | 48.6 | 51.4 |
2.99
Average Family Size
2.44
Average Household Size
61.1%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Colorado Springs Households and Families
Male
Female
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
Colorado Springs Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)
Colorado Springs Educational Attainment by Race
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 96.9%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among islander people with a rate of 47.99%.
Colorado Springs Educational Attainment by Race
All
Male
Female
$48,406
Average Earnings
$57,187
Average Male
$40,425
Average Female
Colorado Springs Earnings by Educational Attainment
Colorado Springs Language by Age
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
Colorado Springs Language
87.88% of Colorado Springs residents speak only English, while 12.12% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 7.68% of the population.
Colorado Springs Language
Colorado Springs Poverty by Race
rate
10.41%
Overall Poverty Rate
9.18%
Male Poverty Rate
11.65%
Female Poverty Rate
Poverty in Colorado Springs
The race most likely to be in poverty in Colorado Springs is Native, with 20.86% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Colorado Springs is Islander, with 2.25% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.36%. Among those working part-time, it was 14.66%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 17.8%.
Colorado Springs Poverty
rate
Download Table Data
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 24.41% |
High School | 12.45% |
Some College | 9.63% |
Bachelors or Greater | 4.14% |
Colorado Springs Poverty Rate by Education
rate
Colorado Springs Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex
Colorado Springs Income by Household Type
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
mean
median
Income by Household Type
Colorado Springs Marital Status
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Marriage Rates
49.9%
Overall Marriage Rate
51.0%
Male Marriage Rate
48.9%
Female Marriage Rate
Colorado Springs Married by Age and Sex
male
female
Colorado Springs Marriage
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Colorado Springs Marital Status by Race
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Colorado Springs Marital Status
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
Colorado Springs Veterans by War
count
Colorado Springs Veterans by Age
count
Colorado Springs Veterans by Race
Colorado Springs Veterans by Education
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
6.48%
Veteran Poverty Rate
24.92%
Veteran Disability Rate
Colorado Springs Veterans by Education
LaborForceParticipation
Colorado Springs Employment by Age
LaborForceParticipation
Colorado Springs Employment by Race
LaborForceParticipation
Colorado Springs Employment by Education
Origin of Non-Citizens
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Origin of Naturalized Citizens
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
32.1%
Born in Colorado Springs
92.47%
Native Born
7.53%
Foreign Born
3.39%
Non Citizen
4.14%
Naturalized
Place of Birth
92.47% of Colorado Springs residents were born in the United States, with 32.1% having been born in Colorado. 3.39% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Colorado Springs Place of Birth
Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 507,094 | 2,978 | 0.59% |
2028 | 504,116 | 2,978 | 0.59% |
2027 | 501,138 | 2,978 | 0.6% |
2026 | 498,160 | 2,978 | 0.6% |
2025 | 495,182 | 2,978 | 0.61% |
2024 | 492,204 | 2,978 | 0.61% |
2023 | 489,226 | 2,978 | 0.61% |
2022 | 486,248 | 2,920 | 0.6% |
2021 | 483,328 | 3,036 | 0.63% |
2020 | 480,292 | 2,257 | 0.47% |
2019 | 478,035 | 4,860 | 1.03% |
2018 | 473,175 | 7,255 | 1.56% |
2017 | 465,920 | 6,707 | 1.46% |
2016 | 459,213 | 9,250 | 2.06% |
2015 | 449,963 | 7,335 | 1.66% |
2014 | 442,628 | 4,088 | 0.93% |
2013 | 438,540 | 5,480 | 1.27% |
2012 | 433,060 | 5,473 | 1.28% |
2011 | 427,587 | 6,861 | 1.63% |
2010 | 420,726 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 360,890 | 79,750 | 28.37% |
1990 | 281,140 | 66,035 | 30.7% |
1980 | 215,105 | 79,588 | 58.73% |
1970 | 135,517 | 65,323 | 93.06% |
1960 | 70,194 | 24,722 | 54.37% |
1950 | 45,472 | 8,683 | 23.6% |
1940 | 36,789 | 3,552 | 10.69% |
1930 | 33,237 | 3,132 | 10.4% |
1920 | 30,105 | 1,027 | 3.53% |
1910 | 29,078 | 7,993 | 37.91% |
1900 | 21,085 | 9,945 | 89.27% |
1890 | 11,140 | 6,914 | 163.61% |
1880 | 4,226 | -502,868 | -99.17% |
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