Colorado State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

#5 in Overall Ranking out of 50 in 2021

Looking for a new home in the United States? Then, people should consider CO (the abbreviation of Colorado) to settle in. It has incredible landscapes, a strong economy, and a high-quality life. For instance, the sales tax is low to favor trade and economic activity, according to official information records and statistics. From the many counties, one of them is an excellent place to live for sure.

Updated: March 31, 2021
  • Area
    104,100 SQ. MI.
  • Capital
    Denver
  • Population
    5,758,736
  • Income
    $69,117
  • Home Value
    $442,766
  • Crime
    21,938
  • Unemployment
    6.9%
  • Education
    39.4%
  • Medicine
    9
  • Poverty
    9.6%
  • Environment
    72
  • Infrastructure
    5.9%

Known for its majestic mountains, CO (the Colorado abbreviation) can be a paradise to live in for those who love nature. Of course, this doesn’t mean there are no big cities. Denver, for example, is an international hub with a lot of educational and professional opportunities available.

In addition to being in a Mountain region of the United States, people can enjoy the Plateau and the western part of the Great Plains. As a result, inhabitants get to enjoy all the benefits of nature and open spaces. In terms of the cost of living in this area, life is a bit expensive, but the wages accompany this high price. Anyone with an education can have access to a good job and make a living, whether alone or with a family, by looking at different pages and sites.

The Spanish explorers named the Rio Colorado (red river) due to its ruddy silt. Some years later, the state as a whole adopted this name. CO became the 38th state when president Ulysses Grant incorporated it into the United States in 1861.

The most critical areas where to look for a job include defense, mining, tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing. But this does not mean people cannot thrive in other industries such as marketing or technology.

How We Figured Out Which Were the Best States to Live In

To rank all of the USA states, we took into account several indicators. These include education, economy, median income, and health outcomes. For this, we used reputable sources such as official government pages, research studies, the United Health Foundation, and the latest census.

With this information in mind and all these metrics, we then ranked all of the provinces to choose the best states to live in. Examine the details below and find out which ones are more or less important.

Colorado Rankings

  • Population
    #21
    Population
    Data: 5,758,736

    Although this is a rich area with a high quality of life, not many people choose it as their home or contact point. This shows in the Colorado population density. There are only 57.1 persons per square mile, while there are 405.5in Florida.

  • Median Income
    #2
    Income in $
    Data: $69,117

    The CO economy is based on the extraction of minerals. In the last few years, high-technology companies have established their contact centers and provided a lot of employment. Here the taxes are among the lowest in the U.S.: the sales tax is 2.90%, while the property tax – at 0.56%.

  • Home Value
    #5
    Home Value
    Data: $442,766

    The median home value here is very high, almost by 100% of what it costs to buy a home in other places like Illinois or Tennessee, according to the government webpage. And the prices are going up in the last few years. Not even the coronavirus pandemic stopped this tendency.

  • Unemployment Rate
    #36
    Unemployment
    Data: 6.9%

    The unemployment rate is quite high here, according to official information and statistics pages. As a result, those with or without education may have trouble finding a job. They can either work in places that require a bachelor’s degree or in the tourism sphere, where they won’t need professional preparation but other types of skills on their page.

  • Poverty
    #6
    Poverty
    Data: 9.6%

    The poverty rate is relatively low. Only 9% of inhabitants are below the line, so their wages and salaries are enough to live comfortably. According to the census, single women without a degree are more likely to be poor than professional white men.

  • Education
    #2
    Education
    Data: 39.4%

    The working class here is very educated. As the figures show, almost 50% of the population has some kind of degree. This can be found in urban areas, such as Denver, as its logo indicates, and not so much in rural places. Most of these people work in the IT industry or hospitality.

  • Medicine
    #3
    Medicine
    Health Outcomes: 9

    The rate of uninsured people here is one of the lowest in the whole of the United States. Only 3% of the population don’t have medical insurance. As a result, one can infer that the rest have a good job that covers those expenses or can buy one on their own. Plus, the health system is quite efficient, with more than 108 hospitals around the territory.

  • Crime Rate
    #36
    Crime
    Violent Crime: 21,938

    Overall, this state has a low violence and crime rate, though some suburbs and cities are not that peaceful to live in. For example, Glendale in Denver is quite dangerous, with a lot of violent crimes such as rage and aggravated assaults going on, according to the census page. Sheridan, Pueblo, and Alamosa are other places that report many crimes every year.

  • Natural Environment
    #31
    Environment
    Air: 72

    While the air is quite clear and breathable, the water is not of such high quality in this province. The number of violations is quite high, especially considering all the natural places and water sources the population can have in CO. People living here can buy bottled water instead of having to open the faucet and drink.

  • Infrastructure
    #23
    Infrastructure
    Poor Roads: 5.9%

    In terms of infrastructure, the province is again right in the middle. The bridges are not so badly treated as in New York or Alaska but can have some improvement to reach the levels of Kansas or Nevada. In any case, almost 95% of the roads and highways are in good shape, especially to the south of the state.

Colorado Facts

  • The state motto is “Nil Sine Numine,” which means “nothing without providence.”
  • The nickname is the Centennial State, as it’s one of the oldest (though it was not founded as one of the original 13 colonies). 
  • The Colorado flag features five stripes with different colors in just one logo, similar to the national flag.
  • The biggest city is Denver, which is, at the same time, the capital of the state.
  • The cheeseburger was born here, as the inhabitants claim. 
  • This is also the home of the highest paved road in the whole of North America.
  • The CO State bird is the lark bunting
  • One of the main economic activities is mineral exploitation, such as gold or uranium.
  • Rocky Mountain Columbine is the state flower
  • This territory became part of the United States only in 1876.
  • It gives its name to the river that looks as if it were red because of the mud
  • The borders are Utah to the west, New Mexico to the South, Kansas to the east, and Wyoming to the north. 
  • ⅓ of the land or more is owned by the state and not private owners. 
  • Most trees that grow in the county are conifers
  • Those looking for mountains can enjoy the Rocky Mountains and its tallest peak.

Colorado in Photos

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Colorado Denver Panorama
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FAQ Section

  • Where Is Colorado?

    It is located right in the heart of the United States. It is one of the highest places, as it’s within the Rocky Mountain region. Those living in this county are called Coloradans. It borders many other provinces such as Wyoming, Nebraska, or Kansas.

  • What Time Zone Is Colorado?

    The United States is a huge territory, so it has a lot of time zones there. CO, for example, is inserted in the GMT-7 time zone. When compared to other important provinces, for instance, it has a 2-hour difference from New York.

  • What is Centennial State Known for?

    This state is famous for a lot of things, such as:

    • The Rocky Mountains and other gorgeous landscapes.
    • The variety of activities it offers outdoors, such as horse-riding, skiing, or canoeing.
    • Its food is famous. Dishes are fairly unique, and breweries are high-quality. For example, the Lamb is featured in most local menus.
    • While three different places claim to have invented the cheeseburger, the most prevalent idea is this province.
    • Beautiful Colorado national parks, such as the Mesa Verde one, are also famous. The Garden of the Gods is another great option.

  • What to Do in Colorado?

    This is an excellent way to visit tourists and carry out different activities, like:

    • Visit stunning lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and even desserts.
    • Practice different sports such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, etc.
    • Take a look at all the historical monuments and get to know more about the state’s heritage.
    • Stroll along with the many state parks and national natural places like the Rocky Mountain National Park.
    • Go skiing at the Vail resort and taste delicious chocolate in the town.
    • Enter the Garden of the Gods and have the time of one’s life.
    • Don’t miss out on the Million Dollar Highway.

  • What Is the Minimum Wage in CO?

    To make sure that everybody can live comfortably, the country has implemented a system of minimum wages. With that money, people can pay rent, food, bills and save a little for the future. In Colorado state, the minimum wage is $12 an hour.

  • How Many Counties Are There in CO?

    The Colorado counties are many, specifically, 64. The least populated one is San Juan. The one with the most people, of course, is Denver County, together with other counties such as El Paso and Arapahoe.