State
Land Area
153.3 sq mi
Density
4,602.8/sq mi
2020 Growth Rate
-2.98%
Growth Since 2010
17.57%
Rank in State
Rank in Country
Metro Population
3,002,810
Denver is a city located in Colorado. With a 2020 population of 705,576, it is the largest city in Colorado and the 19th largest city in the United States. Denver is currently declining at a rate of -2.98% annually but its population has increased by 17.57% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 600,158 in 2010. Spanning over 155 miles, Denver has a population density of 4,603 people per square mile.
The average household income in Denver is $99,151 with a poverty rate of 12.86%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to $1,311 per month, and the median house value is $390,600. The median age in Denver is 34.5 years, 34.3 years for males, and 34.7 years for females. For every 100 females there are 100.3 males.
Denver, officially the City and County of Denver, is the capital of Colorado and the largest city in the state. Denver is also the most populous city within a 500-mile radius.
Denver is a rapidly growing area. According to the Census Bureau, it ranks 11th on the list of cities in the country with the most significant addition of residents, adding nearly 15,000 people between 2011 and 2012. The state of Colorado is the second fastest growing state in the US, driven in large part by growth in the Denver metro area.
While the 2016 population is estimated at over 680,000, the metropolitan area is much larger. The 10-county Denver-Aurora-Broomfield Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has a population of 2.8 million, making it the 21st most populous MSA in the country. The 12-county Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area, meanwhile, had a population of 3.15 million in 2013.
The most common ancestry groups in Denver are Mexican (31.2%), German (14.6%), Irish (9.7%), English (8.9%) and Italian (4.0%). 23.5% of Denver's population speaks Spanish at home.
Denver has led Colorado in population growth for four years in a row, according to the Census Bureau. Denver is both the fastest growing city and county in the state, with a growth rate of 2.42% from 2011 to 2012.
The city-county's growth is attributed to the ongoing development of areas like Stapleton, the buildout of the area's few remaining greenfield areas and a great deal of densification in the urban area. Denver is now the fastest growing city in the United States overall, and also first among large metro areas for population gain in the 25-34-year age group.
A 2013 economic forecast for metro Denver shows net migration in 2013 of close to 17,000, with an employment growth rate of 2.0%. Denver will continue to remain an attractive area to new residents through migration, and it's estimated the city will reach 700,000 and beyond by 2020.
The wider metro area is projected to reach 4.1 million by 2040, according to projections from the state demographer.
Denver City was founded in 1858 as a mining town during the peak of a Gold Rush in the area. Earlier in the year, gold prospectors arrived from Kansas and established Montana City along the South Platte River, which later became the city of Denver. This first settlement was abandoned by 1859 in favor of Auraria and nearby St. Charles City.
General William Larimer, a land speculator, staked a claim on the bluff overlooking the river across the creek from Auraria in 1858, naming the town site Denver City in an attempt to curry favor with Kansas Territorial Governor James W. Denver, although he didn't realize the governor had already resigned. Parcels of land were sold to miners and merchants, and Denver City became a frontier town with an economy centered on livestock, saloons, and gambling.
By 1861, the Colorado Territory was created, followed by Arapahoe County and the incorporation of Denver City a week later. Denver City became the Territorial Capital 6 years later, and its name was shortened to Denver given its importance.
Denver was finally linked to the rest of the country by railway in 1870, and its population grew as millionaires and those in poverty both made the city their home. Between 1870 and 1880, the population increased 648.7%, followed by almost 200% growth in the next decade. While its growth has slowed, it has continued to grow in both importance and size through the 20th and 21st century.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Denver was:
2019 and 2020 population is estimated by projecting the raw 2018 numbers.
Year | Total Population | Growth | Annual Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | 3,002,810 | 35,570 | 1.18% |
2019 | 2,967,240 | 35,580 | 1.20% |
2018 | 2,931,660 | 39,880 | 1.36% |
2017 | 2,891,780 | 35,020 | 1.21% |
2016 | 2,856,760 | 43,860 | 1.54% |
2015 | 2,812,900 | 58,930 | 2.09% |
2014 | 2,753,970 | 53,440 | 1.94% |
2013 | 2,700,530 | 50,260 | 1.86% |
2012 | 2,650,270 | 47,350 | 1.79% |
2011 | 2,602,920 | 48,400 | 1.86% |
2010 | 2,554,520 | 0.00% |
Race | Population | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White | 537,029 | 76.11% |
Black or African American | 65,215 | 9.24% |
Some Other Race | 43,220 | 6.13% |
Two or More Races | 26,636 | 3.78% |
Asian | 26,156 | 3.71% |
American Indian and Alaska Native | 6,144 | 0.87% |
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 1,176 | 0.17% |
Type | Count | Average Size | Owned |
---|---|---|---|
All | 301,501 | 2.29 | 49.9 |
Non Family | 155,431 | 1.38 | 36.8 |
Married | 104,266 | 3.22 | 71.6 |
Female | 28,242 | 3.4 | 41.9 |
Male | 13,562 | 3.35 | 49.6 |
3.17
Average Family Size
2.29
Average Household Size
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 29,423 | 5.78% |
9th to 12th Grade | 31,515 | 6.19% |
High School Graduate | 85,694 | 16.85% |
Some College | 83,799 | 16.47% |
Associates Degree | 26,788 | 5.27% |
Bachelors Degree | 153,502 | 30.17% |
Graduate Degree | 97,997 | 19.26% |
Name | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 311,062 | 302,892 | 204,467 |
Hispanic | 122,487 | 79,263 | 19,497 |
Black | 43,597 | 37,872 | 10,747 |
Other Race | 26,320 | 15,185 | 3,520 |
Asian | 19,222 | 16,027 | 10,365 |
Multiple Races | 14,028 | 13,007 | 7,446 |
Native American | 4,466 | 3,639 | 777 |
Islander | 698 | 632 | 322 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 97.37%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 65.73%.
$47,869
Average Earnings
$52,072
Average Male
$42,622
Average Female
74.46% of Denver residents speak only English, while 25.54% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 19.15% of the population.
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Hispanic | 208,313 | 36,477 | 17.51% |
White | 375,246 | 30,863 | 8.22% |
Black | 63,664 | 15,298 | 24.03% |
Other | 42,875 | 6,761 | 15.77% |
Asian | 25,862 | 3,851 | 14.89% |
Multiple | 26,250 | 3,552 | 13.53% |
Native | 5,827 | 1,428 | 24.51% |
Islander | 1,176 | 77 | 6.55% |
12.86%
Overall Poverty Rate
11.92%
Male Poverty Rate
13.81%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Denver is Native, with 24.51% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Denver is Islander, with 6.55% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.26%. Among those working part-time, it was 17.31%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 26.53%.
39.5%
Overall Marriage Rate
39.8%
Male Marriage Rate
39.1%
Female Marriage Rate
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 35-44, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 22,667 | 5.14% |
Hispanic | 4,246 | 2.92% |
Black | 3,925 | 7.93% |
Other | 978 | 3.13% |
2 or More | 902 | 5.44% |
Asian | 513 | 2.37% |
Indian | 225 | 4.58% |
Hawaiian | 169 | 20.84% |
8.78%
Veteran Poverty Rate
25.05%
Veteran Disability Rate
72.3%
Labor Force Participation
69.5%
Employment Rate
3.8%
Unemployment Rate
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
85.03%
Native Born
14.97%
Foreign Born
9.18%
Non Citizen
5.79%
Naturalized
85.03% of Denver residents were born in the United States, with 39.94% having been born in Colorado. 9.18% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Annual Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | 738,157 | 32,581 | |
2020 | 705,576 | -21,635 | -2.98% |
2019 | 727,211 | 21,635 | |
2019 | 705,576 | -10,689 | -1.49% |
2018 | 716,265 | 22,848 | |
2018 | 693,417 | -11,544 | -1.64% |
2017 | 704,961 | 26,494 | |
2017 | 678,467 | -17,692 | -2.54% |
2016 | 696,159 | 32,856 | |
2016 | 663,303 | -19,982 | -2.92% |
2015 | 683,285 | 33,631 | |
2015 | 649,654 | -14,928 | -2.25% |
2014 | 664,582 | 30,805 | |
2014 | 633,777 | -15,614 | -2.40% |
2013 | 649,391 | 30,094 | |
2013 | 619,297 | -15,866 | -2.50% |
2012 | 635,163 | 30,807 | |
2012 | 604,356 | -16,174 | -2.61% |
2011 | 620,530 | 30,023 | |
2011 | 590,507 | -12,852 | -2.13% |
2010 | 603,359 | 3,201 | |
2010 | 600,158 | 45,522 | 0.79% |
2000 | 554,636 | 87,026 | 1.72% |
1990 | 467,610 | -25,076 | -0.52% |
1980 | 492,686 | -21,992 | -0.44% |
1970 | 514,678 | 20,791 | 0.41% |
1960 | 493,887 | 78,101 | 1.74% |
1950 | 415,786 | 93,374 | 2.58% |
1940 | 322,412 | 34,551 | 1.14% |
1930 | 287,861 | 31,370 | 1.16% |
1920 | 256,491 | 43,110 | 1.86% |
1910 | 213,381 | 79,522 | 4.77% |
1900 | 133,859 | 27,146 | 2.29% |
1890 | 106,713 | 71,084 | 11.59% |
1880 | 35,629 | 30,870 | 22.30% |
1870 | 4,759 | 10 | 0.02% |
1860 | 4,749 | 0.00% |