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KENNA NEWS DESK · COLORADO GROWTH · NOVEMBER 9, 2026
By The Kenna Group News Desk.
Yes, Colorado's population is still growing: the state counted 6,011,146 people on July 1, 2025, up 0.4%, or 23,725 people in one year, state demographers said at their annual summit, The Colorado Sun reported on November 9. For Colorado home buyers and sellers in Denver, Greeley, Fort Collins, Castle Rock and Colorado Springs, the growth now comes from births and new arrivals from other countries, while more people left for other states than moved in. Here is what the new Colorado population numbers mean for home prices, housing demand and your next move.
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Send me new listingsWhat is my home worth?6.01M Coloradans on July 1, 2025 Up 0.4% in a year (state demographers) | 65,380 Colorado births, 2024-25 Highest since 2017 (Census) |
23 Counties that lost people Jefferson and Boulder lost the most | 22,813 Colorado homes for sale today Our MLS count, Nov. 9, 2026 |
Is Colorado still growing in 2026?
Yes. State demographers told the State Demography Summit in Douglas County that Colorado has not lost population in any of the past six years, The Colorado Sun reported. State demographer Neal Marquez said talk of a "downward spiral" is not true and that slower growth is a nationwide trend. The state forecast calls for about 7.5 million Coloradans by 2060, with growth slower than in the past but faster than the U.S. for the next 20 to 30 years.
Where the new Coloradans come from
Births minus deaths added about 20,000 people, and births were the highest since 2017. Net international migration added about 15,000. Domestic migration, people moving between states, went negative: the state's new estimate is a net loss of about 3,451 people for the year ending July 1, 2025, the first negative year since the early 2000s, per The Colorado Sun.
The U.S. Census Bureau's earlier count tells the same story with bigger numbers. Its vintage 2025 estimate put Colorado at 6,012,561, with 65,380 births, a net gain of 15,356 people from other countries and a net loss of 12,100 to other states, the first negative domestic year since 2004, the Colorado State Demography Office summarized in January. The state's own estimate, released this fall, revised that domestic loss down to about 3,451.
| Colorado population, July 2024 to July 2025 | State demographers (Nov. 2026) | U.S. Census (Jan. 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Population on July 1, 2025 | 6,011,146 | 6,012,561 |
| One-year growth | +23,725 (0.4%) | 0.4% |
| Net from other countries | about +15,000 | +15,356 |
| Net from other states | about -3,451 | -12,100 |
| Source | The Colorado Sun, Nov. 9, 2026 | State Demography Office, Jan. 27, 2026 |
Which Colorado counties are growing and which are shrinking?
Twenty-three of Colorado's 64 counties lost people. Jefferson County, down about 3,302, and Boulder County, down about 2,442, lost the most, with more residents moving to other states, The Colorado Sun reported. Weld County led the gains on births and new residents. The State Demography Office's county release named Douglas, Larimer and Weld counties as the places with the strongest positive net migration, and said several high housing cost counties lost people, per the State Demography Office.
That pattern matches what we see in prices. The growth counties sit on the edges of the metro, where homes cost less per square foot or where new neighborhoods are still going up: Greeley, Windsor and Fort Collins to the north, Castle Rock, Parker and Highlands Ranch to the south.
| County | Population trend | Homes for sale (Nov. 9) | Average list price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weld (Greeley, Windsor) | Led gains; strong net migration | 1,685 | $602,319 |
| Larimer (Fort Collins, Loveland) | Strong net migration | 1,699 | $708,768 |
| Douglas (Castle Rock, Parker) | Strong net migration | 1,851 | $991,013 |
| Jefferson (Lakewood, Arvada) | Lost about 3,302 | 2,216 | $799,695 |
| Boulder | Lost about 2,442 | 1,363 | $1,282,245 |
| Denver | Not reported | 3,170 | $733,535 |
| El Paso (Colorado Springs) | Not reported | 3,952 | $586,460 |
Listing counts and average prices: our MLS search of active homes, Nov. 9, 2026. Averages are list prices, not sale prices.
Jobs and housing: the two things to watch
Colorado lost 4,898 jobs last year, the first loss outside a recession in years, state economist Greg Totten said at the summit. Health care added more than 13,300 jobs while the rest of the economy lost a net 18,300, and construction was one of the weakest sectors. Totten tied the drop in people moving here to slower job growth. Demographers also said Colorado needs more housing, preferably affordable, and that building here is expensive, The Colorado Sun reported.
How this affects you
Buyers: slower growth means less competition than in 2021, and 22,813 Colorado homes are for sale today with an average of 89 days on the market. At Freddie Mac's 7.18% average rate, a $500,000 home with 5% down ($25,000) runs $3,218 a month in principal and interest; with 20% down it is $2,710. Start with a mortgage pre-approval and our Colorado mortgage calculator, then ask about seller concessions.
Sellers: buyers still arrive every year, but fewer come from other states, so your buyer is more likely a local move-up or a first-time buyer already renting here. Price for the local buyer, not the 2021 out-of-state rush. A home value report shows where your price sits against today's 22,813 competing listings.
Homeowners in Jefferson and Boulder counties: these counties lost the most people, and Boulder carries the highest average list price on our chart at $1,282,245. Homes that are priced right still sell; overpriced homes sit. Read our Colorado affordability report to see who can buy at today's prices.
The Colorado market: a growing state with fewer homes being built keeps a floor under prices, while 7.18% rates cap how fast they rise. The October numbers are in our Denver market update and Denver real estate statistics.
What to watch out for
- Growth is not a price guarantee. Population counts move slowly; rates and jobs move prices faster. Watch the weekly rate and the monthly sales numbers.
- Two sources, two numbers. The Census and the state demographers count the same year differently (a 12,100 vs. 3,451 domestic loss). Check which one a headline uses.
- Do not buy far out for growth alone. Add the commute, metro district taxes and HOA dues to the payment before you choose Weld or Douglas County over a closer-in home.
- Moving here for a job? Colorado lost 4,898 jobs last year. Get the offer in writing before you sign a purchase contract.
Sources
- The Colorado Sun, Colorado's population is still growing, state demographers say. Here's what the numbers show., Tamara Chuang, Nov. 9, 2026
- Colorado State Demography Office, Colorado's State Demography Office Summarizes the U.S. Census Data Released Today, Jan. 27, 2026
- Colorado State Demography Office, State Demography Office Summarizes County-Level U.S. Census Bureau Data, March 26, 2026
- Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey, Nov. 5, 2026
Disclosure: general information about Colorado population growth, housing demand, home prices and mortgage payments in Denver, Weld, Larimer, Douglas, Jefferson, Boulder and El Paso counties, not legal, tax or lending advice. Payment examples are principal and interest only at the Freddie Mac average rate; taxes, insurance and HOA dues are extra, and your rate depends on your credit and lender approval. Listing counts and average list prices are from our MLS search on Nov. 9, 2026 and change daily. The Kenna Group at Keller Williams DTC, Keller Williams Realty DTC, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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