Colorado's population growth story is a tale of haves and have-nots, with the state's fastest-growing counties attracting new residents while others struggle to retain their population. The state's population gains have been concentrated in a belt of counties stretching from Weld down to Elbert and El Paso counties, bypassing Arapahoe, which had the state's biggest population loss in raw numbers. This trend is a stark contrast to the past, when Colorado was a magnet for people from all over the country. The state's population growth has slowed significantly, with more than half of Colorado's 64 counties losing population last year. This trend is particularly evident in resort areas, where high home prices and a shrinking gap between births and deaths are forcing residents to leave. The state's aging population is also a factor, with more baby boomers dying and fewer births. This is expected to set in by 2030 nationally, and Colorado isn't expected to hit that grim milestone until 2047. The state's population growth is now concentrated in Weld, Douglas, Adams, El Paso, and Larimer counties, which gained a combined 26,678 people last year, more than the statewide population gain. These counties are attracting new residents with their openness to home construction and lower living costs. However, the state's population decline is also evident in the Front Range, where Jackson County is facing a steady and seemingly irreversible decline in its population. The county's storefronts have emptied, and young people continue to depart for better jobs in larger cities. The county's administrator, Samantha Martin, acknowledges that there is no perfect answer to stem the decline, and the county currently has no action plan. The state's population growth is also being impacted by immigration, which has been masking big declines in people moving from other states. The net immigration rate has fallen by almost three-quarters in the Denver area, and the state can expect very weak or negative net international immigration in 2026. This is a significant shift from the past, when immigration was a major driver of population growth. The state's population growth is now largely driven by natural change, or births minus deaths, which currently contributes a little over 20,000 people a year. However, as more baby boomers die, this is expected to shrink as well. The state's population growth is also being impacted by high housing costs, which are forcing immigrants to move to more affordable places. Denver spent more than $35 million to handle an unexpected surge of immigrants in 2023, and the state's second-largest population loss last year was in Denver, reflecting net domestic outflows of 8,023. The state's population growth is also being impacted by the shrinking gap between births and deaths, which is forcing families to move elsewhere to have children. Jefferson County, the state's fourth most populous county, has seen a wave of school closures due to declining enrollments, which are linked to the county's stagnating population and high home prices. The state's population growth is a complex issue, with a variety of factors impacting its trajectory. While some counties are attracting new residents with their openness to home construction and lower living costs, others are struggling to retain their population due to high housing costs and a shrinking gap between births and deaths. The state's aging population is also a factor, with more baby boomers dying and fewer births. The state's population growth is a critical issue for the state's future, and it will require a comprehensive approach to address the various factors impacting its trajectory.
