Chaffee County, Colorado: commercial real estate data.
Chaffee County, Colorado had an estimated 20,780 residents on July 1, 2024, up 6.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 19,476, across 1,013 square miles. County output reached $1.30 bn in 2024, 1,076 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 34 7(a) approvals worth $34.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Chaffee County
How many people live in Chaffee County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202420,178
- Households9,863
- Average household size2.05
- Median household income$84,132
- Median age48.7
- Median gross rent$1,611 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$665,700
- Home value to household income7.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income23.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher47.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree18.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over16,499
- Population under 182,804
- Share under 1813.9 percent
- Population 65 and over5,307
- Share 65 and over26.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6412,067
- Civilian labor force9,847
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over56.7 percent
- Rank by population among Colorado counties26th of 64
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1870th of 3,222
Chaffee County is the 26th largest of 64 Colorado counties by population. A median home costs 7.9 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 26.3 percent against 13.9 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Chaffee County
Is Chaffee County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202420,780
- Census 2020 base population19,476
- Population change since the 2020 census base6.70 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024172
- Births, 2024157
- Deaths, 2024222
- Natural change, 2024-65
- Net domestic migration, 2024221
- Net international migration, 202415
- Total net migration, 2024236
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,368
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents328th of 3,144
The county has grown 6.70 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Chaffee County
Where are people moving to Chaffee County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,103
- People arriving, from those returns1,785
- Tax returns filed by households leaving900
- Net household movement203
- Adjusted gross income arriving$132.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$72.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$120,160
- Average income of a leaving household$66,840
- Largest single originDenver County (107 households)
- Largest single destinationFremont County (90 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver County | 107 | 139 | $13.3 m |
| Jefferson County | 81 | 150 | $11.3 m |
| El Paso County | 66 | 126 | $7.1 m |
| Fremont County | 47 | 75 | $1.9 m |
| Arapahoe County | 33 | 63 | $2.7 m |
| Larimer County | 31 | 41 | $1.6 m |
| Boulder County | 30 | 40 | $2.3 m |
| Douglas County | 28 | 51 | $4.1 m |
Households arriving report $53,320 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Denver County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Chaffee County
What is the Chaffee County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.30 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.23 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.1 percent
- GDP change over five years48.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Colorado areas BEA publishes27th of 64
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1627th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$64,662
Output grew 6.1 percent in the latest year and 48.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Chaffee County
Employment by industry in Chaffee County
- Covered employment, annual average9,229
- Establishments reporting1,244
- Average annual pay$52,718
- Average weekly wage$1,014
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,581
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$32,765
- Retail trade, employment1,414
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,722
- Construction, employment710
- Construction, average annual pay$69,026
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment564
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, average annual pay$28,086
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment401
- Health care and social assistance, employment351
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 1,581 | 134 | $32,765 |
| Retail trade | 1,414 | 147 | $38,722 |
| Construction | 710 | 178 | $69,026 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 564 | 46 | $28,086 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 401 | 193 | $96,907 |
| Health care and social assistance | 351 | 87 | $51,621 |
| Manufacturing | 296 | 37 | $49,015 |
| Wholesale trade | 249 | 42 | $58,282 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,581 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Chaffee County
How many businesses are in Chaffee County?
- Establishments, all industries1,076
- Employment at those establishments7,171
- Annual payroll$352.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents53.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Chaffee County
Building permits in Chaffee County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024289
- Declared construction value permitted$99.3 m
- Single family units authorized274
- Multifamily units authorized15
- Multifamily share of units5.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$343,568
- Units authorized per 1,000 households29.3
Single-family homes are 94.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Chaffee County
SBA loans in Chaffee County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded34
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$34.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,012,538
- Median 7(a) approval$438,000
- 10th percentile approval$117,450
- 90th percentile approval$2,500,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)739
- Jobs per approval21.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active22
- Distinct industries receiving approvals24
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer23.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter24
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countEngineering Services (4)
- Most active lenderGlacier Bank (6)
- 504 approvals recorded25
- 504 gross approval dollars$16.1 m
- Average 504 approval$645,680
- Median 504 approval$405,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval6.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.5
- Most active CDCB:Side Capital (20)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$50.6 m
The average approval of $1,012,538 sits well above the median of $438,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 23.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chaffee County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Chaffee County
Do SBA loans in Chaffee County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full7
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled10
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure17
Only 7 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chaffee County
SBA lending by place in Chaffee County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Salida, approvals17
- Buena Vista, approvals14
- Nathrop, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Salida | 17 | $11,901,000 |
| Buena Vista | 14 | $20,015,000 |
| Nathrop | 3 | $2,510,300 |
Salida accounts for 17 approvals against 14 in Buena Vista. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chaffee County
How large is Chaffee County?
- Land area1,013 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Colorado counties43rd of 64
- Width, east to west38.8 mi
- Height, north to south43.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land20
- Establishments per square mile1.06
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Chaffee County
Flood risk in Chaffee County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Chaffee County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 080269
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Chaffee County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Chaffee County (community 080269), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Chaffee County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Chaffee County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Chaffee County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202420,178
- Households9,863
- Average household size2.05
- Median household income$84,132
- Median age48.7
Common questions
Chaffee County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Chaffee County, Colorado?
The Census Bureau estimates 20,780 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 20,178, in 9,863 households, ranking 26th of 64 Colorado counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Chaffee County's population growing?
The population has grown 6.70 percent since the 2020 census base of 19,476, to 20,780 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 157 births against 222 deaths, with net migration of 236. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Chaffee County?
$84,132. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $665,700, which is 7.9 times income, and median gross rent is $1,611 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Chaffee County?
1,076 establishments, employing 7,171 people with an annual payroll of $352.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Chaffee County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,581 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 9,229 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,718, or $1,014 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Chaffee County?
34 7(a) approvals totaling $34.4 m since FY2020, across 22 lenders, with a median approval of $438,000, plus 25 504 approvals worth $16.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Chaffee County?
289 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $99.3 m. Multifamily was 5.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Chaffee County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Chaffee County come from?
The largest single origin is Denver County, with 107 households. Arriving households report an average income of $120,160 against $66,840 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Chaffee County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Chaffee County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Chaffee County
Cities and places in Chaffee.
8 Census places lie wholly or partly in Chaffee County. All 8 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salida | city | 5,861 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Buena Vista | town | 3,010 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Poncha Springs | town | 959 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Maysville | CDP | 235 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Smeltertown | CDP | 188 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Nathrop | CDP | 187 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Johnson Village | CDP | 129 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Garfield | CDP | 93 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby