Denver County, Colorado: commercial real estate data.
Denver County, Colorado had an estimated 729,019 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 715,513, across 153 square miles. County output reached $128.54 bn in 2024, 27,422 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 1,541 7(a) approvals worth $853.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Denver County
How many people live in Denver County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024718,877
- Households335,428
- Average household size2.14
- Median household income$94,718
- Median age35.3
- Median gross rent$1,831 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$616,000
- Home value to household income6.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income23.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher56.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree22.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over532,052
- Population under 18129,515
- Share under 1818.0 percent
- Population 65 and over89,711
- Share 65 and over12.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64499,651
- Civilian labor force447,681
- Unemployment rate4.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over76.0 percent
- Rank by population among Colorado counties2nd of 64
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included92nd of 3,222
Denver County is the 2nd largest of 64 Colorado counties by population. A median home costs 6.5 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 18.0 percent against 12.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Denver County
Is Denver County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024729,019
- Census 2020 base population715,513
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.89 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20247,652
- Births, 20248,576
- Deaths, 20245,195
- Natural change, 20243,381
- Net domestic migration, 2024-2,114
- Net international migration, 20246,391
- Total net migration, 20244,277
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-16,842
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1203rd of 3,144
The county has grown 1.89 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Denver County
Where are people moving to Denver County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving49,115
- People arriving, from those returns64,582
- Tax returns filed by households leaving49,596
- Net household movement-481
- Adjusted gross income arriving$4.33 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-512.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$88,211
- Average income of a leaving household$97,691
- Largest single originArapahoe County (8,000 households)
- Largest single destinationArapahoe County (9,834 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arapahoe County | 8,000 | 11,955 | $621.9 m |
| Jefferson County | 5,271 | 7,157 | $353.1 m |
| Adams County | 3,546 | 5,698 | $184.6 m |
| Douglas County | 1,632 | 2,161 | $137.9 m |
| Boulder County | 1,500 | 1,765 | $142.9 m |
| Cook County | 1,123 | 1,342 | $143.4 m |
| El Paso County | 882 | 1,087 | $50.4 m |
| Los Angeles County | 732 | 935 | $80.1 m |
Households arriving report $9,480 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Arapahoe 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.
Denver County
What is the Denver County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$128.54 bn
- County GDP, 2023$122.31 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.1 percent
- GDP change over five years52.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Colorado areas BEA publishes1st of 64
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes46th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$178,813
Output grew 5.1 percent in the latest year and 52.8 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.
Denver County
Employment by industry in Denver County
- Covered employment, annual average565,183
- Establishments reporting43,024
- Average annual pay$101,834
- Average weekly wage$1,958
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment78,471
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$149,937
- Health care and social assistance, employment54,788
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$71,944
- Accommodation and food services, employment52,730
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$41,682
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment35,910
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$70,895
- Transportation and warehousing, employment35,838
- Retail trade, employment32,173
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 78,471 | 12,199 | $149,937 |
| Health care and social assistance | 54,788 | 3,380 | $71,944 |
| Accommodation and food services | 52,730 | 2,419 | $41,682 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 35,910 | 2,237 | $70,895 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 35,838 | 734 | $107,935 |
| Retail trade | 32,173 | 2,415 | $50,120 |
| Finance and insurance | 30,020 | 2,656 | $171,062 |
| Wholesale trade | 28,716 | 2,922 | $120,340 |
Professional, scientific and technical services is the largest private sector at 78,471 jobs, 13.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Denver County
How many businesses are in Denver County?
- Establishments, all industries27,422
- Employment at those establishments489,563
- Annual payroll$43.95 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents38.1
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.
Denver County
Building permits in Denver County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20243,994
- Declared construction value permitted$788.5 m
- Single family units authorized872
- Multifamily units authorized3,122
- Multifamily share of units78.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$197,420
- Units authorized per 1,000 households11.9
Multifamily is 78.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Denver County
SBA loans in Denver County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded1,541
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$853.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$553,675
- Median 7(a) approval$254,000
- 10th percentile approval$29,300
- 90th percentile approval$1,480,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)16,122
- Jobs per approval10.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active141
- Distinct industries receiving approvals333
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms230
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter1,255
- Franchise loans152
- Franchise share of approvals9.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (70)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (204)
- 504 approvals recorded432
- 504 gross approval dollars$384.2 m
- Average 504 approval$889,329
- Median 504 approval$552,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval9.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.6
- Most active CDCB:Side Capital (318)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$1.24 bn
The average approval of $553,675 sits well above the median of $254,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 14.9 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.
Denver County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Denver County
Do SBA loans in Denver County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded297
- Paid in full270
- Charged off27
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans9.1 percent
- Status: Paid in full270
- Status: Exempt from disclosure954
- Status: Cancelled209
- Status: Charged off27
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed81
Of the 297 loans that have reached a final outcome, 9.1 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
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.
Denver County
SBA lending by place in Denver County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending17
- Denver, approvals1,499
- Englewood, approvals13
- Lakewood, approvals8
- Littleton, approvals5
- Glendale, approvals3
- Thornton, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | 1,499 | $828,987,400 |
| Englewood | 13 | $7,444,600 |
| Lakewood | 8 | $6,826,400 |
| Littleton | 5 | $2,089,000 |
| Glendale | 3 | $150,000 |
| Thornton | 2 | $142,000 |
| Erie | 1 | $4,240,000 |
| Commerce City | 1 | $1,716,800 |
| 9 other borrower cities | 9 | $1,617,600 |
Denver accounts for 1,499 approvals against 13 in Englewood. 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.
Denver County
How large is Denver County?
- Land area153 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Colorado counties62nd of 64
- Width, east to west27.1 mi
- Height, north to south20.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land4,699
- Establishments per square mile179.23
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.
Denver County
Flood risk in Denver County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book1
- Of those, participating in the NFIP1
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Denver County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The EPA places Denver 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. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 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 Denver 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 Denver County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024718,877
- Households335,428
- Average household size2.14
- Median household income$94,718
- Median age35.3
Common questions
Denver County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Denver County, Colorado?
The Census Bureau estimates 729,019 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 718,877, in 335,428 households, ranking 2nd of 64 Colorado counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Denver County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.89 percent since the 2020 census base of 715,513, to 729,019 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 8,576 births against 5,195 deaths, with net migration of 4,277. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Denver County?
$94,718. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $616,000, which is 6.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,831 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Denver County?
27,422 establishments, employing 489,563 people with an annual payroll of $43.95 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Denver County?
Professional, scientific and technical services is the largest private sector at 78,471 jobs, 13.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 565,183 jobs at an average annual pay of $101,834, or $1,958 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Denver County?
1,541 7(a) approvals totaling $853.2 m since FY2020, across 141 lenders, with a median approval of $254,000, plus 432 504 approvals worth $384.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Denver County get paid back?
Of the 297 loans that have reached a final outcome, 270 were paid in full and 27 charged off, a charge-off rate of 9.1 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Denver County?
3,994 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $788.5 m. Multifamily was 78.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Denver 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 Denver County come from?
The largest single origin is Arapahoe County, with 8,000 households. Arriving households report an average income of $88,211 against $97,691 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Denver 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 Denver 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.
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