Lake County, Colorado: commercial real estate data.
Lake County, Colorado had an estimated 7,369 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 7,436, across 377 square miles. County output reached $564.0 m in 2024, 253 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 22 7(a) approvals worth $9.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lake County
How many people live in Lake County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20247,380
- Households3,020
- Average household size2.44
- Median household income$96,575
- Median age37.3
- Median gross rent$1,397 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$466,100
- Home value to household income4.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher49.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree19.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over5,150
- Population under 181,369
- Share under 1818.6 percent
- Population 65 and over1,116
- Share 65 and over15.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 644,895
- Civilian labor force4,683
- Unemployment rate2.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over77.9 percent
- Rank by population among Colorado counties42nd of 64
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2709th of 3,222
Lake County is the 42nd largest of 64 Colorado counties by population. A median home costs 4.8 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 18.6 percent against 15.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lake County
Is Lake County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 20247,369
- Census 2020 base population7,436
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.90 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242
- Births, 202490
- Deaths, 202439
- Natural change, 202451
- Net domestic migration, 2024-47
- Net international migration, 2024-2
- Total net migration, 2024-49
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-215
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2155th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.90 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Births exceeded deaths in 2024 by more than net migration took away, so the population grew even though more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lake County
Where are people moving to Lake County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving389
- People arriving, from those returns562
- Tax returns filed by households leaving360
- Net household movement29
- Adjusted gross income arriving$27.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$5.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$70,113
- Average income of a leaving household$60,636
- Largest single originSummit County (38 households)
- Largest single destinationSummit County (25 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit County | 38 | 63 | $2.5 m |
| Eagle County | 36 | 46 | $2.0 m |
| Denver County | 24 | 34 | $2.3 m |
| Jefferson County | 23 | 32 | $1.4 m |
Households arriving report $9,477 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 Summit 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.
Lake County
What is the Lake County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$564.0 m
- County GDP, 2023$434.4 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 202429.8 percent
- GDP change over five years74.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Colorado areas BEA publishes44th of 64
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2323rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$76,418
Output grew 29.8 percent in the latest year and 74.6 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.
Lake County
Employment by industry in Lake County
- Covered employment, annual average2,935
- Establishments reporting293
- Average annual pay$57,697
- Average weekly wage$1,110
- Accommodation and food services, employment398
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$27,728
- Retail trade, employment237
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,847
- Construction, employment176
- Construction, average annual pay$61,229
- Health care and social assistance, employment165
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$63,561
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment146
- Real estate and rental and leasing, employment57
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 398 | 36 | $27,728 |
| Retail trade | 237 | 38 | $33,847 |
| Construction | 176 | 48 | $61,229 |
| Health care and social assistance | 165 | 12 | $63,561 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 146 | 9 | $38,118 |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 57 | 20 | $41,918 |
| Educational services | 46 | 6 | $46,215 |
| Other services, except public administration | 41 | 16 | $40,497 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 398 jobs, 13.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lake County
How many businesses are in Lake County?
- Establishments, all industries253
- Employment at those establishments1,702
- Annual payroll$67.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents34.3
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.
Lake County
Building permits in Lake County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202455
- Declared construction value permitted$11.3 m
- Single family units authorized52
- Multifamily units authorized3
- Multifamily share of units5.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$205,069
- Units authorized per 1,000 households18.2
Single-family homes are 94.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lake County
SBA loans in Lake County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded22
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$9.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$437,059
- Median 7(a) approval$207,500
- 10th percentile approval$25,640
- 90th percentile approval$969,760
- Largest single approval$2,135,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)113
- Jobs per approval5.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active11
- Distinct industries receiving approvals15
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer31.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter14
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals9.1 percent
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (4)
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.8 m
- Average 504 approval$363,800
- Median 504 approval$230,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval1.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved2.7
- Most active CDCB:Side Capital (5)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$11.4 m
The average approval of $437,059 sits well above the median of $207,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 31.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Lake County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lake County
Do SBA loans in Lake County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full3
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure15
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Paid in full3
Only 3 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.
Lake County
SBA lending by place in Lake County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Leadville, approvals18
- Twin Lakes, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Leadville | 18 | $8,402,700 |
| Twin Lakes | 4 | $1,212,600 |
Leadville accounts for 18 approvals against 4 in Twin Lakes. 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.
Lake County
How large is Lake County?
- Land area377 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Colorado counties61st of 64
- Width, east to west23.7 mi
- Height, north to south22.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land20
- Establishments per square mile0.67
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.
Lake County
Flood risk in Lake County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lake County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 080282
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book2
- Of those, participating in the NFIP2
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Lake 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 Lake County (community 080282), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20247,380
- Households3,020
- Average household size2.44
- Median household income$96,575
- Median age37.3
Common questions
Lake County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lake County, Colorado?
The Census Bureau estimates 7,369 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 7,380, in 3,020 households, ranking 42nd of 64 Colorado counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lake County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.90 percent since the 2020 census base of 7,436, to 7,369 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 90 births against 39 deaths, with net migration of -49. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lake County?
$96,575. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $466,100, which is 4.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,397 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lake County?
253 establishments, employing 1,702 people with an annual payroll of $67.3 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 Lake County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 398 jobs, 13.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 2,935 jobs at an average annual pay of $57,697, or $1,110 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lake County?
22 7(a) approvals totaling $9.6 m since FY2020, across 11 lenders, with a median approval of $207,500, plus 5 504 approvals worth $1.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Lake County?
55 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $11.3 m. Multifamily was 5.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lake 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 Lake County come from?
The largest single origin is Summit County, with 38 households. Arriving households report an average income of $70,113 against $60,636 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lake 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 Lake 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.
Lake County
Cities and places in Lake.
3 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lake County. All 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leadville | city | 2,620 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Leadville North | CDP | 1,417 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Twin Lakes | CDP | 615 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
Nearby