Town · Colorado
Center, Colorado
Center, town, mostly in Saguache County (97.7% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Rio Grande County, Colorado. Center had 1,890 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,929 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,120 (±261). GEOID 0812855.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,890
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,929 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,120 ±261
Median household income
$45,750
±$22,835 (90% margin)
Colorado: $95,470
Median home value
$126,000
±$28,711 (90% margin)
Colorado: $539,400
Median gross rent
$490
±$444 (90% margin)
Colorado: $1,761
Where is Center and what county is it in?
Center is a town mostly in Saguache County (97.7% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Rio Grande County, Colorado. It covers 0.9 square miles of land, 2,233 residents per square mile in 2020.
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Saguache County | 1,885 | 97.7% |
| Rio Grande County | 44 | 2.3% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Center, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,890 people lived in Center on July 1, 2025, down 3.6% since 2020, while Colorado grew 4.1%. The 2020 Census counted 1,929 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,120 (±261).
| Measure | Center | Saguache County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,120 ±261 | 6,580 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,031 ±151 | 3,397 | +203 |
| Average household size | 2.06 ±0.23 | 1.93 | −0.61 |
| Housing units | 1,117 ±156 | 3,902 | no clear change |
Center's population since 2000
From 2,392 in 2000 to 1,890 in 2025: down 21.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Center as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Center?
The median resident of Center is 37.9 years old; 28.7% are under 18 and 16.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 94.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 4.4%. 13.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Center | Saguache County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 ±7.9 | 49.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 28.7% ±2.9 pts | 17.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.2% ±4.6 pts | 26.7% | – |
| Male | 44.2% ±5.6 pts | 51.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 94.5% ±3.2 pts | 36.8% | +7.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 4.4% ±2.7 pts | 54.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 1.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±1.4 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.8% ±5.9 pts | 7.7% | −10.0 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 64.8% ±10.6 pts | 22.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3% ±6.7 pts | 8.6% | – |
| With a disability | 29.0% ±9.4 pts | 23.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 15.7% ±6.6 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 81.5% ±8.1 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 17.0% ±8.6 pts | 31.3% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.6% ±7.7 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.9% ±10.1 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 1.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Center earn?
Half of Center's 1,031 households earn less than $45,750 a year (±$22,835), against $50,082 in Saguache County and $95,470 in Colorado. In 2015-2019 it was $39,690 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 19.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Center | Saguache County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $45,750 ±$22,835 | $50,082 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $57,550 ±$9,853 | $82,915 | – |
| Per capita income | $26,337 ±$4,702 | $41,682 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 19.9% ±10.2 pts | 17.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.2% ±21.8 pts | 16.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 35.5% ±13.4 pts | 24.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.4% ±6.2 pts | 95.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.5% ±6.9 pts | 90.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Center?
Owners occupy 69.8% of Center's occupied homes and renters 30.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $126,000 by its owner (±$28,711).
| Measure | Center | Saguache County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $126,000 ±$28,711 | $212,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $490 ±$444 | $828 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 7.0% ±10.3 pts | 41.5% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $871 ±$344 | $1,315 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.8% ±12.7 pts | 76.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.2% ±12.7 pts | 23.1% | – |
| Housing units | 1,117 ±156 | 3,902 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.4% ±12.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.6% ±9.6 pts | 74.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.4% ±3.7 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±3.7 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 24.7% ±10.2 pts | 11.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.9% ±2.5 pts | 3.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Center building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Center in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.5 per 1,000 residents against 5.6 across Colorado.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Center work and get to work?
70.3% of Center's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 12.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 18.1%.
| Measure | Center | Saguache County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.2% ±7.7 pts | 58.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 18.1% ±10.1 pts | 10.3% | +12.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 70.3% ±12.7 pts | 61.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 25.0% ±13.1 pts | 17.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±4.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 4.8% ±6.5 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 0.0% ±4.7 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 12.5 min ±3.1 | 17.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Center?
No census tract lies mostly in Center; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9777Saguache County | 2,881 | $57,736 |
| Tract 9770.02Rio Grande County | 2,554 | $86,297 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Center) · Census block assignment files
How does Center compare with other places in Colorado?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Center is the 7,881st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 120th-most populous of 272 in Colorado.
Center ranks 209th of 218 places in Colorado with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 120th | 272 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 135th | 150 |
| Residents per square mile | 58th | 221 |
| Median household income | 209th | 218 |
| Per capita income | 208th | 220 |
| Median home value | 214th | 217 |
| Poverty rate | 21st | 151 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 200th | 216 |
| Median age | 121st | 220 |
| Owner-occupied share | 124th | 218 |
| Travel time to work | 211th | 221 |
Center's figures with every place in Colorado (CSV)
Every place in Colorado, sortable · Compare Center with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Center?
20 of the 57 figures for Center on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Center are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Center.