City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Center, CO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Center - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,312
Residents
$50,057
Median income
$115,600
Median home
$975
Median rent (state)

Center - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Center lands in the 20th percentile for household income and the 89th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

20th
percentile, household income
15th
percentile, home value
18th
percentile, median rent
89th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Center, CO

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,312 residents in Center, a small town within Colorado. The typical household in Center brings in $50,057 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 25.1%. Home values in Center run a median of $115,600, and the median resident age is 36.1 years. About 19.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 62.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). Center reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 416.3 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 42.3°F with 7.2 inches of precipitation per year and 25.1 inches of snowfall.

Colorado carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Colorado at 103.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $975 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Colorado run around $202, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 14.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

2,312 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$50,057 /yr

Poverty 25.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Center compare to other US cities?

Where Center sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 20% higher than other cities
Home value 15% pricier than other cities
Median rent 18% pricier than other cities
Safety 89% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Colorado and the picture shifts: Center ranks #10 of 116 Colorado cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Center's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Colorado, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

20thIncome percentile
89thSafety percentile

20th percentile nationally for median household income · 89th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Center's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Center's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 64 Avg. percentile National median
Center's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Center's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$115,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 85% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Center $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Center, CO Center, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Center, CO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Center, CO median $50,057/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Center, CO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Center, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 25.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,312
Median Income
$50,057
Median Home Value
$115,600
Median Age
36.1
Poverty Rate
25.1%
Labor force participation
62.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
416.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
104.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
312.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
42.3°F
Annual Precipitation
7.2"
Annual Snowfall
25.1"

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,850 residents1,900 residents1,950 residents2,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,959 residents 1,890 residents ▼ -3.5%
Center's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
64.7%
Carpool
29.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.6%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 1,051 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Colorado - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$90
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$202
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Colorado state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Colorado state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Center sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.1
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$975/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
14.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Wray
2,305 people
Aristocrat Ranchettes
2,335 people
Ault
2,270 people
Coal Creek
2,357 people
Holyoke
2,378 people
Cedaredge
2,394 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Center's 2,312 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Milford, ME
2,312 people
Hartford, MI
2,312 people
Warson Woods, MO
2,312 people
Neodesha, KS
2,311 people
Bar Harbor, ME
2,311 people
Maggie Valley, NC
2,311 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Center's $50,057 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Jonesboro, GA
$50,060 median income
Eastwood, MI
$50,054 median income
North Middletown, KY
$50,052 median income
Bulls Gap, TN
$50,066 median income
Centerville, TX
$50,066 median income
Edwardsville, PA
$50,046 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Center, CO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Center, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 56.4% 8.2% 28.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 90.6% White 56.4% Black or African American 2.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 4.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 8.2% Two or more races 28.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Center compares to nearby Colorado cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Center (this city) 2,312 $50,057
Wray 2,305 $57,318
Aristocrat Ranchettes 2,335 $87,604
Ault 2,270 $79,654
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Center, CO?

What is the population of Center, CO? +

The population of Center, CO stands at 2,312 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Center, CO? +

The median household income in Center is $50,057 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Center? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Center; the closest available measure is the Colorado state average, a cost of living index of 103.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Colorado vary by metro area.

Is Center, CO safe? +

Center has a total crime rate of 416.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Center, CO? +

Homes in Center carry a median value of $115,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Center? +

Center has an average annual temperature of 42.3°F, 7.2 inches of precipitation, and 25.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.