City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Central, CO

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

576
Residents
$62,094
Median income
$379,400
Median home
$2,089
Median rent (state)

Central - the verdict

Nationally, Central sits in the 38th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

38th
percentile, household income
75th
percentile, home value
85th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Central, CO

Colorado's Central is a small town, with 576 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Central brings in $62,094 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.6%. Typical homes in Central are valued around $379,400, and the median resident age is 35.7 years. 30.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 74.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 5 residential building permits were authorized in Central (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Colorado carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,089 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Colorado run around $202, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 6.4 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

576 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$62,094 /yr

Poverty 5.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Central compare to other US cities?

Here's how Central stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 38% higher than other cities
Home value 75% pricier than other cities
Median rent 85% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Central against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Colorado only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Colorado-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent sits close to the middle of Colorado's city distribution

Among the 408 Colorado cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Central ranks #44 - the 57th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Central only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#260 of 379
31st percentile in Colorado
Median Gross Rent
#44 of 408
57th percentile in Colorado
Median Home Value
#199 of 388
49th percentile in Colorado
Poverty Rate
#181 of 408
55th percentile in Colorado
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#215 of 408
47th percentile in Colorado

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Colorado only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

38thIncome percentile

38th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Central's home value compares nationally

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

$379,400 25th percentile more affordable than 25% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Central $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 - Central, CO Central, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Central, 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 Central, CO median $62,094/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%
Central, 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 Central, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 74.7%

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

Population
576
Median Income
$62,094
Median Home Value
$379,400
Median Age
35.7
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Labor force participation
74.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.8%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
770 residents780 residents790 residents800 residents810 residents 202020212022202320242025 785 residents 807 residents ▲ +2.8%
Central's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
5
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
8.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2022 5
2023 5
2024 5

Permit volume increased 0% from 2022 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.5%
Carpool
8.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.9%
Work from Home
12.1%

Based on 355 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 Central sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.1
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,089/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
6.4 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Simla
576 people
Otis
582 people
San Luis
582 people
Norwood
565 people
Upper Witter Gulch
588 people
La Jara
593 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Central's 576 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Dongola, IL
576 people
Lyndon, IL
576 people
Ridgeville, IN
576 people
Whittemore, IA
576 people
Verdigre, NE
576 people
Risingsun, OH
576 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Central's $62,094 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ferrysburg, MI
$62,096 median income
Ferndale, CA
$62,090 median income
Gulf Park Estates, MS
$62,100 median income
Nuiqsut, AK
$62,083 median income
Shishmaref, AK
$62,083 median income
Congress, AZ
$62,083 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Central, 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 Central, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 84.4% 12.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 26.7% White 84.4% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 3.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 12.5% 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 Central 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
Central (this city) 576 $62,094
Simla 576 N/A
Otis 582 $52,237
San Luis 582 $30,481
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Central, CO?

What is the population of Central, CO? +

576 people live in Central, CO according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Central runs $62,094, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Central? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Central; 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.

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

Central's median home value sits at $379,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

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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.