Census-designated place · Colorado
Clifton, Colorado
Clifton, census-designated place, in Mesa County, Colorado. Clifton had 19,518 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,634). GEOID 0815165.
Residents, 2020-2024
19,518
±1,634 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 20,413
Median household income
$52,100
±$4,948 (90% margin)
Colorado: $95,470
Median home value
$250,500
±$15,032 (90% margin)
Colorado: $539,400
Median gross rent
$1,107
±$78 (90% margin)
Colorado: $1,761
Where is Clifton and what county is it in?
Clifton is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Mesa County, Colorado. It covers 6.0 square miles of land, 3,414 residents per square mile in 2020.
Clifton is in the Grand Junction, CO metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Clifton, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Clifton's population at 19,518 (±1,634). The 2020 Census counted 20,413 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Clifton is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Clifton | Mesa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 19,518 ±1,634 | 158,601 | no clear change |
| Households | 7,784 ±506 | 65,830 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.50 ±0.16 | 2.34 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,933 ±514 | 69,969 | no clear change |
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 Clifton?
The median resident of Clifton is 36.3 years old; 24.8% are under 18 and 15.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 67.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 26.3%. 7.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Clifton | Mesa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 ±1.6 | 41.3 | +3.5 |
| Under 18 years | 24.8% ±2.8 pts | 20.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.2% ±2.3 pts | 21.1% | – |
| Male | 48.7% ±2.2 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 26.3% ±4.8 pts | 15.5% | +7.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 67.5% ±4.8 pts | 78.4% | −10.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±1.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.8 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.8% ±2.7 pts | 4.1% | +4.0 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.7% ±4.2 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.8% ±2.1 pts | 9.5% | – |
| With a disability | 17.9% ±2.9 pts | 15.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 14.0% ±3.0 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.5% ±4.0 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.7% ±2.4 pts | 32.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.1% ±1.9 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.5% ±4.6 pts | 84.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±0.9 pts | 3.0% | – |
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 Clifton earn?
Half of Clifton's 7,784 households earn less than $52,100 a year (±$4,948), against $73,658 in Mesa County and $95,470 in Colorado. In 2015-2019 it was $53,476 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Clifton | Mesa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $52,100 ±$4,948 | $73,658 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $63,468 ±$5,458 | $95,145 | – |
| Per capita income | $25,781 ±$2,024 | $40,076 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.0% ±4.3 pts | 10.7% | −11.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 14.2% ±9.4 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.6% ±4.7 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.2% ±1.5 pts | 95.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.0% ±2.5 pts | 92.6% | – |
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 Clifton?
Owners occupy 73.4% of Clifton's occupied homes and renters 26.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $250,500 by its owner (±$15,032). The median renter pays $1,107 a month including utilities, and 42.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Clifton | Mesa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $250,500 ±$15,032 | $378,600 | +$73,895 |
| Median gross rent | $1,107 ±$78 | $1,182 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.5% ±10.3 pts | 40.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,320 ±$68 | $1,648 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 73.4% ±3.9 pts | 72.5% | +7.3 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 26.6% ±3.9 pts | 27.5% | – |
| Housing units | 7,933 ±514 | 69,969 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 59.8% ±5.1 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 20.2% ±3.7 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.3% ±1.6 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.0% ±1.7 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.7% ±2.0 pts | 6.0% | – |
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 do people in Clifton work and get to work?
71.8% of Clifton's workers drive alone and 14.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.6%.
| Measure | Clifton | Mesa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.0% ±3.8 pts | 60.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.6% ±3.9 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.8% ±4.8 pts | 72.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.0% ±3.5 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.9% ±0.8 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 14.2% ±3.9 pts | 13.7% | +10.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.1 min ±3.2 | 18.9 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 Clifton?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Clifton, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $46,250 (Tract 17.06) to $72,731 (Tract 17.07).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 17.07Mesa County | 7,496 | $72,731 |
| Tract 17.06Mesa County | 5,331 | $46,250 |
| Tract 17.05Mesa County | 5,303 | $51,062 |
| Tract 8.02Mesa County | 5,158 | $67,684 |
| Tract 17.03Mesa County | 4,372 | $70,760 |
| Tract 8.01Mesa County | 4,036 | $57,395 |
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 Clifton) · Census block assignment files
How does Clifton compare with other places in Colorado?
Clifton ranks 199th of 218 places in Colorado with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 41st | 220 |
| Residents per square mile | 33rd | 221 |
| Median household income | 199th | 218 |
| Per capita income | 211th | 220 |
| Median home value | 191st | 217 |
| Median gross rent | 162nd | 200 |
| Poverty rate | 42nd | 151 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 210th | 216 |
| Median age | 141st | 220 |
| Owner-occupied share | 98th | 218 |
| Work from home | 116th | 176 |
| Travel time to work | 143rd | 221 |
Clifton's figures with every place in Colorado (CSV)
Every place in Colorado, sortable · Compare Clifton 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 Clifton?
12 of the 57 figures for Clifton 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 Clifton 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' school search.