City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

La Junta, CO

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

7,211
Residents
$54,253
Median income
$180,700
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

La Junta - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, La Junta lands in the 26th percentile for household income and the 1st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

26th
percentile, household income
37th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
1st
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: La Junta, CO

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 7,211 residents in La Junta, a small town within Colorado. The typical household in La Junta brings in $54,253 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 18.8%. Typical homes in La Junta are valued around $180,700, and the median resident age is 39.6 years. Educational attainment runs 18.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 56.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 5 residential building permits were authorized in La Junta (Building Boom), up 400% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. La Junta's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 7505.1 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 52.1°F with 13.4 inches of precipitation per year.

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $973 monthly. 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 50.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

7,211 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$54,253 /yr

Poverty 18.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does La Junta compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 26% higher than other cities
Home value 37% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 1% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Colorado, La Junta ranks #112 of 116 Colorado cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares La Junta 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 places La Junta near the bottom of Colorado's cities

Among the 408 Colorado cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, La Junta ranks #384 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares La Junta only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#295 of 379
22nd percentile in Colorado
Median Gross Rent
#384 of 408
0th percentile in Colorado
Median Home Value
#322 of 388
17th percentile in Colorado
Poverty Rate
#38 of 408
90th percentile in Colorado
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#320 of 408
22nd 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.

26thIncome percentile
1stSafety percentile

26th percentile nationally for median household income · 1st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

La Junta's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

La Junta'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 34 Avg. percentile National median
La Junta'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 La Junta's home value compares nationally

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

$180,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 63% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. La Junta $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 - La Junta, CO La Junta, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not La Junta, 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 La Junta, CO median $54,253/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%
La Junta, 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 La Junta, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 18.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.3%

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

Population
7,211
Median Income
$54,253
Median Home Value
$180,700
Median Age
39.6
Poverty Rate
18.8%
Labor force participation
56.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
7505.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
504.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
7000.9
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
52.1°F
Annual Precipitation
13.4"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,800 residents7,000 residents7,200 residents7,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,324 residents 6,864 residents ▼ -6.3%
La Junta's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
5
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 12
2022 0
2023 6
2024 5

Permit volume increased 400% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.4%
Carpool
12.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
5.5%
Other
1.9%

Based on 3,183 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 La Junta sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.1
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
50.7 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Eagle
7,479 people
Aspen
6,862 people
Lamar
7,629 people
Gunnison
6,712 people
Air Force Academy
6,701 people
Orchard Mesa
6,597 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to La Junta's 7,211 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lake Lorraine, FL
7,210 people
Seaside, OR
7,210 people
North Vernon, IN
7,214 people
Mills River, NC
7,214 people
Sound Beach, NY
7,207 people
Glenolden, PA
7,207 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to La Junta's $54,253 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Riverdale, CA
$54,250 median income
Holcomb, IL
$54,250 median income
Little York, IL
$54,250 median income
Grosse Tete, LA
$54,250 median income
North Adams, MI
$54,250 median income
Vaughn, MT
$54,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - La Junta, 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 La Junta, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 69.9% 15.5% 10.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 44.1% White 69.9% Black or African American 1.2% Asian 0.6% American Indian 2.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 15.5% Two or more races 10.1% 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 La Junta 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
La Junta (this city) 7,211 $54,253
Eagle 7,479 $103,850
Aspen 6,862 $78,636
Lamar 7,629 $58,487
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about La Junta, CO?

What is the population of La Junta, CO? +

La Junta, CO has a population of 7,211 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in La Junta, CO? +

In La Junta, the typical household earns $54,253 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in La Junta? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for La Junta; 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 La Junta, CO safe? +

La Junta has a total crime rate of 7505.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above 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 La Junta, CO? +

The median home value in La Junta is $180,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in La Junta? +

Climate normals put La Junta's yearly average temperature at 52.1°F, 13.4 inches of precipitation. 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

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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.