City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Lamar, CO

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

7,629
Residents
$58,487
Median income
$137,100
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Lamar - the verdict

Nationally, Lamar sits in the 33rd percentile for household income and the 84th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

33rd
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
84th
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: Lamar, CO

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 7,629 residents in Lamar, a small town within Colorado. Median household income here is $58,487 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.8%. Typical homes in Lamar are valued around $137,100, and the median resident age is 33.1 years. Educational attainment runs 19.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 58.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 7 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 250% from five years earlier. Lamar reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 522.2 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 53.1°F with 16.2 inches of precipitation per year and 29.8 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 $973 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Colorado's average monthly utility costs around $202 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 48.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

7,629 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$58,487 /yr

Poverty 10.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Lamar compare to other US cities?

Lamar measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 33% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 84% 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: Lamar ranks #13 of 116 Colorado cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lamar 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 Lamar near the bottom of Colorado's cities

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

Median Household Income
#274 of 379
28th percentile in Colorado
Median Gross Rent
#384 of 408
0th percentile in Colorado
Median Home Value
#349 of 388
10th percentile in Colorado
Poverty Rate
#96 of 408
76th percentile in Colorado
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#307 of 408
25th 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.

33rdIncome percentile
84thSafety percentile

33rd percentile nationally for median household income · 84th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lamar's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lamar'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 67 Avg. percentile National median
Lamar'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 Lamar's home value compares nationally

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

$137,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Lamar $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 - Lamar, CO Lamar, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lamar, 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 Lamar, CO median $58,487/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%
Lamar, 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 Lamar, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.6%

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

Population
7,629
Median Income
$58,487
Median Home Value
$137,100
Median Age
33.1
Poverty Rate
10.8%
Labor force participation
58.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
522.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
522.2
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
53.1°F
Annual Precipitation
16.2"
Annual Snowfall
29.8"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,500 residents7,600 residents7,700 residents7,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,697 residents 7,588 residents ▼ -1.4%
Lamar's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
7
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 7
2021 4
2022 12
2023 2
2024 7

Permit volume increased 250% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.9%
Carpool
6.4%
Public Transit
2.3%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
4.3%
Other
1.2%

Based on 3,404 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 Lamar 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
48.6 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Eagle
7,479 people
Woodland Park
7,909 people
Fruitvale
7,998 people
Timnath
8,007 people
La Junta
7,211 people
Applewood
8,120 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lamar's 7,629 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Park City, IL
7,631 people
Catoosa, OK
7,631 people
Hales Corners, WI
7,627 people
New Milford, CT
7,632 people
Clinton, SC
7,624 people
Ilion, NY
7,636 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lamar's $58,487 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Union Point, GA
$58,487 median income
Mountain Home, ID
$58,486 median income
Lismore, MN
$58,490 median income
Perth Amboy, NJ
$58,490 median income
Selinsgrove, PA
$58,484 median income
St. Francis, WI
$58,490 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lamar, 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 Lamar, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 70.0% 13.4% 13.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 42.5% White 70.0% Black or African American 1.1% Asian 0.8% American Indian 1.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 13.4% Two or more races 13.5% 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 Lamar 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
Lamar (this city) 7,629 $58,487
Eagle 7,479 $103,850
Woodland Park 7,909 $96,896
Fruitvale 7,998 $76,339
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lamar, CO?

What is the population of Lamar, CO? +

7,629 people live in Lamar, CO according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Lamar households earn a median of $58,487 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lamar? +

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

Lamar has a total crime rate of 522.2 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 Lamar, CO? +

A typical home in Lamar is worth $137,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Lamar? +

Lamar has an average annual temperature of 53.1°F, 16.2 inches of precipitation, and 29.8 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

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.