City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Mead, CO

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

5,503
Residents
$116,074
Median income
$552,100
Median home
$2,089
Median rent (state)

Mead - the verdict

Mead ranks in the 86th percentile for household income and the 63rd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

86th
percentile, household income
87th
percentile, home value
85th
percentile, median rent
63rd
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: Mead, CO

5,503 people live in Mead, Colorado - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $116,074 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.6%. Mead's housing stock carries a median value of $552,100, and the median resident age is 38.1 years. Educational attainment runs 48.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 75.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 105 residential building permits were authorized in Mead (Building Boom), up 1650% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Mead reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1024.7 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Colorado carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Colorado scores 103.1 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,089 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $202 across Colorado, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 34.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

5,503 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$116,074 /yr

Poverty 0.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Mead compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 86% higher than other cities
Home value 87% pricier than other cities
Median rent 85% pricier than other cities
Safety 63% 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: Mead ranks #38 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 Mead'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.

86thIncome percentile
63rdSafety percentile

86th percentile nationally for median household income · 63rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Mead's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Mead'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 54 Avg. percentile National median
Mead'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 Mead's home value compares nationally

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

$552,100 13th percentile more affordable than 13% 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%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Mead $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 - Mead, CO Mead, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Mead, 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 Mead, CO median $116,074/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%
Mead, 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 Mead, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 48.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 75.5%

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

Population
5,503
Median Income
$116,074
Median Home Value
$552,100
Median Age
38.1
Poverty Rate
0.6%
Labor force participation
75.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
48.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1024.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
154.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
870.3
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.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,000 residents5,000 residents6,000 residents7,000 residents8,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,791 residents 7,042 residents ▲ +47.0%
Mead's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
105
housing units authorized
Single-Family
99
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
19.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 6
2020 7
2021 8
2022 102
2023 108
2024 105

Permit volume increased 1650% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.9%
Carpool
4.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
17.6%
Other
4.7%

Based on 3,088 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 Mead 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
34.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Battlement Mesa
5,402 people
Dove Valley
5,313 people
Shaw Heights
5,309 people
Brush
5,299 people
West Pleasant View
5,221 people
Salida
5,786 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Mead's 5,503 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Holdrege, NE
5,503 people
Monticello, IN
5,504 people
Verdigris, OK
5,502 people
Mount Carmel, TN
5,504 people
Iroquois Point, HI
5,506 people
Marlin, TX
5,500 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Mead's $116,074 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wilton Center, CT
$116,081 median income
River Road, WA
$116,087 median income
Edmonds, WA
$116,095 median income
Lake Wisconsin, WI
$116,053 median income
Highgate Center, VT
$116,049 median income
Ogden Dunes, IN
$116,042 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Mead, 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 Mead, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.7% 10.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 21.6% White 75.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.7% American Indian 5.6% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 5.9% Two or more races 10.8% 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 Mead 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
Mead (this city) 5,503 $116,074
Battlement Mesa 5,402 $69,432
Dove Valley 5,313 $85,772
Shaw Heights 5,309 $89,125
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Mead, CO?

What is the population of Mead, CO? +

Mead, CO has a population of 5,503 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Mead households earn a median of $116,074 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Mead? +

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

Mead has a total crime rate of 1024.7 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 Mead, CO? +

Mead's median home value sits at $552,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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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.