City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Penrose, CO

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

3,978
Residents
$75,109
Median income
$276,100
Median home
$1,244
Median rent (state)

Penrose - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Penrose places in the 56th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

56th
percentile, household income
61st
percentile, home value
40th
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: Penrose, CO

Penrose is a small town in Colorado, home to 3,978 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Penrose brings in $75,109 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.4%. Home values in Penrose run a median of $276,100, and the median resident age is 44.6 years. About 27.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 46.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,244 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Colorado run around $202, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 68.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

3,978 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$75,109 /yr

Poverty 11.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Penrose compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 56% higher than other cities
Home value 61% pricier than other cities
Median rent 40% 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

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 Penrose'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.

56thIncome percentile

56th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Penrose's home value compares nationally

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

$276,100 39th percentile more affordable than 39% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Penrose $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 - Penrose, CO Penrose, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Penrose, 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 Penrose, CO median $75,109/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%
Penrose, 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 Penrose, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 27.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.8%

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

Population
3,978
Median Income
$75,109
Median Home Value
$276,100
Median Age
44.6
Poverty Rate
11.4%
Labor force participation
46.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
27.4%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.8%
Carpool
4.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
11.0%
Other
0.8%

Based on 1,445 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 Penrose sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.1
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,244/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
68.6 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Basalt
3,995 people
El Jebel
3,935 people
Florence
3,870 people
Rocky Ford
3,843 people
Genesee
3,826 people
Monte Vista
4,178 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Penrose's 3,978 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Burnham, IL
3,978 people
Magee, MS
3,977 people
Edgefield, SC
3,977 people
Metter, GA
3,976 people
Jackson, LA
3,976 people
Saw Creek, PA
3,980 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Penrose's $75,109 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Warm Springs, CA
$75,114 median income
Flanagan, IL
$75,104 median income
Conway, MI
$75,114 median income
New Johnsonville, TN
$75,114 median income
Massac, KY
$75,103 median income
Fletcher, NC
$75,117 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Penrose, 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 Penrose, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.6% White 93.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 5.6% 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 Penrose 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
Penrose (this city) 3,978 $75,109
Basalt 3,995 $106,000
El Jebel 3,935 $100,518
Florence 3,870 $57,239
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Penrose, CO?

What is the population of Penrose, CO? +

Penrose, CO has a population of 3,978 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Penrose, the typical household earns $75,109 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Penrose? +

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

A typical home in Penrose is worth $276,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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