City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Rocky Ford, CO

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

3,843
Residents
$35,658
Median income
$126,100
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Rocky Ford - the verdict

Rocky Ford ranks in the 5th percentile for household income and the 68th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

5th
percentile, household income
20th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
68th
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: Rocky Ford, CO

Colorado's Rocky Ford is a small town, with 3,843 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Rocky Ford households earn a median of $35,658 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 22.5%. Typical homes in Rocky Ford are valued around $126,100, and the median resident age is 32.0 years. About 11.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 45.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). Rocky Ford reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 894.1 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). NOAA puts Rocky Ford's yearly average temperature at 53.8°F with 12.6 inches of precipitation per year and 24.8 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. Monthly utility costs average around $202 across Colorado, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 50.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

3,843 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$35,658 /yr

Poverty 22.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Rocky Ford compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 20% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 68% 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: Rocky Ford ranks #29 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 Rocky Ford 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 Rocky Ford near the bottom of Colorado's cities

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

Median Household Income
#366 of 379
3rd percentile in Colorado
Median Gross Rent
#384 of 408
0th percentile in Colorado
Median Home Value
#354 of 388
9th percentile in Colorado
Poverty Rate
#27 of 408
93rd percentile in Colorado
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#366 of 408
10th 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.

5thIncome percentile
68thSafety percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income · 68th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Rocky Ford's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Rocky Ford'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 52 Avg. percentile National median
Rocky Ford'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 Rocky Ford's home value compares nationally

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

$126,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% 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. Rocky Ford $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 - Rocky Ford, CO Rocky Ford, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rocky Ford, 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 Rocky Ford, CO median $35,658/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%
Rocky Ford, 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 Rocky Ford, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 22.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.4%

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

Population
3,843
Median Income
$35,658
Median Home Value
$126,100
Median Age
32.0
Poverty Rate
22.5%
Labor force participation
45.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
894.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
131.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
762.6
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
53.8°F
Annual Precipitation
12.6"
Annual Snowfall
24.8"

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,700 residents3,750 residents3,800 residents3,850 residents3,900 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,860 residents 3,752 residents ▼ -2.8%
Rocky Ford's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 30
2023 0
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.1%
Carpool
11.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
2.1%
Other
5.0%

Based on 1,316 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 Rocky Ford 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

Genesee
3,826 people
Florence
3,870 people
Niwot
3,773 people
El Jebel
3,935 people
Penrose
3,978 people
Basalt
3,995 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rocky Ford's 3,843 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bella Vista, CA
3,843 people
Knox, IN
3,843 people
Zumbrota, MN
3,843 people
Manning, SC
3,843 people
Clifton, AZ
3,845 people
St. James, FL
3,846 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rocky Ford's $35,658 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Glenmora, LA
$35,660 median income
Wister, OK
$35,655 median income
Chapmanville, WV
$35,655 median income
Winnsboro, SC
$35,649 median income
Red Oak, OK
$35,676 median income
Midland City, AL
$35,638 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rocky Ford, 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 Rocky Ford, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 60.7% 11.8% 25.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 67.1% White 60.7% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 1.2% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 11.8% Two or more races 25.9% 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 Rocky Ford 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
Rocky Ford (this city) 3,843 $35,658
Genesee 3,826 $172,692
Florence 3,870 $57,239
Niwot 3,773 $141,621
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rocky Ford, CO?

What is the population of Rocky Ford, CO? +

Rocky Ford, CO has a population of 3,843 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rocky Ford, CO? +

The median household income in Rocky Ford is $35,658 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rocky Ford? +

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

Rocky Ford has a total crime rate of 894.1 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 Rocky Ford, CO? +

Rocky Ford's median home value sits at $126,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Rocky Ford? +

Rocky Ford has an average annual temperature of 53.8°F, 12.6 inches of precipitation, and 24.8 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

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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.