City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Superior, CO

Superior's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

13,136
Residents
$157,909
Median income
$795,500
Median home
$1,429
Median rent (state)
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See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Superior.

Place dossier plate

Sheet CO-SUPERIOR-CO · Superior, CO 13,136 pop · income 95th pct

POP-TOWN · INC-TOP · COL-PAR · SAFE-UNK · RANK-TOP · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-TOP · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-TOWN 13,136
  • INC-TOP $157,909
  • COL-PAR 103.1
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-TOP 95th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Ellicott
  • HOME-TOP $795,500
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Ellicott, MD ( $18 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Superior

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Superior on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Superior on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 13,136.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $157,909. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Superior - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Superior places in the 95th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

95th
percentile, household income
95th
percentile, home value
68th
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: Superior, CO

13,136 people live in Superior, Colorado - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Households in Superior report a median income of $157,909 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.1%. Home values in Superior run a median of $795,500, and the median resident age is 36.5 years. About 77.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 72.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 157 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 112% from five years earlier.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,429 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Colorado's average monthly utility costs around $202 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 40.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Superior's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from comparison shortlist to work and mobility to schools and households to housing and income to population change; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Superior, city-specific coverage includes annual population history, commute-mode shares, local building permits, matched public-school count. No matched row is reported here for FBI reported-crime rates, within-city Census tract profiles; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

Which cities make useful reference points for Superior?

Within Colorado, the closest population matches are Sterling (13,273 residents, $44,242 income); Steamboat Springs (13,341 residents, $100,156 income); Fruita (13,578 residents, $77,680 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Dardenne Prairie, MO (13,137 residents); Florham Park, NJ (13,134 residents); Glendale, WI (13,134 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

2. Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in Superior?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. Remote work has a visible role in the local pattern. That can reduce commute exposure for some workers, but it says nothing about job availability or broadband quality; read it alongside income and housing rather than as a stand-alone lifestyle score.

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 55.0%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Compare commute patterns →

Question 3

What does the education layer cover for Superior?

The NCES join finds 2 public schools within the city match. 77.1% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher in the ACS estimate. These measures answer different questions: the school count describes local institutions, while adult attainment describes residents and cannot be used as a school-quality rating.

The matched institution count is small, so district boundaries and schools outside the city line may matter more than the municipal count suggests. Use the number as a coverage cue, then verify attendance zones with the district before making a household decision.

See how the family ranking is built →

Question 4

How far does income reach against housing in Superior?

The home-value-to-income reference is comparatively stretched: the ACS median home value is 5.0 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 1.1%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median. That flags a question for comparison, not a verdict: tenure, household composition, financing costs, and the age of the ACS estimate can all change what a resident actually pays.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Other supported questions

Why these stay compact

These joined records add useful context, but they do not need another full-size panel. Each remains a separate measure with its own geography and source boundary.

Population change

Is Superior growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +531 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +4.1% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 157 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

Period change
+4.1%
2025 estimate
13,637
2020 estimate
13,106

Census Population Estimates Program, 2020–2025; permit context uses Census BPS.

See the national growth ranking →

Population

13,136 residents

Small city (10k–49k)

Median Household Income

$157,909 /yr

Top-decile income · poverty 1.1% (Very low poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above-average cost · BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

City profile score · Superior, CO

79/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Bachelor's+ share A+
77.1%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Household income A+
$157,909

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Poverty rate A+
1.1%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Cost of living F
103.1 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Superior profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Bachelor's+ share, Household income, Poverty rate, Cost of living. Bachelor's+ shareHousehold incomePoverty rateCost of living 79 B+
Superior profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Bachelor's+ share: 100/100 (A+) · 77.1%
  • Household income: 98/100 (A+) · $157,909
  • Poverty rate: 92/100 (A+) · 1.1%
  • Cost of living: 26/100 (F) · 103.1 index

How does Superior compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 95% higher than other cities
Home value 95% pricier than other cities
Median rent 68% 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

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

Among the 408 Colorado cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Superior ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Superior only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#32 of 379
92nd percentile in Colorado
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 408
0th percentile in Colorado
Median Home Value
#56 of 388
86th percentile in Colorado
Poverty Rate
#291 of 408
29th percentile in Colorado
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#26 of 408
94th percentile in Colorado
How in-state ranks are ordered

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.

95thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

95th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Superior's home value compares nationally

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

$795,500 5th percentile more affordable than 5% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $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%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Superior $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

Superior's home-value-to-income ratio: 5.0×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
pressured
> 5.0×
National rank
#12,952 of 15,516
More affordable than 17% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#2,627 of 3,317
Small cities (10,000–49,999)

At 5.0×, Superior sits in the pressured band: national rank #12,952 of 15,516 and #2,627 of 3,317small cities (10,000–49,999). Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median, a comparison flag, not a verdict on any household.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$157,909 Superior, CO median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Superior, CO Superior, CO's median household income ($157,909) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Superior, CO-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Superior, CO median $157,909/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%
Superior, CO median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Superior, CO.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 77.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 72.2%

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

Population
13,136
Median Income
$157,909
Median Home Value
$795,500
Median Age
36.5
Poverty Rate
1.1%
Labor force participation
72.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
77.1%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

PEP vintage

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,800 residents13,000 residents13,200 residents13,400 residents13,600 residents13,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 13,106 residents 13,637 residents ▲ +4.1%
Superior's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 13,106 residents
2021 13,105 residents
2022 13,025 residents
2023 13,404 residents
2024 13,560 residents
2025 13,637 residents

Housing Supply

BPS source

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
157
housing units authorized
Single-Family
105
detached homes
Multifamily
52
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
12
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 74
2020 81
2021 164
2022 170
2023 133
2024 157

Permit volume increased 112% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
55.0%
Carpool
8.1%
Public Transit
2.3%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
31.9%
Other
1.4%

Based on 7,241 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Colorado statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $202

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Colorado at $202 (electricity about $90 , water and sewer about $50 ).

These are Colorado statewide averages, not a meter reading for Superior. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Colorado's BEA cost-of-living index is 103.1 (Above Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Superior is $1,429/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Colorado statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 40.7 / 100 (Low).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Colorado statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Superior sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Superior compares to similar-size Colorado cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Superior (this city) 13,136 $157,909
Sterling 13,273 $44,242
Steamboat Springs 13,341 $100,156
Fruita 13,578 $77,680
NCES CCD Census BPS 2024
Primary sources on this page

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

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

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