Town · Colorado
Westcliffe, Colorado
Westcliffe, town, in Custer County, Colorado. Westcliffe had 488 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 15.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 435 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 419 (±111). GEOID 0883450.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
488
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 435 · ACS 2020-2024: 419 ±111
Median household income
$53,929
±$26,597 (90% margin)
Colorado: $95,470
Median home value
$341,800
±$53,109 (90% margin)
Colorado: $539,400
Median gross rent
$879
±$392 (90% margin)
Colorado: $1,761
Where is Westcliffe and what county is it in?
Westcliffe is a town in Custer County, Colorado. It covers 1.2 square miles of land, 352 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Westcliffe, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 488 people lived in Westcliffe on July 1, 2025, up 15.6% since 2020, faster than Colorado (+4.1%). The 2020 Census counted 435 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 419 (±111).
| Measure | Westcliffe | Custer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 419 ±111 | 5,247 | no clear change |
| Households | 264 ±71 | 2,672 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 1.55 ±0.22 | 1.95 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 386 ±92 | 4,631 | no clear change |
Westcliffe's population since 2000
From 417 in 2000 to 488 in 2025: up 17.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Westcliffe as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Westcliffe?
The median resident of Westcliffe is 54.4 years old. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.9%.
| Measure | Westcliffe | Custer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.4 ±15.3 | 58.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 9.8% ±6.9 pts | 13.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 35.6% ±12.8 pts | 33.1% | – |
| Male | 48.9% ±8.3 pts | 50.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.9% ±6.7 pts | 4.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.8% ±11.2 pts | 88.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±9.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.1% ±3.9 pts | 1.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±9.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±9.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.3% ±4.3 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.9% ±5.1 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.8% ±4.9 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.7% ±6.3 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.8% ±7.4 pts | 12.3% | – |
| With a disability | 9.8% ±5.1 pts | 16.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.8% ±6.1 pts | 5.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.4% ±5.4 pts | 95.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 30.9% ±7.8 pts | 43.7% | −13.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.5% ±6.1 pts | 18.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.9% ±6.1 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2% ±2.9 pts | 1.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Westcliffe earn?
Half of Westcliffe's 264 households earn less than $53,929 a year (±$26,597), against $72,674 in Custer County and $95,470 in Colorado. In 2015-2019 it was $41,536 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.
| Measure | Westcliffe | Custer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,929 ±$26,597 | $72,674 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $138,180 ±$88,242 | $95,408 | – |
| Per capita income | $85,373 ±$57,374 | $48,232 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 6.6% ±5.2 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±54.3 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.6% ±7.7 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.2% ±4.2 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 68.9% ±13.1 pts | 80.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Westcliffe?
Owners occupy 67.8% of Westcliffe's occupied homes and renters 32.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $341,800 by its owner (±$53,109). The median renter pays $879 a month including utilities, and 35.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Westcliffe | Custer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $341,800 ±$53,109 | $392,100 | +$85,446 |
| Median gross rent | $879 ±$392 | $1,069 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.1% ±21.7 pts | 42.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,692 ±$371 | $2,041 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.8% ±10.4 pts | 85.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 32.2% ±10.4 pts | 14.7% | – |
| Housing units | 386 ±92 | 4,631 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±19.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.6% ±12.0 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 60.4% ±11.0 pts | 86.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 19.4% ±9.1 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.8% ±1.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 12.7% ±8.3 pts | 16.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 35.5% ±10.6 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.7% ±7.5 pts | 4.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Westcliffe building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units in Westcliffe in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 10.2 per 1,000 residents against 5.6 across Colorado.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Westcliffe work and get to work?
45.1% of Westcliffe's workers drive alone and 22.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.8 minutes.
| Measure | Westcliffe | Custer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.4% ±12.0 pts | 45.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.0% ±17.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 45.1% ±17.7 pts | 58.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.6% ±5.3 pts | 15.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±18.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 26.8% ±15.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 22.5% ±12.7 pts | 23.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.8 min ±8.6 | 36.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Westcliffe?
No census tract lies mostly in Westcliffe; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9701.01Custer County | 2,463 | $68,242 |
| Tract 9701.02Custer County | 2,784 | $75,170 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Westcliffe) · Census block assignment files
How does Westcliffe compare with other places in Colorado?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Westcliffe is the 13,290th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 197th-most populous of 272 in Colorado.
Westcliffe is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 197th | 272 |
Westcliffe's figures with every place in Colorado (CSV)
Every place in Colorado, sortable · Compare Westcliffe with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Westcliffe?
24 of the 57 figures for Westcliffe on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Westcliffe are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Westcliffe.