11th most populous of 64
With 161,260 residents in 2024, Mesa County ranks 11th by population among Colorado's 64 counties and is home to 2.7% of the state's residents.
Mesa County is home to 161,260 people (2024 estimate) on 3,329 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
161,260
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
155,705
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+3.6%
2020–2024
Land area
3,329 mi²
8,621 km²
Population density
48.4 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
1,446
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
1,683
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
−237
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+1,789
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$59,925
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$9.5 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$73,658
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
10.7%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
32.3%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
4.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$378,600
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
4.3%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–2024161,260▲ 37%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 161,260 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 146,723 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 117,631 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +37.1% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +126 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | +1,663 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 9.0 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 10.4 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Colorado | 11th of 64 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $59,925 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $9.5 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $73,658 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 32.3% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 4.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $378,600 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,182/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 41.3 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 65,830 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 72.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Mesa County in context
Comparable indicators for Mesa County, Colorado and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Colorado | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +3.6% | +3.2% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 9.0 | 10.5 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 10.4 | 7.6 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 11.1 | 6.5 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 48.4 | 57.5 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $59,925 | $83,055 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $73,658 | $95,470 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 9.4% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 32.3% | 45.7% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 4.1% | 9.8% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $378,600 | $539,400 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,182/month | $1,761/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 41.3 years | 37.7 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 72.5% | 66.2% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
1 city · choose how to order them
Did you know? Mesa County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 117,631 in 2000 to 161,260 in 2024, a change of +37.1%, compared with +37.7% for Colorado as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 1,446 births and 1,683 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 237.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 161,260.
13th in density
Mesa County has about 48.4 residents per square mile of land, ranking 13th of 64 counties; Colorado averages 57.5.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $73,658 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 32nd of 64 Colorado counties; the state median is $95,470.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $9.5 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 11th largest among 64 Colorado counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 2.6% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS