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Index: Economy / Subcategory: Business

Per Capita Income

Date updated: 01/10/2012

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) calculates per capita personal income by dividing the personal income of the residents by the population of that area as of July 1 for the reference year. Personal income is calculated as the sum of wage and salary disbursements, such as labor income, personal dividend income, and personal interest income, less personal contributions for social insurance (i.e., Social Security, Medicare).

What this chart shows: Annual Per Capita Personal Income - United States, Colorado, and Larimer County, 2001-2010

*2010 county level data not yet available

Data Sources: United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Colorado per capita personal income consistently exceeded United States per capita income by 5.7 to 13.5 percent between 2001 and 2010. The difference between Colorado and U.S. per capita income has been steadily declining over the past decade. Between 2001 and 2010, the difference between the two has declined 57.6%

Larimer County per capita income has averaged slightly lower than United States levels. The 2001-2003 slow down in per capita personal income growth was more pronounced for Larimer County than for the United States or Colorado. State and County growth resumed between 2004 and 2007, averaging nearly 5% annually. Between 2008 and 2009, per capita personal income growth slowed in Larimer County (-3.7%), but less so than in Colorado (-6.4%) or the United States (-5.1%).

The national per capita income increased 28.2% since 2001, from $31,157 in 2001 to $39,945 in 2010. In comparison, the per capita income in Colorado increased 19.4% during the same time period.

What this chart shows: Per Capita Income - Larimer County Cities and Towns, 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

 

Data Source: United States Census (Table B19301)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

According to the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Estes Park had the highest per capita income in Larimer County at $34,962 and Laporte had the lowest at $24,118. Per capita income is derived from dividing personal income by population. Cities such as Fort Collins, that have a higher percentage of students (who earn no or limited personal income), will often have a lower per capita income. (See Population by Age)

What this chart shows: Per Capita Income of Colorado's 10 Most Populous Counties, 2009

Data Source: United States Department of Commerce - Bureau of Economic Analysis

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Among the ten most populous Colorado counties, Larimer County ranked seventh highest for annual per capita personal income in 2009. The largest counties line the eastern front range of the Rocky Mountains.

When comparing the annual per capita income of all 64 Colorado counties, Larimer County ranked 26th out of 64 in 2009, dropping 5 places since 2007. Several mountain resort counties were ranked among the top ten; Pitkin County, home to the resort community of Vail, ranked number one with a per capita income of $84,264. Crowley County, in southeast Colorado, had the lowest annual per capita income at $15,036.

Additional Information:

Related Information on COMPASS -

Other Resources -

Standards or Targets: N/A

Data Tables: For sources, see spreadsheet.

Annual Per Capita Personal Income

United States

Colorado

Larimer County

2001

$31,157

$35,355

$32,628

2002

$31,481

$35,131

$32,544

2003

$32,295

$35,312

$32,037

2004

$33,909

$36,849

$33,419

2005

$35,452

$38,795

$34,962

2006

$37,725

$41,181

$36,887

2007

$39,506

$42,724

$38,819

2008

$40,947

$44,164

$39,314

2009

$38,846

$41,317

$37,844

2010*

$39,945

$42,226

N/A

*2010 county level data are not available as of the latest update

See chart

Per Capita Income Larimer County Cities and Towns
2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Per Capita Income

Berthoud

$28,111

Estes Park

$34,962

Fort Collins

$27,771

Laporte

$24,118

Loveland

$27,991

Red Feather Lakes

$27,529

Timnath

$32,681

Wellington

$25,727

See chart

Per Capita Income - Colorado's 10 Most Populous Counties, 2009

 

Per Capita

Income

Per Capita Income Ranking

Population

Colorado

$41,895

---

4,972,195

Denver

$51,630

2

610,345

El Paso

$38,266

6

604,542

Arapahoe

$48,480

3

565,360

Jefferson

$45,834

5

536,922

Adams

$31,727

8

440,994

Boulder

$48,056

4

303,482

Larimer

$37,844

7

298,382

Douglas

$59,358

1

822,225

Weld

$27,186

10

254,759

Pueblo

$31,613

9

243,115

See chart