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Chaffee County, CO
8 cities and towns and 6 ZIP codes in Chaffee County, Colorado.
Population
20,178
Land area
1,013sq mi
People per sq mi
20
ZIP codes
6
Cities and towns in Chaffee County
Chaffee County at a glance
- Chaffee County is 65% less dense than Colorado as a whole.
- The median household income is $84,132, 12% below the Colorado median of $95,470.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $665,700 (23% above Colorado) and median rent is $1,611 a month.
- Its largest cities are Salida (5,861), Buena Vista (3,010) and Poncha Springs (959).
Local data for Chaffee County, CO
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Chaffee County, CO, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$84,132
Poverty rate
8.3%
Median home value
$665,700
Prices +4.5% in a year
Median rent
$1,611/mo
Homeownership
74.1%
Bachelor's or higher
47.0%
Median age
48.7
Average commute
18.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (4,182), Irish Americans (2,649), Italian Americans (1,245).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.9%
Sep 2026, +0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$54,447
9,343 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$71,431
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$157M
FY 2026, $8,042 per person
PPP loans
$37.7M
911 loans, 4,925 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$249K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Chaffee County, CO, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone59.6%
- Carpooled7.4%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked3.5%
- Bicycle4.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home24.5%
Average one-way commute: 18.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Chaffee County, CO, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
894
Most often winter storm
Flood insurance policies
75
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 11°F
9.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone24 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Chaffee County, CO, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
25.7%
U.S. 33.3% -7.6 pts
Diabetes
10.2%
U.S. 12.1% -1.9 pts
Smoking
12.1%
U.S. 12.8% -0.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.3%
U.S. 11.1% -1.8 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Chaffee County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Chaffee County, CO?
- Salida is the largest city or town in Chaffee County, with about 5,861 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Chaffee County?
- Chaffee County includes 6 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 81201, 81211, 81227, 81228, 81236.
- What is the population of Chaffee County, CO?
- About 20,178 people live in Chaffee County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Chaffee County?
- Chaffee County borders Fremont County, Park County, Gunnison County, Pitkin County, Lake County, Saguache County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023