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Empire, CO
Town in Clear Creek County, Colorado.
Population
672
Land area
0.3sq mi
People per sq mi
2,303
ZIP codes
0
Empire and its ZIP codes
Empire at a glance
- Empire is about 41 times as dense as Colorado as a whole.
- The median household income is $66,797, 30% below the Colorado median of $95,470.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $356,500 (34% below Colorado) and median rent is $1,614 a month.
Local data for Empire, CO
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Empire, CO, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$66,797
Poverty rate
12.6%
Median home value
$356,500
Median rent
$1,614/mo
Homeownership
47.4%
Bachelor's or higher
19.4%
Median age
44.4
Average commute
24.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (166), Irish Americans (162), Polish Americans (40).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Clear Creek County. PPP loans are for Empire.
Unemployment rate
3.9%
Sep 2026, +0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$68,772
3,430 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$85,137
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$87.5M
FY 2026, $9,316 per person
How people get to work
Empire, CO, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone62.8%
- Carpooled13.5%
- Public transit5.9%
- Walked16.5%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home1.2%
Average one-way commute: 24.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Empire, CO, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: avalanche
Storm events since 1996
891
Countywide, mostly winter storm
Flood insurance policies
73
1.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
77° / 16°F
18.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Empire, CO, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
26.7%
U.S. 33.3% -6.6 pts
Diabetes
9.9%
U.S. 12.1% -2.2 pts
Smoking
14.2%
U.S. 12.8% +1.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.6%
U.S. 11.1% -1.5 pts
Cities near Empire
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| GeorgetownTown | 2.9 mi | 1 |
| Downieville-Lawson-DumontCensus-designated place | 4.1 mi | 0.8 |
| St. Mary'sCensus-designated place | 4.3 mi | 1.4 |
| Silver PlumeTown | 5.1 mi | 0.3 |
| CentralCity | 8.6 mi | 2.8 |
| Winter ParkTown | 9.8 mi | 17 |
| Black HawkCity | 11 mi | 3.1 |
| Blue ValleyCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 1.1 |
| Idaho SpringsCity | 12 mi | 2.4 |
| Floyd HillCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 6.3 |
| FraserTown | 13 mi | 3.5 |
| RollinsvilleCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 1.4 |
| EldoraCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 4.2 |
| Pine ValleyCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.8 |
| Upper Witter GulchCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.9 |
| Echo HillsCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 0.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Empire, CO in?
- Empire is in Clear Creek County, Colorado.
- What is the population of Empire, CO?
- About 672 people live in Empire, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Empire?
- Nearby places include Georgetown (2.9 mi), Downieville-Lawson-Dumont (4.1 mi), St. Mary's (4.3 mi), Silver Plume (5.1 mi), Central (8.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023