Population
80,099
2025
+1.2% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Rifle, CO micro area: population growth, jobs and income
The Rifle, CO micro area lost 487 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.6%).
The Rifle, CO micro area had an estimated 80,099 residents in 2025, up 1.2% (943 more people) since 2020.
Data as of 2025 · updated
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now.
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−968
2025
−12.1 per 1,000 residents
−2,747 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
New homes permitted
330
2025
+2.8% since 2024
4.1 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$95,635
2020–24
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
38,852
2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
Net migration (IRS tax returns)
−191
2022–23
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, U.S. Population Migration Data, 2022–23. People on tax returns moving in minus moving out, U.S. and abroad; the sum of the member counties (moves between them cancel out).
Population, migration, employment, permits, unemployment and income are the figures each agency publishes for the area itself (OMB Bulletin 23-01 delineation; ACS 2016-20 and CBP 2018 use the delineation of their year). IRS migration is the sum of the member counties.
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 968 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 38,852 paid employees in mid-March 2023 (County Business Patterns).
Builders were authorized to start 330 new homes in 2025, or 4.1 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $95,635 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey.
Population growth over five years ranks 6th of 10 Colorado micro areas and 225th of 538 U.S. micro areas.
IRS tax-return data for 2022-2023 show a net loss of 191 people (the sum of its counties).
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How it ranks
| Measure | Among U.S. micro areas |
|---|---|
| Population growth | 225th of 538 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 514th of 538 |
| Median household income | 11th of 538 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 116th of 534 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment), against areas with a figure for the same period.
Fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S.
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The County Growth and Demographics Report for Garfield County, CO, the principal county of the Rifle, CO area, as a PDF: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Counties in this micro area
Garfield County, CO drove the change: of the 943 residents the Rifle, CO micro area gained from 2020 to 2025 (the sum of its counties), it added 1,681, while Pitkin County, CO lost 738 residents.
| County | Role | Residents2025 | Share of residents2025 | Change2020–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield County, CO | Central | 63,474 | 79.2% | +1,681 (+2.7%) |
| Pitkin County, CO | Outlying | 16,625 | 20.8% | −738 (−4.3%) |
Census Bureau population estimates (July 1). Shares are of the member counties' total; a share of the change shows only when every county moved the same way. – means no figure for the common period.
Nearby and similar metro areas
Next to this micro area
Similar in size
Questions
Is the Rifle, CO micro area growing?
Yes. Its population grew 1.2% between 2020 and 2025, about 943 more people (Census Bureau population estimates).
Which county in the Rifle, CO micro area is growing fastest?
Garfield County, CO. Its population grew 2.7% between 2020 and 2025, the fastest of the 2 member counties (Census Bureau population estimates).
How many people moved to the Rifle, CO micro area?
On net, none in 2025: about 968 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the population of the Rifle, CO micro area?
About 80,099 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in the Rifle, CO micro area?
Private employers there had 38,852 paid employees in mid-March 2023 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
Garfield County data alerts
Email me when Garfield County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
- IRS Statistics of Income, U.S. Population Migration Data
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.