San Luis Valley Statistical Profile Now Available

The 2024 San Luis Valley Statistical Profile has been released by the San Luis Valley Development Resources Group & Council of Governments (SLVDRG) and is now available from the link below to download or view.

The annual report provides the latest demographic and economic trends in the San Luis Valley using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Colorado State Demography Office, and other reliable, public sources to illustrate changes in population, housing, school enrollment, and labor force.

“Last year’s Statistical Profile identified three substantial changes from the previous year’s profile that were worth noting,” said SLVDRG Regional Grants Navigator Craig Barraclough, who compiled the 2024 regional profile.  “Those same three indicators are notable again this year. Median household income for the San Luis Valley continues to rise.  There was an estimated increase of 9.3 percent from 2021 to 2022:  $45,644 to $49,901.”

Median household income is a key indicator of a region’s wealth and economic health. An increase is a sign of economic growth. However, the Valley’s median household income still lags significantly behind the statewide level of $87,598.

“Total public-school enrollment for the Valley continues a downward trend. Fall enrollment in grades K-12 in the Valley decreased 6.7 percent from 2019 to 2023,” Barraclough noted. “That number compares to last year’s report that showed a decline of 9.2 percent for the period 2018 to 2022. Statewide, Colorado’s K-12 fall enrollment declined 3.5 percent over the past five years.

“Retail sales in the Valley have shown tremendous growth over the last five years. For the period 2019 to 2023, retail sales are up by a whopping 42.1 percent,” Barraclough said.

Some of the increase in retail sales can be attributed to two factors. The region saw an influx of millions of dollars in relief by the federal government during the pandemic, bolstering business and personal spend during shutdowns. Secondly, the state began collecting taxes on online retail sales during this period, which enabled tracking of previously unrecorded online sales transactions.

Besides illustrating trends over periods of years, the statistical profile also shows single-year numbers for population, area incomes, poverty rates, and wages.

“Local governments and organizations find the annual San Luis Valley Statistical Profile very helpful because it highlights economic conditions and trends for the entire region,” according to SLVDRG Executive Director Sarah Stoeber.   “Using this information, public officials, non-profit leaders, and local business owners are able to make better informed decisions for strategic planning, workforce development and forecasting for future growth.  It also shows areas of the local economy that need new or additional investment.”

2024 San Luis Valley Statistical Profile