The Town Files

La Plata County, Colorado

56,331 people. The median home is worth $591,500 (typical Colorado town: $471,100) and the median household earns $86,056.

Towns in La Plata County

Towns in La Plata County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Durango19,071$668,400$78,60238.3
Bayfield2,838$412,500$93,12532.3

People and housing

La Plata CountyTypical Colorado town
Median home value$591,500$471,100
Median rent$1,504$1,582
Median household income$86,056$86,246
Median age43.240.1
Bachelor's degree or higher49.3%37.8%
Below the poverty line11.7%8.8%

Jobs and pay

26,983 jobs in 2024, average pay $61,965 a year.

Largest industries in La Plata CountyHotels & restaurants3,523 jobs · $29,436Retail3,455 jobs · $39,541Health care & social assistan…3,291 jobs · $67,691Construction1,910 jobs · $66,329Professional & technical serv…1,574 jobs · $105,605Arts & recreation1,053 jobs · $30,432
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in La Plata County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 1,698 storm events in La Plata County from 1996 to 2026, with 15 deaths.

Storm events in La Plata County by type since 1996Hail36Drought297Wildfire88Avalanche52Dense Fog39High Wind32Heavy Rain59Heavy Snow151Flash Flood64Frost/Freeze54
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

La Plata County has been included in 10 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 28, 2020BiologicalDR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3436: Covid-19
September 5, 2005Coastal StormEM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
June 25, 2002FireFM-2432: Valley Fire
June 19, 2002FireDR-1421: Wildfires
June 11, 2002FireFM-2423: Missionary Ridge Fire
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).