By the numbers: Colorado is growing but housing costs and job losses hurt
Data: State Demography Office ; Chart: John Frank/Axios Colorado's days as a fast-growing state are over, as soaring housing costs and job losses threaten its competitive edge. Why it matters: The slowdown is changing Colorado's demographics, economy and politics — and raising questions about the state's future. It's also a warning sign that Colorado may be losing its "secret sauce." What they're saying: "Colorado really remains a competitive state, but we remain middle of the pack, where we used to be … in the Top 10," Hanna Scovill, senior economist at Pacey Nehls, said at last week's annual state Demography Summit . "Compared to our peers, we're kind of falling behind in competitiveness." By the numbers: Eight trends tell the story. 1. Growth's slowing. Colorado added just 23,725 residents in the year ending July 1, 2025, bringing its population to 6,011,146. That's less than one-third of the previous year's revised gain of 75,892. 2. Babies outpaced transplants. Births exceeded deaths by more than 20,000, with Colorado recording its most births since 2017. Net migration added just 3,000 residents. 3. Uneven growth. Colorado Springs grew 0.5%, adding 2,671 new people — the largest gain among cities. Smaller communities (10,000 to 24,999
