Where Are People Moving in Denver, CO?
IRS county-to-county migration, 2023 tax year (released about two years after the tax year it covers).
People moving in
42,311
People moving out
40,357
Net migration
-3,283
Denver, CO is a net loser of residents. In the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), 42,311 people moved in and 40,357 moved out, for a net loss of -3,283. Net outflows can soften local rent and price growth over time, though the cause matters as much as the number.
Migration is most useful read alongside the rest of the market. People move for jobs, affordability, climate, and lifestyle, and where they come from and go to says a lot about what a county is competing on. Below are the specific counties driving Denver, CO’s flows in each direction.
Top counties people moved to Denver, CO from
| Origin county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Arapahoe, COColorado | 7,829 | 11,897 |
| Jefferson, COColorado | 5,051 | 6,863 |
| Adams, COColorado | 3,626 | 5,734 |
| Douglas, COColorado | 1,586 | 2,061 |
| Boulder, COColorado | 1,300 | 1,480 |
| El Paso, COColorado | 865 | 1,085 |
| Cook, ILIllinois | 835 | 990 |
| Larimer, COColorado | 741 | 856 |
| Los Angeles, CACalifornia | 646 | 848 |
| Maricopa, AZArizona | 571 | 737 |
Top counties people left Denver, CO for
| Destination county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Arapahoe, COColorado | 8,748 | 13,955 |
| Jefferson, COColorado | 7,255 | 10,103 |
| Adams, COColorado | 5,110 | 8,468 |
| Douglas, COColorado | 2,307 | 3,524 |
| Boulder, COColorado | 1,036 | 1,376 |
| El Paso, COColorado | 726 | 1,040 |
| Larimer, COColorado | 575 | 755 |
| Weld, COColorado | 543 | 877 |
| Los Angeles, CACalifornia | 530 | 648 |
| Cook, ILIllinois | 520 | 626 |
“Returns” counts tax returns (a household proxy) that moved along each flow; “People” counts the individuals on those returns, when reported. IRS aggregate and foreign pseudo-rows are excluded. Informational only, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Are people moving to Denver, CO or leaving?
Denver, CO had a net loss of -3,283 residents in the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), with 42,311 people moving in and 40,357 moving out. Net migration is inflow minus outflow.
Where are people moving to Denver, CO from?
The largest sources of new Denver, CO residents are Arapahoe, CO, Jefferson, CO, Adams, CO. The full top-ten list of origin counties is in the table above.
Where do people leaving Denver, CO go?
People leaving Denver, CO most often move to Arapahoe, CO, Jefferson, CO, Adams, CO. The full top-ten list of destination counties is in the table above.
What does Denver, CO migration mean for housing?
Migration is a leading demand signal. Sustained net inflows tend to support rents and home prices when supply cannot keep up, while net outflows can soften them. Read this alongside Denver, CO's price forecast, building permits, and affordability on the full county dashboard before drawing a conclusion.
How current is this Denver, CO migration data?
It comes from IRS Statistics of Income county-to-county migration data, which is released about two years after the tax year it covers; the figures above reflect the 2023 tax year. That lag is normal for this dataset, which counts actual tax returns rather than survey estimates.