Governor Polis’ office shared a press release on Thursday describing the results of a census report in which Colorado is found to have the fifth lowest poverty rate in the nation at 8.2 percent. The lowest rate is in the neighboring state of Utah with 6.7 percent. The southern neighboring state of New Mexico, however, has the second highest poverty rate in the country at 18.5 percent, while Louisiana tops the list at 18.9 percent. The national average in 2023 was 12.2 percent.
“Our work to create good-paying jobs, attract businesses, improve access to quality education, and grow an economy that works for everyone is driving down poverty and increasing opportunities for all,” Governor Polis said.
The poverty rate for Colorado has declined from previous years: it was reportedly 9.7 percent in 2021, nine percent in 2022, and 9.2 percent in 2023. The national average has dropped slightly in recent years from 12.6 percent in 2021 to 12.3 percent in 2022 and 12.2 percent in 2023.
Census Reporter states that the City of Longmont has a poverty rate of 8.5 percent with a 10 percent margin of error, while the Boulder Metro area has a rate of 11.4 percent.
While looking at other economic indicators, the unemployment rate in Colorado was 4.5 percent in July 2025, tying it for the eleventh highest unemployment rate in the nation. California has the highest unemployment rate with 5.5 percent, South Dakota has the lowest with 1.9 percent, and the national average is 4.2 percent.
Governor Polis’ office issued another press release on Thursday, criticizing President Trump’s tariffs as a tax on Colorado families. A new report from the Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) shows that Colorado’s effective tariff rate rose from three percent in 2024 to 21 percent. The Trump administration has argued that tariffs are a way to level the playing field while also encouraging domestic production of goods and increasing the number of available job opportunities in the country.
