West Adams
RANK #963 / 996 NAT · #15 / 15 CO · POP 520,149
1YR FORECAST: -2.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +6%
Adams County, Colorado, distinguishes itself with the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City, a 15,000-acre urban wildlife refuge offering opportunities for wildlife viewing, hiking, and fishing. Located directly north of Denver, the county provides access to downtown Denver and is surrounded by Denver International Airport, facilitating travel. Commute options include major interstates like I-25 and I-70, along with RTD rail and bus services, including the N Line connecting to Denver's Union Station. The county boasts an extensive network of over 559 miles of trails, parks, and open spaces, such as Barr Lake State Park and Riverdale Regional Park, supporting outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, fishing, and birdwatching.
Life in Adams County offers a blend of suburban and rural environments, with diverse communities and a focus on affordability compared to other Denver metro areas. The county is served by 12 public school districts, some offering International Baccalaureate, STEM, and career and technical education programs. The economy is driven by various sectors, including advanced manufacturing, aviation and aerospace, and life sciences, with significant investment flowing into these areas. Recent initiatives aim to revitalize communities and support economic growth through infrastructure improvements and redevelopment.
Above national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.7x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Big Bronco Solar and Storage
Lightsource bp
|
$675M | Planned |
|
Vega Solar Energy Facility
Infinity Global (d/b/a Vega Solar Energy Facility, LLC)
|
$250M | Planned |
|
Adams County Wind Project
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$200M | Planned |
|
Birdseye Energy Storage
Birdseye Energy Storage
|
$199M | Planned |
|
Byers Solar Farm
Silicon Ranch
|
$150M | Under Construction |
|
United Power Battery Energy Storage Systems (8 sites)
Ameresco / United Power, Inc.
|
$78M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Adams County scores just 2/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #963 of 996 counties. Job growth at +1.7% and median household income of $86,297 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Adams County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $425,000 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.20 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,632/month on average.
Adams County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.0% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.7% clip. Home values shifted -3.8% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 6.09% of Adams County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.