RANK #976 / 1001 NAT · #13 / 15 CO · POP 377,150
1YR FORECAST: -2.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +9%
Douglas County, Colorado, is often recognized for its natural amenities and quality of life, frequently ranking among the healthiest counties in the state. Situated between Denver and Colorado Springs, the county seat, Castle Rock, serves as a central hub. Commuting to Denver is common, with Interstate 25 being a primary route, though traffic congestion can occur during peak hours. The community offers a blend of suburban and rural living with extensive outdoor recreation opportunities, including over 48,000 acres of protected open space, hundreds of miles of trails, and access to three state parks: Castlewood Canyon, Chatfield, and Roxborough. The South Platte River also provides opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and wildlife viewing.
Life in Douglas County appeals to families, with highly rated public schools, including numerous charter and magnet options. The county has experienced significant population growth, drawing residents seeking a family-friendly environment and access to outdoor activities. The economy is driven by a mix of sectors, with recent developments focusing on commercial and residential growth. There is also ongoing investment in infrastructure to support new development, including wastewater systems. Efforts are underway to streamline processes for commercial and industrial development, aiming to enhance the business environment.
Douglas County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -2.9% YoY, population +2.4%, wages +4.5%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Speculative pricing
Housing looks overvalued at 20.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Pine Canyon Master-Planned Development
Undisclosed
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Gateway Center
Lockheed Martin
|
$350M | Under Construction |
|
Flexential Data Center
Flexential
|
$192M | Under Construction |
|
Canyon Peak Power (Natural Gas Peaking Plant)
CORE Electric Cooperative
|
$156M | Under Construction |
|
Zebulon Regional Sports Complex
KT Development
|
$65M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Douglas County scores just 2/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #976 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +1.4% and median household income of $149,594 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Douglas County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $713,600 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.21 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $2,193/month on average.
Douglas County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.4% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.4% clip. Home values shifted -2.9% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 5.05% of Douglas 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.