“Counties like it” are metro-area counties with a similar population and a median household income near Denver's ($93,572). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Ahead of similar counties on 3 measures:
Behind similar counties on 2 measures:
About the same on 6: life expectancy, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, unemployment, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Denver | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | 1.6% 717,620 → 729,019 | 2.7% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $17,214 | $18,026 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates; Census Annual Survey of School System Finances (school year 2023), current spending divided by enrollment across the districts based in the county.
“Counties like it” means other counties in a metro area with a similar number of people and a similar median household income (about $93,572 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Denver County is furthest behind on drug overdose deaths per 100,000, adults under 65 without health insurance.
| Measure | Denver County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 behind similar counties | 44.7 | 29.2 | Utah County, UT 11.9 Kane County, IL 18.8 Montgomery County, TX 19.3 |
| Life expectancy about the same | 77.4 years | 78.8 years | Honolulu County, HI 81.7 years Suffolk County, MA 80.1 years Hudson County, NJ 79.9 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance behind similar counties | 8.5% | 7.4% | Suffolk County, MA 3.1% Worcester County, MA 3.2% Essex County, MA 3.5% |
| Residents per primary care doctor ahead of similar counties | 767 | 1,318 | Suffolk County, MA 635 Fulton County, GA 891 Worcester County, MA 1,071 |
| Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties | 126 | 248 | Suffolk County, MA 90 Essex County, MA 146 Capitol Planning Region, CT 153 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 14.1% | 12.3% | Ada County, ID 7.5% Jefferson County, CO 7.5% Utah County, UT 7.5% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 12.5% | 11.5% | Prince George's County, MD 9.3% Union County, NJ 9.4% Ada County, ID 9.7% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 18.1% | 16.6% | Ada County, ID 12.2% Cobb County, GA 13.4% Jefferson County, CO 13.7% |
| Unemployment about the same | 3.3% | 3.5% | Baltimore County, MD 2.2% Prince George's County, MD 2.2% Utah County, UT 2.6% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 92.2% | 92.2% | Cobb County, GA 95.9% El Paso County, CO 94.4% Jefferson County, CO 94.4% |
| Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties | 2.0% | 3.9% | Cobb County, GA 0.0% Montgomery County, TX 0.7% Fulton County, GA 0.9% |
“Behind” or “ahead” means more than 15% worse or better than the typical (median) similar county; small differences can be noise. Sources: County Health Rankings 2025 (health, money and internet), Vera Institute (jail, latest year from 2015 on), FHWA National Bridge Inventory 2025, HUD (metro areas), Census 2024 population. What has worked elsewhere on each of these.
“Highest” and “lowest” are just order, not grades: a high rank for poverty or hazard losses means more of it. Each figure's source is in its section below.
Related: By the numbers · The money trail · Audits · What has worked. Spot an error? Report it.