Who moves to Denver, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Denver County, CO, home of Denver, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 62,726from other US counties
- Moved out
- 66,009to other US counties
- Net
- −3,283more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 310tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Arapahoe County, CO (Aurora) | 11,897 |
| Jefferson County, CO (Lakewood) | 6,863 |
| Adams County, CO (Thornton) | 5,734 |
| Douglas County, CO (Highlands Ranch) | 2,061 |
| Boulder County, CO (Boulder) | 1,480 |
| El Paso County, CO (Colorado Springs) | 1,085 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 990 |
| Larimer County, CO (Fort Collins) | 856 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 848 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 737 |
| Weld County, CO (Greeley) | 565 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 560 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Arapahoe County, CO (Aurora) | 13,955 |
| Jefferson County, CO (Lakewood) | 10,103 |
| Adams County, CO (Thornton) | 8,468 |
| Douglas County, CO (Highlands Ranch) | 3,524 |
| Boulder County, CO (Boulder) | 1,376 |
| El Paso County, CO (Colorado Springs) | 1,040 |
| Weld County, CO (Greeley) | 877 |
| Larimer County, CO (Fort Collins) | 755 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 680 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 648 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 626 |
| Broomfield County, CO (Broomfield) | 570 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 32,759 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Colorado and 29,967 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 990 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 848 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 737 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 560 |
| Travis County, TX (Austin) | 558 |
| Dallas County, TX (Dallas) | 488 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 455 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 431 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 680 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 648 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 626 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 518 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 478 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 411 |
| New York County, NY | 345 |
| Dallas County, TX (Dallas) | 315 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Denver come from?
Most people moving into Denver County, CO come from nearby counties, led by Arapahoe County, CO (11,897 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Cook County, IL.
Where do people leaving Denver move to?
The top destination is Arapahoe County, CO (13,955 people). Farther away, the most popular is Maricopa County, AZ.
Are more people moving to Denver or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 62,726 people moved into Denver County, CO from elsewhere in the US and 66,009 moved out, a net loss of 3,283 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Denver with any city it trades people with, like Denver vs Chicago, Denver vs Los Angeles, Denver vs Phoenix, Denver vs Houston.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Denver.