Who moves to Lakewood, 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 Jefferson County, CO, home of Lakewood, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 39,720from other US counties
- Moved out
- 39,390to other US counties
- Net
- +330more arrivals than departures
- From abroad
- 201tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Denver County, CO (Denver) | 10,103 |
| Adams County, CO (Thornton) | 4,360 |
| Arapahoe County, CO (Aurora) | 3,640 |
| Douglas County, CO (Highlands Ranch) | 1,493 |
| Boulder County, CO (Boulder) | 1,372 |
| Broomfield County, CO (Broomfield) | 861 |
| El Paso County, CO (Colorado Springs) | 650 |
| Larimer County, CO (Fort Collins) | 584 |
| Weld County, CO (Greeley) | 559 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 340 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 339 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 287 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Denver County, CO (Denver) | 6,863 |
| Adams County, CO (Thornton) | 5,265 |
| Arapahoe County, CO (Aurora) | 3,448 |
| Douglas County, CO (Highlands Ranch) | 2,506 |
| Boulder County, CO (Boulder) | 1,103 |
| Weld County, CO (Greeley) | 1,027 |
| Broomfield County, CO (Broomfield) | 956 |
| Larimer County, CO (Fort Collins) | 770 |
| El Paso County, CO (Colorado Springs) | 701 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 477 |
| Mesa County, CO | 309 |
| Park County, CO | 275 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 25,271 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Colorado and 14,449 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) | 340 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 339 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 287 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 274 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 252 |
| Travis County, TX (Austin) | 209 |
| Orange County, CA (Anaheim) | 188 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 171 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 477 |
| Mesa County, CO | 309 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 231 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 208 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 196 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 188 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 162 |
| Pima County, AZ (Tucson) | 159 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Lakewood come from?
Most people moving into Jefferson County, CO come from nearby counties, led by Denver County, CO (10,103 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Cook County, IL.
Where do people leaving Lakewood move to?
The top destination is Denver County, CO (6,863 people). Farther away, the most popular is Maricopa County, AZ.
Are more people moving to Lakewood or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 39,720 people moved into Jefferson County, CO from elsewhere in the US and 39,390 moved out, a net gain of 330 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Lakewood with any city it trades people with, like Lakewood vs Chicago, Lakewood vs Phoenix, Lakewood vs Los Angeles, Lakewood 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 Lakewood.