Rocky Ford has been identified as the poorest town in Colorado based on recent analyses. This small agricultural community in Otero County, with a population of approximately 3,800–3,900 residents, faces significant economic challenges:
Key metrics
- Median household income: $29,822–$31,418 (compared to Colorado’s statewide median of $80,184–$87,598)
- Poverty rate: 40.22%–46.1% of residents live below the poverty line
- Housing values: Median home value of $81,900–$101,200
- Education: Only 13.7% of adults hold bachelor’s degrees
Economic context
The town’s economy relies heavily on agriculture (notably melon farming), but faces challenges including:
- Loss of manufacturing jobs over decades
- Limited employment opportunities beyond seasonal farm work
- High dependence on government assistance (37.7% of households receive SNAP benefits)
Demographic factors
- Significant racial disparities in poverty rates, with Hispanic residents constituting 43.1% of those in poverty
- Nearly 30% of children live below the poverty line
- Population decline (-1.71% since 2020)
While some sources list larger cities like Lamar or Pueblo among Colorado’s poorest cities, Rocky Ford consistently ranks as the most economically challenged town due to its combination of low incomes, high poverty rates, and limited economic diversification.
The community’s struggles reflect broader rural-urban economic divides in Colorado, where agricultural areas have lagged behind Denver’s booming economy.
Sources:
- https://www.roadsnacks.net/poorest-places-in-colorado/
- https://k99.com/poorest-town-in-colorado/
- https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/colorado/rocky-ford
- https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-11-08-the-poorest-town-in-colorado/
- https://www.cpr.org/2016/07/05/divided-america-the-urban-rural-split-from-rocky-ford-to-denver/
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