Compare states / Colorado
CO
Compare Colorado with other states
Colorado is a mid-sized Western state: about 6.0 million residents, the 20th-largest population, at 58 people per square mile. Wages are taxed at a top rate of 4.4%; its effective property-tax rate of 0.50% is tied for the 6th-lowest among the 50 states. Housing is expensive: the median home value of $548,480 is the 6th-highest nationally. It is one of 8 states that can tax Social Security benefits.
Data: Colorado (tax.colorado.gov, dmv.colorado.gov); Tax Foundation 2026, Experian/Zillow, Census, FBI, NPS. Jump to sources · Methodology
Taxes and housing
| State income tax | Flat 4.4% |
|---|---|
| Average sales tax (state + local) | 7.89% |
| Average property tax (real estate) | 0.50% effective |
| Personal property tax (vehicles) | Specific ownership tax in lieu of property tax, about 1.79% |
| Social Security tax | Age 65 or older: full subtraction of federally taxable benefits. Age 55–64: full subtraction if AGI is $75,000 or less (single) or $95,000 or less (joint); otherwise a $20,000 cap shared with other pension and annuity income. |
| Estate tax | No state estate tax. |
| Inheritance tax | No state inheritance tax. |
| Minimum wage | Statewide minimum wage $15.16. |
| Median home value | $548,480 |
Car title and license
| Tax on buying/titling a car | 2.90% |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $7.20 |
| Registration (base) | $43.00 |
| Car inspection | Emissions on the Front Range |
| Nurse license from another state | Usually transfers (compact) |
Parks and people
| State parks | 43 |
|---|---|
| National parks | 4 |
| Population | 6,036,620 |
| Population density | 58.0 per sq mi |
| Demographics | 66.1% White (non-Hispanic) 22.5% Hispanic 4.1% Black 3.5% Asian |
| Violent crime | 476.3 per 100,000 |
Estimated income tax in Colorado
Uses 2026 single-filer tax brackets (top listed rate 4.4%) after a per-dependent exemption. Not your actual tax bill.
Estimate car title cost in Colorado
Uses this state’s title fee, plate, base registration, and 2.90% tax. County extras are not included.
Your move
Your to-do list in Colorado
- Get a CO driver license within 30 days. Bring your current license, Social Security number, and two proofs you live in Colorado.
- Title and register the car within 90 days. Inspection: Emissions on the Front Range.
- Make sure car insurance meets 25/50/25.
- Register to vote. Colorado elections site.
- Nurse license: Colorado is in the nurse compact, so a compact RN license often still works. Confirm with the board of nursing if you are changing primary residence.
- Enrolling a kindergartner? Kindergarten age cutoff in Colorado: October 1. Compare kindergarten cutoffs by state.
How Colorado compares
Top listed income-tax rate: 4.4% in Colorado vs 13.3% in California (lower in Colorado).
Use the picker above for any other state. Published comparison pages that include Colorado are listed here.
Sources
Compiled 2026. Statewide figures; counties can differ.
- State income tax. Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026.
- Average sales tax (state + local). Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, January 2026.
- Average property tax (real estate). Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County, 2026.
- Personal property tax (vehicles). WalletHub, Property Taxes by State, 2026 (vehicle table).
- Social Security tax. Colorado Social Security tax.
- Estate tax. Colorado has no state estate tax (CO tax agency).
- Inheritance tax. Colorado has no state inheritance tax (CO tax agency).
- Minimum wage. Colorado $15.16.
- Median home value. Experian / Zillow, Median Home Values by State, March 2026.
- Tax on buying/titling a car. Colorado 2.90%.
- State parks. Colorado 43. Official designated state parks.
- National parks. National Park Service, National Park System (units designated National Park on the National Park Service system list; parks that sit in more than one state are counted in each; CO 4).
- Population / density. U.S. Census Bureau, state population estimates · PopClock people per sq. mi..
- Demographics. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (CO).
- Violent crime per 100,000. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2024 (state rates table).
- Days to get a license. Colorado 30 days.
- Days to title a car. Colorado 90 days.
Data last updated: September 2026. How the data is compiled