Population

The 2023 population estimate for the city of Aurora is 399,913*. In the last 50 years, Aurora's population has changed dramatically. We've grown by about 300,000 people during that time period. We are currently the third largest city in Colorado** and 51st largest city in the country***.

Growth

Image Description: Aurora's population growth for the following years (population in parentheses): 2010 (338,774), 2015 (351,200), 2019 (374,154), 2020 (381,057), 2021 (386,502), 2022 (398,018), 2023 (399,913).
Sources: *City of Aurora Planning and Development Services Department
**Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Colorado: April 1,2020 to July 1, 2022
***Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 50,000 or ore, Ranked by July 1, 2022 Population 

Counts and Projections

Image Description: Aurora population counts and projections, from 1900-2070. Dates with populations in parentheses: 1900 (202), 1910 (679), 1920 (983), 1930 (2,295), 1940 (3,437), 1950 (11,421), 1960 (48,548), 1970 (74,974), 1980 (158,588), 1990 (222,103), 2000 (276,393), 2010 (325,078), 2020 (384,950), 2030 (449,145), 2040 (506,989), 2050 (568,452), 2060 (637,521), 2070 (714,990).
Source: US Census Bureau, Decennial Census 2010; City of Aurora Planning and Development Services Department, **2020 Decennial Census - U.S Census Bureau *City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 

Comparison

Image Description: Top 5 Cities in Colorado by Population. Denver (713,252), Colorado Springs (486,248), Aurora (393,537), Fort Collins (169,249), Lakewood (156,120).
Source: US Census Bureau, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in the United States: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 (SUB-IP-EST2021-POP)

Age

Compared to the Metro Area and the State, Aurora is a relatively young community with a high percentage of our population being under the age of 45.More than half of Aurora's total population (64.7%) is under the age of 45 while 11.7% of our population is 65 years and over. 

Image Description: Bar graph showing comparisons of population percentages in Aurora, Denver-Aurora-Lakewood (D-A-L) and Colorado. 0-24 years: Aurora (33.7%), D-A-L (30.2%), CO (31.2%). 25-44 years: Aurora (31%), D-A-L (31.8%), CO (29.6%). 45-66 years: Aurora (23.7%), D-A-L (25%), CO (24.9%). 65-84 years: Aurora (10.5%), D-A-L (11.6%), CO (12.8%). 85+ years: Aurora (1.2%), D-A-L (1.4%), CO (1.5%).
Source: U.S Census Bureau 2017-2021 ACS 5-Year Estimates

Race and Ethnicity

Aurora takes pride in its diversity and is among the most diverse cities in Colorado. This can be seen in everything from the global choices in local restaurants and our international connections through the arts, culture and events that celebrate the city's diversity. Aurora is more racially diverse that it has ever been. The charts below show how our racial composition has changed over time. Currently 56% of our residents identify as being White (not Hispanic or Latino) - that number has gone down over the last five years while the Black or African American and Two or More Races categories have increased. 

Race

                    Image Description: White (55.7%), Black or African American (16.6%), American Indian or Alaskan Native (0.8%), Asian (6.6.%), Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (0.3%), Some other race (9.4%), Two or more races (10.6%). 

Race Over Time

  Image Description: Chart shows the following trends by each racial demographic from 2017-2021: White fell from 61% to 56%, Black or African American rose from 16% to 17%, American Indian and Alaskan Native stayed at 1%, Asian rose from 6% to 7%, Other race fell from 11% to 9%, and Two or more races rose from 5% to 11%. 
Sources: U.S Census Bureau 207-2021 ACS 5-Year Estimates

What is the difference? Race vs Ethnicity

Race and ethnicity are social constructs used to identify people. The two categories are often used interchangeably and incorrectly. 
Race refers to a person's physical characteristics. Race is often used to describe someone based on their skin color or other physical attributes.
Ethnicity refers to a group of people that identify with one another based on language, culture, nationality or religion. 

Ethnicity in Aurora

Image Description: Pie chart shows population percentages by ethnicity in Aurora. 71% identified as Not Hispanic or Latino. 29% identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Ethnicity Comparisons

Image Description: Hispanic or Latino percentages compared. Populations identifying as Hispanic or Latino in Colorado (21.9%), Denver-Aurora-Lakewood (23.4%) and Aurora (29%).

Hispanic or Latino Population By Origin

Image Description: Chart showing country/region of origin for populations identifying as Hispanic or Latino. Dominican (Dominican Republic): 547, Cuban: 767, South American: 3,205, Puerto Rican: 3,628, Central American: 9,324, Other Hispanic or Latino country/region: 10,840, Mexican: 83,048.

Source: U.S Census Bureau 2017-2021 ACS 5-Year Estimates 

Languages Spoken and Foreign Born Population 

The U.S Census Bureau collects data from all foreign born individuals who participate in its censuses and surveys, regardless of legal status. The foreign born population includes anyone who is not a U.S citizen at birth, including those who become U.S citizens through naturalization. Roughly 22% of Aurora residents are foreign-born. The following charts show where they come from.

Place of Birth

for the Foreign-Born Population 

Image Description: Bar chart showing number of foreign-born residents by continent (number of residents in parentheses): Europe (6,045), Asia (20,628), Africa (14,789), Oceania (589), Americas (44,731) 


Image Description: 

Languages Spoken

The U.S Census Bureau collects data on Languages Spoken at Home for the population five years and over. The charts below display the wide variety of languages spoken throughout the city. Roughly 34% of Aurora's residents speak a language other than English at home. The charts below are a representation for the population that speaks a language other than English, only.

Languages Spoken at Home

for the Population that speaks a language other than English 

Image Description: Pie chart showing the percentage of Aurora's population that speaks another language other than English (percentage in parentheses): Spanish (60.8%), Asian and Pacific Island languages (12.7%), Other Indo-European languages (10.0%), Other languages (16.6%)

Languages Spoken at Home

in Number of Residents 

Image Description: Bar chart showing the number of residents and the language they speak (number of residents in parentheses): Spanish (75,754), Other languages (20,640), Asian and Pacific Island languages (15,844), Other Indo-European languages (12,409)


Our largest foreign born populations come from Latin American and Asia - ~50% of foreign born residents are from Latin America and ~23% are from Asia. You can see how this data correlated with the languages spoken at home data. Most residents that can speak a language other than English either speak Spanish or Asian and Pacific Islander languages. If you would like more information on our foreign born populations or the languages spoken around Aurora, please contact the Data Services group in the Planning Department.

Source: U.S Census Bureau 2017-2021 ACS 5-Year Estimates

Veteran Population

Aurora is home to an estimated 23,000 veterans - which makes up about 8% of the city's population. Veterans make up a larger percentage of the population in Aurora than the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area, but falls short of the percentage of veterans in the state of Colorado. Aurora's veteran population is a diverse group, about 10% of veterans identify as Hispanic or Latino. Aurora's veteran population is largely made up of veterans that served in the Vietnam and Gulf Wars. The following charts with dive into the period service served by veterans, gender, educational attainment and racial composition.

Veteran Population by Period of Service 

Image description: Bar chart showing number of veterans by period of service (number of residents in parentheses): World War II (255), Korean War (953), Vietnam War (7,799), Gulf War from August 1990 to August 2001 (6,229), Gulf War from September 2001 or later (6,625)  

Veteran Status by Gender 

    
Image Description: Pie chart showing veteran status by gender. Male 89.5%, Female 10.5%

Racial Composition of Veterans

 

Image Description: Bar chart showing racial composition of veterans in Aurora. White 67.3%, Black or African American 20.1%, American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.8%, Asian 2.5%. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.3%, Some other race 4.5%, Two or more races 4.5%

Educational Attainment for Veteran Population 

Image Description: Bar chart showing the education attainment for the veteran population in Aurora. Less than high school graduate 4.3%, High school graduate (including equivalency) 18.7%, Some college or associate's degree 39.9%, Bachelor's degree or higher 37.0%

Source: U.S Census Bureau 2017-2021 ACS 5-Year Estimates