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Monday, Apr. 21, 2025

Does Colorado have one of the highest densities of veterans in the US? 


no

Despite hosting six military bases, Colorado sits in the middle of the pack when it comes to the share of its population who are veterans. 

Around 332,000 veterans live in Colorado, or about 7.2% of its 4.6 million residents who are 18 or older, the 2023 American Community Survey shows. This puts Colorado 22nd in veteran share of the adult population. 

The state with the highest veteran density is Alaska, with 56,000 veterans, or 10.5% of its adult population of 536,000. Texas has the largest veteran population, at almost 1.4 million — about 6.1% of its 23 million adult residents. 

A veterans service office is available in every Colorado county. In 2024, 73% of the state voted to approve a property tax break for veterans unemployable due to disability.  

In March, the federal Department of Veteran Affairs was preparing to lay off 83,000 employees. Some layoffs have already impacted probationary workers at Colorado offices. 

See a full discussion of this at The Colorado Sun

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