The largest source of change in Colorado's population is migration. Each year between 2011 and 2016 between 235,000 and 250,000 people moved into Colorado, and between 160,000 and 196,000 people moved out of Colorado. The defining characteristic of both in-migrants and out-migrants is their age, Colorado in-migrants and out-migrants are most likely to be between 20 and 29 years old. This analysis documents characteristics of in-migrants and out-migrants by comparing in-migrants to out-migrants, in-migrants to Colorado residents and return migrants (i.e., people born in Colorado and returning after living elsewhere) to migrants born elsewhere. Overall, the regular pattern of in-flows and out-flows of people reflect expected exchanges between Colorado and other States.
