Executive Summary

The following highlights summarize information from each data page section of Compass:

Community Development	Community Living	Crime & Safety
Economy	Education	Enrichments
Environment	Health	Demographics

Community Development

Growth

From 2001 through 2006, housing unit growth was consistently higher than population growth in Larimer County. Beginning in 2007, that trend reversed due to the housing bubble. In 2010, there were approximately 2.42 Larimer County residents per housing unit. (Housing Units)
In Larimer County, the ratio of paved to non-paved County maintained roads remained consistent with previous years. All municipalities in the County maintained or added miles of roads probably brought on by growth and development within their annexed boundaries. (Miles of Road)
In Larimer County, the rate of approved new residential units per 1,000 people has decreased 65.1% since 2002. (New Residential Units)
Larimer County's population grew by approximately 16% between 2001 and 2010. Colorado's Department of Local Affairs Demography Office estimates that the annual population will increase each year by approximately 2% through 2020. (Population Size and Growth)

Housing

Since 2003, vacancy rates have declined each year from 16.1% to 4.4% in the first quarter of 2009, while rents have increased nearly 16% from $743 per month to $861 per month. According to the 2005-2009 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates, 55% of Larimer County renters were paying 30% or more of their household income for rent. (Affordable Rental Cost)
In 2011, 1,685 households received Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers in Larimer County. As of March 2012, there were 3,490 families on the waiting list for subsidized housing in all of Larimer County. (Federally Subsidized Housing)
From 2006 to 2011, Median Family Income (MFI) in Larimer County increased 11.8%, while the median home sale price in the Fort Collins-Loveland MSA decreased 3.6%. Additionally, according to the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, an estimated 31% of Larimer County homeowners pay 30% or more of their income for housing, including 12% who pay 50% or more. (Home Ownership/Affordable Housing)
(Homelessness (see 2011 Homelessness in Larimer County report))
In 2010, 50.1% of Larimer County family households contained married couples, and 20.8% had married couples with children under 18. (Household Types & Age of Residents)
Estes Park was the leader of vacant housing units in 2010 at 31.8%. (Housing Occupancy)
From 2004 through 2011, the number of homes sold in Fort Collins has declined each year. During the last decade, the median sales price of homes increased 14.3% in Estes Park, 10.5% in Fort Collins and Loveland. None of the 3 markets has kept up with inflation. (Residential Home Sales)

Transportation

In 2011, ridership on Transfort (Fort Collins) increased by 6.0% from the previous year, and Loveland’s COLT Fixed Route service increased by 2.6%. (Public Transportation)
Vehicle registrations increased 13.3% in Larimer County between 2002 and 2011, compared to a 16.6% increase in the population age 16 and older. (Vehicle Registration)
In 2010, 4.0% of Larimer County households did not have a vehicle, the same percentage as in 2000. (Vehicles Per Household)
The overwhelming majority (75%) of Larimer County commuters have a 30 minute or less ride to work. Between 2000 and 2008-2010, there has been a 34.5% increase in the number of commuters using alternative means of transportation such as public transportation, motorcycles or bicycles to get to work. Also included in this group are workers who walk or telecommute. (Work Commute)

Community Living

In 2011, there were 1,148 registered public charities in Larimer County. Human Services organizations represented 26% of these charities. (Public Charities)
United Way of Larimer County has increased fundraising from FY2004 to FY2011 by 63%. (United Way Donations)
The general voting trends in Larimer County are greater numbers of voters using mail-in ballots and fewer residents registering as Republicans, while more residents are registering as unaffiliated (independent). (Voter Participation)
In 2010, the Fort Collins MSA, including Fort Collins and Loveland, was ranked 5th among mid-sized cities in the United States with a volunteer rate of 42.2. This rate is higher than Denver, Greeley, Colorado, and the United States. (Volunteering)

Crime and Safety

Between fiscal years 2002 and 2011, adult probation rates ranged from 10.5 to 22.1 per 1,000 adult population The large increase, beginning in FY 2008, was primarily due to an influx of DUI/DAWI probationers assigned to private probation. (Adult Probation)
The number of reports to Adult Protective Services (APS) increased by approximately 15% between 2002 and 2011. The majority of Adult Protective Services reports involve self-neglect (69% of 2011 reports). (Adult Abuse)
The 8th Judicial District total adult arrest rate increased by 1.4% from 43.9 per 1,000 adults in 2009 to 44.5 per 1,000 adults in 2010. (Adult Arrests)
In 2011, 6,364 offenders participated in one of the four Alternative Sentencing Department programs provided by the Sheriff's Department. Each of these programs - Workenders, Work Release, Community Service, and Home Detention - provides diversion from more costly jail stays. (Alternative Sentencing Department. (Alternative Sentencing Unit [ASU])
There were 44.9 (per 1,000 adult population) charges filed in District Court for Larimer County in fiscal year 2011. In addition, there were 112.0 (per 1,000 adult population) charges filed in County Court for the same time period. (Charges Filed - Adults)
From 2007 to 2011, Larimer County law enforcement reports/arrests for domestic violence per 1,000 adults decreased 29%, peaking in 2007 at 5.7 reports/arrests per 1,000 adults. (Domestic Violence)
The annual inmate population averages for the last five years (2006 to 2010) indicate the Jail was filled to capacity or near capacity every year. In 2010, inmates age 25 years or younger made up 38% of the total jail population. The inmate population was identified as 24% Hispanic, although Hispanics represented approximately 10.2% of the 2009 adult population in Larimer County. (Jail Population & Capacity)
Within Larimer County, Estes Park Police Department’s law enforcement officers to population ratio (3.1 per 1,000 population) was the highest in the County. The remaining County law enforcement agencies had comparable officer/resident ratios, averaging 1.43 law enforcement officers per 1,000 residents. (Law Enforcement Coverage)
Loveland and Fort Collins citizens show their communities are relatively safe place to live. (Perceived Levels of Safety)

Child/Youth Data

There were 56.4 (per 1,000 juvenile population) charges filed in District Court for Larimer County in fiscal year 2011. The majority of these charges (57.9%) were related to delinquency problems. (Charges Filed - Juveniles)
Between 2010 and 2011, there was a 31.5% decrease in the number of substantiated child abuse reports. (Child Abuse)
The 8th Judicial District juvenile arrest rate decreased 28.1% between 2001 and 2010. Alcohol and drug offenses comprise nearly one-third of all yearly arrests. (Juvenile Arrests)
Between fiscal years 2002 and 2011, juvenile probation rates ranged from 7.4 to 18.8 per 1,000 juvenile population. Much of the fluctuation was due to changes in business practices, particularly those dealing with low-level offenders. (Juvenile Probation)

Economy

Business Economy

In 2007, farms in Larimer County are more numerous, but smaller in acreage. As farms decrease in size, more women are becoming farmers. (Agriculture in Larimer County)
From 2001 to 2009, employment in the Manufacturing sector decreased 35%, a net loss of 6,598 jobs. These jobs have historically been some of the higher paying jobs in the County. (Employment & Wages by Industry)
Businesses with fewer than ten employees accounted for 76.9% of all establishments in Larimer County in 2009. The majority (98.5%) of Larimer County business establishments had fewer than 100 employees, which was higher than Colorado (98.2%) and the nation (97.7%) during the same period. (Larimer County Employers)
In 2007, 92.8% of Larimer County firms were owned by White residents. The majority of minority business owners, 54.8%, were Hispanic. (Minority Business Ownership)
In January 2008, 16,826 individuals received Medicaid benefits in Larimer County. By the end of 2011, that number had increased 72% to 28,931. (Medicaid)
In 2009, per capita personal income in Larimer County ($37,844) was lower than in Colorado ($41,317) and the United States ($38,846). (Per Capita Income)
Since 2002, the unemployment rate for Fort Collins-Loveland has been consistently lower that the rate for the United States or Colorado. Between July 2010 and December 2011, the unemployment rate in Larimer County has declined one full percentage point, from 7.3% to 6.3%. (Unemployment Rate)

Individual Economy

Over the last decade, foreclosure filings in Larimer County peaked in 2009 at 2,037. During this same time period, bankruptcies peaked in 2005 at 2,211 just prior to the enactment of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. The number of bankruptcies has increased every since 2006. (Bankruptcy and Foreclosure)
The Food Bank for Larimer County has seen a 53% increase in its Food Share program and an 82% increase in its Kids Café program between 2006 and 2011. (Food Bank)
Between 2006 and 2011, the average monthly number of Larimer County households receiving food stamps increased 80.5%. In 2011, the average household monthly benefit amount was $295, an 11.7% decrease over 2010. (Food Stamps)
In 2010, nearly 34% of Hispanic households earned less than $25,000 compared to approximately 20% of White households. (Income by Racial Classification)
From FYE 2002 to FYE 2011, the number of Larimer County households submitting applications for heating assistance increased 85%. (Low Energy Assistance Program - LEAP)
The Median Family Income (MFI) in Larimer County shrunk 9.0% (when adjusted for inflation) between 2006 and 2010. The 2012 MFI in Larimer County is $77,700. (Median Family Income)
In 2010, per capita personal income in Larimer County ($38,546) was lower than in Colorado ($42,226) and the United States ($39,945). After adjusting for inflation, per capita income in Larimer County has decreased 4.1% since 2001. (Per Capita Income)
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 19,000 Larimer County residents lived on less than 50% of the Federal Poverty Level or $7,355 for a family of two between 2008 and 2010. (Poverty)
A family of four in Larimer County (consisting of two adults working full time plus an infant and a preschooler) needs a minimum of $58,232 (2011) annually to afford food, shelter, transportation, health and child care, among other basic necessities. (Self-Sufficient Wages)
From 2006 through 2011, there was a 42% increase in the average number of monthly applications for TANF benefits, but a 5% decline in the average monthly number of households receiving TANF cash assistance. (TANF)

Education

Early Childhood Education

From 2002 to 2011, the average monthly number of Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) cases, or families helped, decreased 55%. Beginning in January 2012, the Larimer County Department of Human Services announced there was no longer a waiting list for this program. (Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP))
In 2010, approximately 53.7% of Larimer County 3- and 4-year-olds were enrolled in nursery school or preschool compared to 47.6% in the United States and 49.8% in Colorado. (Enrollment - Preschool)

K - 12 and Adult Education

In 2010-11, all three school districts in Larimer County scored higher than the state average on all four ACT tests (English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning). (ACT Scores)
From 2002 to 2011, Hispanic student enrollment in Larimer County school districts increased by 61.8%. In comparison, total enrollment in Larimer County public schools increased 8.3%. (Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity)
In general, students in all three Larimer County school districts score higher on the CSAP tests than the state average. (CSAP Scores)
There was a 50.0% increase in expulsions from Larimer County schools during the 2010-11 school year over the previous school year. (Disciplinary Actions)
In 2009-10, Hispanic students comprised 16% of the student population in Larimer County; however, 30% of students dropping out that year were Hispanic. (Dropout Rates)
In 2008-2010, 47% of Larimer County residents possessed an associate’s degree or higher. (Educational Attainment)
In the last ten years, resident undergraduate tuition at Colorado State University has increased 138%, from $2,655 in 2002-03 to $6,307 in 2011-12. Higher Education Enrollment and Tuition
Enrollment in Larimer County School Districts is predominately White non - Hispanic. Hispanic students made up the largest and fastest growing minority from 1998 to 2002. (Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity)
Larimer County public school enrollment increased by 8.3% from 2002-03 to 2011-12. Park School District enrollment fell by 16.7% during this time period, resulting in 236 fewer students. (Enrollment - Public Schools)
In 2010-11, the majority of K-12 students in Larimer County were enrolled in public schools (92.0%), followed by non-public school enrollment (6.4%) and home-based schooling (1.5%). (Enrollment - Public, Home-Based & Non-Public Schools)
From 2002-03 to 2011-12, Larimer County’s three school districts saw a 99.4% increase in the number of students receiving free or reduced lunches. In comparison, the number of students in Colorado receiving benefits grew by 42.4%. (Students Eligible for Free/Reduced School Lunch)
In 2011-12, special education students comprised 10.0% of the total student enrollment in Larimer County public schools. (Enrollment - Special Education)
For the 2010-11 school year, Park School District’s per pupil funding ($7,093) was 4.1% greater than the average for the State of Colorado ($6,813). Poudre’s per pupil funding ($6,661) was 2.3% less than the state average, and Thompson’s ($6,463) was 5.4% less than the state average. (Funding Per Pupil)
School districts in Larimer County had higher graduation rates than the state average for classes graduating between 2002 and 2011. Hispanic students continue to have a lower graduation rate than White students in all three Larimer County school districts. (High School Graduation Rates)
The average pupil/teacher ratio in the Larimer County School Districts increased from 16.0 in 2009-10 to 16.8 in 2010-11. (Student/Teacher Ratios)
For school year 2010-11, the percentages of students from each race/ethnic group, with the exception of White, were higher than those of teachers. White teachers were overrepresented while Hispanic and Black teachers were underrepresented in relation to the number of students from each group. (Teachers - Ethnicity & Gender)
Between the 2001-02 and 2010-11 school years, average salaries in Park School District had the highest percentage increase (26%) followed by Poudre (18%) and Thompson (14%). (Teachers Salary)

Enrichments

Environment

Quality of Environment

Air quality in Larimer County has been in compliance of the Environmental Protection Agency standards since 2008. (Air Quality)
Between 2001 and 2010, Berthoud, Fort Collins-Loveland Water District, Little Thompson Water District and West Fort Collins Water District were each cited for health violations. (Public Drinking Water Quality)
In 2010, the state’s visibility standards were met in Fort Collins on 58% of the days measured. (Visibility)
According to the Natural Diversity Information Source, there are 435 species found in Larimer County. Of these, 185 ‘commonly occur’ and there are more species of birds than any other taxonomic class. The Burrowing Owl, which is listed as “fairly common”, was added to the State Threatened List in 2004. (Wildlife Species)

Use of Resources

Total annual consumption of electricity in Colorado increased 20% between 2001 and 2010, with the largest increases in the transportation sector (318%), followed by the industrial (39%) and residential (25%) sectors. According to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, the population of Colorado grew an estimated 15% between 2001 and 2010. (Electricity Consumption)
Between 2000 and 2010, the total acreage in the Larimer County Open Lands program increased from 12,198 acres to 44,633 acres. The majority of land held in the Open Lands Program (64%) is open or will be opened to public access. (Open Lands)
Over the last decade, recycling at the Larimer County Landfill increased nearly 44%. (Recycling)
The amount of solid waste collected at the Larimer County Landfill decreased approximately 22% between 2002 to 2011. (Solid Waste)
The City of Fort Collins consumed 7.6 billion gallons of water in 2011 or 141 gallons per person per day. The City of Loveland consumed 3.7 billion gallons of water or 149 gallons per person per day. (Water Consumption)
Wind energy consumption in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park saw large increases between 2006 and 2009. Since 2009, wind energy consumption has leveled off in all 3 communities. (Wind Energy Consumption )

Health

Physical Health & Access to Care

Disease & Mortality Rates

In Larimer County, cancer incidence rates and cancer mortality rates have generally been declining over the past decade. (Cancer Incidence & Mortality)
From 2001 to 2010, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates declined in Colorado and Larimer County and were below national rates. Males over the age of 75 have the highest CVC mortality rates, while females over 75 have the highest number of total deaths due to CVD. (Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Mortality)
In the last 8 years, neither Colorado nor Larimer County has met the Healthy People 2010 objective of limiting the percentage of residents diagnosed with diabetes to 2.5%. (Diabetes)
In 2010, 63.2% of residents surveyed in Larimer County met the recommended physical activity levels suggested by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. In addition, more men than women met the recommended activity guidelines. (Physical Exercise)
From 2001 to 2010, lung cancer mortality rates in Colorado and Larimer County have been below the Healthy People 2010 Objective of 44.9 deaths per 100,000. (Lung Cancer Incidence & Mortality)
Both Colorado and Larimer County have lower (better) mortality rates than the nation. In 2010, cancer and heart disease were the leading causes of death in Larimer County. (Mortality)
More than half (53.2%) of all Larimer County adults are considered overweight or obese according to the 2009-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey for Larimer County. (Overweight and Obesity)
In Larimer County, mortality rates due to unintentional injuries (accidents) increased 17% from 2001 (28.6) to 2010 (33.5) and fell significantly short of the Healthy People 2010 goal of 17.5. Injuries that most commonly resulted in death include poisoning and falls. Groups that were most affected include those 75 and older and males. (Unintentional Injury Mortality )

Children's Health

From 2005 to 2009, the most prevalent birth defects among Larimer County infants included heart defects, genital/urinary defects, and muscular/skeletal defects. (Birth Defects)
In 8 of the last 10 years, the infant mortality rate (IMR) in Larimer County has been less than or equal to the state's IMR. (Infant Mortality)
In 2010, Larimer County had 271 low birthweight babies (5.8 lbs or less) and 37 very low birthweight babies (3.4 lbs or less). Larimer County had consistently lower percentages of low birthweight babies than Colorado and the nation. (Low Birthweight Babies)

Gender-Related Health Issues

In 2010, the top three causes of death for women in Larimer County were cancer, heart disease, and stroke. (Women's Health)
In 2010, the top three leading causes of death in Larimer County men were cancer, heart disease, and accidents. (Men's Health)
From 2001 through 2010, the rate of first trimester prenatal care received by mothers in Larimer County was generally higher than in Colorado. In 2010, the Healthy People 2010 objective of 90% was not met by either Larimer County (86.2%) or Colorado (77.6%). (Prenatal Care)
From 2002 to 2010, Larimer County births to mothers aged 15-17, ranged from a low of 55 (2003) to a high of 92 births (2005). Hispanic teen fertility rates continue to be significantly higher than non-Hispanic rates. (Teen Fertility Rates)

Mental Health & Emotional Well-being

The majority of the 2010 Health District Survey respondents (51.3%) reported experiencing no days in the previous month where they felt their mental health status was ‘Not Good’. (Mental Health Status)
Suicide was the 7th overall leading cause of death in Larimer County in 2010. In addition, the rate of attempted suicide resulting in hospitalization was statiscally higher in Larimer County than in the state of Colorado in 2010. (Suicide)

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

Alcohol related offenses are consistently the most common reason for adult arrests. From 1995 to 2002, the overall number of adult arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol declined by 2.3 arrests per 1,000. During the same time there was an increase in the rate of arrests involving narcotics (up 1.4 per 1,000). (Adult Alcohol & Drug Arrests)
Since 2003, Larimer County has failed to meet the Healthy People 2010 Objective (6.0%) for adult binge drinking. (Adult Alcohol Use)
In 2009-10, 16.8% of Larimer County residents reported being smokers. This was higher than the Healthy People 2010 Objective of 12%. ( Adult Tobacco Use)
Between 2001 and 2010, alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Larimer County have fluctuated with the peak occurring in 2001. In eight of the past ten years, Larimer County has met or exceeded the Healthy People 2010 target objective of 4.0 alcohol-related traffic fatalities per 100,000 population. (Alcohol Related Traffic Fatalities)
For juveniles, alcohol and drug arrests comprise approximately one third of all yearly arrests from 1995 to 2002. In 1999, a new trend began: the percent of juvenile alcohol and drug crime arrests exceeded property crime arrests. (Juvenile Alcohol & Drug Arrests)
From 2006 to 2010, an average of 10.7% of pregnant women in Larimer County consumed alcohol during the last three months of their pregnancy. For that same period, an average of 8.7% of pregnant women smoked. (Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use)
In 2010, Larimer County and Colorado reported the highest number of treatment admissions were for alcohol abuse, averaging 42.5% of all admissions. (Substance Abuse Treatment)
The percentage of Hispanic teenage smokers is significantly higher in Larimer County than in the state. In addition, in Larimer County significantly more Hispanic teenagers than Whites are smokers. (Youth Tobacco Use)

Demographics

From 1990 to 2000, Larimer County's population grew at a slightly faster rate, 35.1%, than that of Colorado (31%). Larimer County continued to rank as the 7th largest county in Colorado according to the 2000 Census. The largest cities in Larimer County, Ft. Collins and Loveland, experienced similar percentage increases in population, 35.2% and 35.5%, respectively. (Population Size and Growth)
In 2010, Larimer County had a higher proportion of adults (68.8%) and a lower percentage of children (21.4%) than the United States. The percentage of Larimer County seniors over the age of 65 (11.9%) fell between the United States (13.0%) and Colorado (10.9%). (Population by Age)
From 2000 to 2010, the number of Larimer County residents identifying themselves as Hispanic increased from 8.3% to 10.6% of the total population. Larimer County continues to have a significantly lower Hispanic population than the Colorado average (20.7%). (Larimer County Population Race & Ethnicity)
In 2010, there were 2,356 more women than men living in Larimer County. The difference in the breakdown between men (49.6%) and women (50.4%) was 1.6%. (Population by Gender)

Additional Population Data

In FYE 2011, there were a total of 161 adoption filings in Larimer County, compared to 2,669 adoption filings in Colorado. The majority of foreign adoptions in the United States in FY2011 were from China. (Adoptions)
According to the 2008-2010 American Community Survey, the percentage of children in Larimer County living with both parents was 77%, compared to 81% in 2000. (Children in Families - Single and Two Parents)
In Larimer County, the most common type of out-of-home placement for FYE 2011 was family foster homes, averaging 83 children at an average monthly cost of $1,473 per child. (Children in Out-of-Home Placement)
In 2008-2010, a disabled Larimer County resident was more likely to be unemployed than a fully abled resident. The most common disability in Larimer County in 2008-2010 was an ambulatory one. (Disabilities)
Foreign-born residents comprised 4.3% of the Larimer County population in 2000, compared to an estimated 5.5% in 2008-2010. Since 2000, the plurarity of foreign-born residents in Larimer County were from Latin American countries. (Foreign-Born Residents)
There were more than 1,500 grandparents in Larimer County who were responsible for the care of their grandchildren according to the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Nearly half (49.6%) had been in that role for more than three years. The trend in Larimer County is for more grandparents to be financially responsible for their co-resident grandchildren. (Grandparents as Caregivers)
In Larimer County, 83% of households contained married couples, and 45% of those families had children under 18. Householders living alone were the next most predominant household type at 11%. Larimer County had a slightly lower median age (33.2) than the national average. Berthoud had a substantially higher ratio of residents age 65 and older (16.7%) than the county average of 6.3%. (Household Types & Age of Residents)
The overwhelmingly majority (75.8%) of the population (5 years old and older) living in Larimer County’s linguistically-isolated households speaks Spanish. (Language Spoken at Home)
In Larimer County, the marriage rate has been slowly declining, ranging from a high of 11.8 per 1,000 adults in 2002 to a low of 10.6 per 1,000 adults in 2009. (Marriage-Divorce Rates)
In 2011, the proportion of veterans in the adult population in Larimer County was 9.8%, less than the state percentage of 10.8%. The plurality of local veterans (35.1%) served during the Vietnam conflict. (Veterans)