John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
Among Colorado’s counties, Sedgwick County saw the largest increase in transfer dependency over the past 10 years, surging 19.3% from 19.6% in 2012 to 38.9% in 2022, and up 31.3% from just 7.6% in 1970. In dollar terms, government transfers per capita in Sedgwick County jumped from $11,209 in 2012 to $17,119 in 2022, a stark contrast to the $1,895 recorded in 1970.
Kiowa County followed with the second-largest increase in transfer dependency, increasing 14% from 15.9% in 2012 to 29.9% in 2022, and an overall increase of 24.5% from 1970’s 5.4% transfer dependency. This trend is reflected in per capita amounts, with residents of Kiowa County receiving an average of $15,475 in transfer income in 2022, up from $9,819 in 2012 and more than double the $1,895 recorded in 1970.
Additionally, Costilla County had the highest percentage of income derived from government transfers, at 48.3% in 2022, making it the county with the highest overall transfer dependency. Crowley County and Bent County followed closely behind, with transfer dependency rates of 43.8% and 40.4% in 2022, respectively.
Compared to 1970, Costilla County increased by 21.3%, while Crowley County and Bent County have increased by 28.5% and 26.9%, respectively, showing sustained reliance on government transfers. Residents in Costilla County received an average of $19,118 in transfers per capita, with Crowley County and Bent County close behind at $9,745 and $13,317, respectively.
For comparison, the statewide average was 13.2% in 2022, showing a lower dependency than the national average of 17.6%. On a per capita level, this translates to $10,012 per resident in 2022, compared to $11,542 nationwide.
Government transfer payments are non-repayable funds provided by federal, state, or local governments to support individuals in need. These payments aim to stabilize economic conditions and provide financial support during hardships. Key programs include Social Security transfers (retirement benefits), Medicare transfers (healthcare for seniors), Medicaid transfers (healthcare for low-income individuals), and income maintenance transfers (financial assistance for basic needs).
In Colorado, reliance on government transfers was just 7.1% (or $1,798 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970. This has since increased to 13.2% (or $10,012 per capita) in 2022, reflecting a total increase of 6.1% since 1970. This shift is largely influenced by increased healthcare costs, and economic transformations that have reshaped income sources across the U.S.
In 2022, the primary government transfer programs in Colorado included:
- Social Security: $3,086 (30.8% of total transfers)
- Medicare: $2,140 (21.4% of total transfers)
- Medicaid: $2,134 (21.3% of total transfers)
- Income Maintenance Programs: $1,328 (13.3% of total transfers)
With 15.6% of the population aged 65 and older, Colorado has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. However, counties with higher poverty rates also show elevated Medicaid and income maintenance participation.
Government transfers have long been a modest financial safety net, historically comprising only a small fraction of Americans' income. However, since the 1970s—sometimes dubbed the “Great Transfer-mation”—dependency has surged from 8.2% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022 nationwide. In Colorado, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 7.1% (or $1,798 per capita) in 1970 to 13.2% (or $10,012 per capita) in 2022.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | Dependency on Transfers (%) | Change Since 2012 | Change Since 1970 | Per Capita Amount (2022) | Per Capita Change Since 2012 | Per Capita Change Since 1970 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 15.8% | 0.2% | 9.8% | $8,626 | $2,127 | $7,298 |
| Alamosa County | 29.7% | 4.9% | 19.3% | $12,782 | $3,525 | $11,084 |
| Arapahoe County | 12.5% | 1.6% | 8.9% | $9,566 | $2,946 | $8,477 |
| Archuleta County | 26.1% | 4.7% | 15.1% | $14,359 | $5,541 | $12,181 |
| Baca County | 36.6% | 9.3% | 28% | $16,728 | $4,745 | $14,657 |
| Bent County | 40.4% | 10.2% | 26.9% | $13,317 | $4,724 | $10,956 |
| Boulder County | 9% | 0.5% | 4.1% | $8,869 | $3,217 | $7,567 |
| Broomfield County | 9.1% | 1.4% | 9.1% | $7,937 | $2,476 | $7,937 |
| Chaffee County | 19.3% | -3.2% | 9% | $12,448 | $3,022 | $10,332 |
| Cheyenne County | 25.9% | 13.3% | 18.1% | $13,615 | $5,745 | $11,723 |
| Clear Creek County | 11.7% | 1% | 6.2% | $9,031 | $2,623 | $7,562 |
| Conejos County | 34.8% | 4.4% | 12.4% | $15,068 | $4,940 | $12,366 |
| Costilla County | 48.3% | 10.1% | 21.3% | $19,118 | $6,482 | $16,171 |
| Crowley County | 43.8% | 10.8% | 28.5% | $9,745 | $2,688 | $6,851 |
| Custer County | 30.7% | 5.5% | 19.7% | $15,566 | $4,870 | $13,235 |
| Delta County | 31.8% | 6.8% | 16.7% | $15,151 | $5,614 | $12,316 |
| Denver County | 8.3% | -2.3% | -0.5% | $9,343 | $1,953 | $6,795 |
| Dolores County | 32.6% | 8% | 18.6% | $12,693 | $3,766 | $10,755 |
| Douglas County | 7.5% | 1.6% | 3.2% | $7,413 | $2,968 | $6,064 |
| Eagle County | 5.8% | -0.3% | 0.6% | $6,538 | $2,998 | $5,372 |
| Elbert County | 11.7% | 1.1% | 3.7% | $8,884 | $3,036 | $7,201 |
| El Paso County | 18.7% | 3.2% | 13.4% | $11,388 | $3,581 | $10,020 |
| Fremont County | 31.4% | 2.8% | 16.1% | $13,363 | $3,807 | $10,539 |
| Garfield County | 14.2% | 3.5% | 6.1% | $9,334 | $3,805 | $7,482 |
| Gilpin County | 14.3% | 2% | 6.4% | $9,466 | $3,848 | $7,901 |
| Grand County | 12.6% | 0.4% | 5.2% | $8,551 | $2,993 | $7,104 |
| Gunnison County | 12.9% | 1.8% | 5.9% | $8,461 | $3,513 | $7,444 |
| Hinsdale County | 24.1% | 7.3% | 17.5% | $14,737 | $6,697 | $13,226 |
| Huerfano County | 38.3% | 2.2% | 17.1% | $18,915 | $4,401 | $15,573 |
| Jackson County | 19.7% | 0.1% | 11.5% | $12,495 | $3,965 | $11,133 |
| Jefferson County | 12.9% | 0.7% | 9.2% | $10,279 | $2,975 | $9,226 |
| Kiowa County | 29.9% | 14% | 24.5% | $15,475 | $5,656 | $13,558 |
| Kit Carson County | 28.4% | 10.3% | 23.4% | $12,418 | $4,620 | $10,937 |
| Lake County | 16.9% | -0.4% | 12.5% | $8,758 | $2,527 | $7,823 |
| La Plata County | 15.2% | 4.1% | 4.6% | $10,437 | $4,232 | $8,485 |
| Larimer County | 14.2% | 0.9% | 6.1% | $9,605 | $2,965 | $7,968 |
| Las Animas County | 39.5% | 7.2% | 19.5% | $17,582 | $5,296 | $14,573 |
| Lincoln County | 31.5% | 7.7% | 22% | $10,939 | $3,137 | $8,911 |
| Logan County | 23.7% | 8.4% | 15.8% | $11,801 | $3,806 | $9,972 |
| Mesa County | 23.9% | 5.7% | 12.5% | $13,081 | $4,844 | $10,715 |
| Mineral County | 19.7% | 2.3% | 13.9% | $13,363 | $3,215 | $12,039 |
| Moffat County | 26.4% | 10.1% | 16.6% | $12,562 | $5,051 | $10,436 |
| Montezuma County | 29.2% | 7.3% | 16.9% | $14,764 | $5,639 | $12,821 |
| Montrose County | 27.6% | 4.9% | 16.9% | $14,051 | $5,160 | $12,105 |
| Morgan County | 21.8% | 3.6% | 13% | $11,054 | $3,143 | $9,101 |
| Otero County | 39.9% | 7.5% | 26.2% | $16,549 | $4,462 | $14,043 |
| Ouray County | 13.5% | -1.1% | 5.4% | $11,899 | $4,104 | $10,092 |
| Park County | 17.8% | 2.5% | 10.2% | $10,909 | $4,107 | $9,026 |
| Phillips County | 28.5% | 9.9% | 20.1% | $13,689 | $4,536 | $11,139 |
| Pitkin County | 4.3% | 0.4% | 2.1% | $9,234 | $3,968 | $8,492 |
| Prowers County | 31.1% | 8.4% | 20.4% | $14,078 | $4,390 | $11,976 |
| Pueblo County | 31.9% | 3.9% | 21% | $15,055 | $4,374 | $12,795 |
| Rio Blanco County | 23.1% | 9.8% | 16.8% | $13,073 | $6,203 | $11,562 |
| Rio Grande County | 29.2% | 1.9% | 16.8% | $15,912 | $4,557 | $13,801 |
| Routt County | 7.3% | 0.7% | 0.2% | $8,675 | $3,745 | $6,977 |
| Saguache County | 31.3% | 9.2% | 14% | $11,649 | $4,579 | $9,269 |
| San Juan County | 18% | 6.3% | 10.2% | $9,570 | $3,142 | $8,296 |
| San Miguel County | 5.2% | -0.5% | -3.5% | $7,219 | $3,662 | $5,757 |
| Sedgwick County | 38.9% | 19.3% | 31.3% | $17,119 | $5,910 | $15,224 |
| Summit County | 6.7% | 0.3% | 2.1% | $6,351 | $2,542 | $5,519 |
| Teller County | 22.1% | 5.9% | 13.7% | $14,445 | $6,028 | $12,196 |
| Washington County | 28% | 11.1% | 20.9% | $12,085 | $3,969 | $10,314 |
| Weld County | 14.3% | 0.3% | 6.2% | $8,392 | $2,012 | $6,646 |
| Yuma County | 24.6% | 10.5% | 16.6% | $11,074 | $2,659 | $9,065 |
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