South Metro Denver Jewish households rise 130%

Contributed by: Stacy Rivera on 9/25/2007

According to initial results of the 2007 Jewish Community Study, the number of Jewish persons in the Metro Denver/Boulder area has increased 29% from 63,300 Jews to 81,500, since 1997.

The Study's findings show 81,500 Jewish individuals now live in 45,400 households across the seven-county area (counties surveyed include: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson).

The growing population continues to become more widely dispersed across the area, a trend that emerged in the 1997 Jewish Community Study results. In South Metro Denver, which includes Cherry Hills Village, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Parker, Castle Rock, and Sedalia, the number of Jewish households increased 130% since 1997.
Of the counties surveyed, Denver continues to hold the largest Jewish population; however its percentage of the total metro area's population has declined from 41% in 1997 to 31% in 2007.

"Denver's Jewish community is growing larger and is geographically dispersed, while our Jewish institutions are largely concentrated in central Denver. Because we care deeply about keeping our community connected and well-served, our challenge now and in the future is learning how to make Jewish life accessible and meaningful across expanding geographic distances," said Rob Klugman, Study Co-Chair.

Metro Denver/Boulder is now the 18th largest Jewish community in the U.S., similar in size to established Jewish centers such as Baltimore and Cleveland. Denver is also similar in size to other growing western U.S. Jewish centers such as Phoenix and San Diego.

Over the past 10 years, the Metro Denver/Boulder Jewish community has grown at a faster rate than has the general community. In 2007, Jewish households represent 4.4% of total households in the seven-county area studied, compared to 3.7% in 1997. Nationally, Jewish households represent 2% of the total population.

Since the survey began last March, nearly 112,000 randomly generated telephone numbers were called, over 37,000 households contacted, and 1,933 Jewish households identified during the screening process. 1,400 telephone interviews were conducted with members of Jewish households.

The complete results of the survey, including findings related to issues such as poverty, human services, Israel, philanthropy, and Jewish connections in the seven-county area, will be presented in a series of community meetings in November. Formal and grassroots Jewish organizations will receive support on how best to utilize the Study's results.

Research and development teams are conducting in-depth study in the areas of "Jewish Connections/Engagement: Mid-20's/30's Adults," "Jewish Connections/Engagement and Social Support Needs: Boomers," and "Growth and Dispersion." Their research-based recommendations for ensuring that Jewish organizations and services are easily accessible will be publicized by early next year.

"The information collected in the interviews and the work of the R&D teams will assist us in creating programs and services that will help Jewish people make meaningful connections to community, regardless of their age, location, or current level of involvement," said Nancy Gart, Study Co-Chair.

The 2007 Jewish Community Study involves 44 volunteers on the steering community and the research and development teams. The Study is being managed by the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado on behalf of the Jewish community, and made possible primarily through a grant from Rose Community Foundation. Other funders include the Weaver Family Foundation, the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation and the Sturm Family Foundation.

The Study is being conducted by Ukeles Associates, Inc. (UAI) with its research partners International Communications Research (ICR) and MSG-GENESYS Sampling Systems.

Information: 303.316.6483 or www.jewishcolorado.org/2007study.

Summary of Key Initial Findings from the Jewish Community Study:

1. 81,500 Jewish persons now live in an estimated 45,400 Jewish households in the seven-county area - an increase of just over 18,000 Jews (29% increase) over the past ten years. This and other numbers do not yet include households that have cell phones only. Metro Denver/Boulder is now the 18th largest Jewish community in the US, similar in population size to established Jewish Centers such as Baltimore and Cleveland, and comparable to rapidly growing major centers in the west such as Phoenix and San Diego.

2. The geographic changes in the Metro Denver/Boulder area since 1997 have been dramatic, for example:

-In South Metro Denver, which includes Cherry Hills Village, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Parker, Castle Rock, and Sedalia, the number of Jewish households increased 130% since 1997.

-North and East Metro Denver, which includes Stapleton, Commerce City, Brighton, Northglenn, and Thornton had a minimal number of Jewish residents in 1997, but now has 2,900 households, representing 6% of the total population.

-Denver has retained its role as the largest Jewish area. However, while Denver accounted for 67% of all Denver/Boulder Jewish households in 1981, the percentage declined to 41% in 1997, and to 31% by 2007.

-Growth in North and West Metro Denver and in Boulder continues. Changes between 1981 and 1997 were 314% and 650% in those two sub-areas; changes between 1997 and 2007 were 22% in both of those areas.

-Aurora accounts for 9% of all Jewish households in the Metro Denver/Boulder area, as it did in 1997.

3. Only 20% of survey respondents were born in Colorado; another 20% percent of respondents had moved to the Metro Denver/Boulder area since the last study in 1997.

4. Forty-one percent (41%) of all people in Jewish households are between the ages of 40 and 64, consistent with the national trend of the Baby Boomer cohort.

5. One out of three Metro Denver/Boulder Jewish households includes a child under age 18, making children account for 22% of the total population.

6. People aged 65 and over comprise 13% of all people living in Metro Denver/Boulder Jewish households.

7. The 2007 Jewish household age distribution shows a decline among young adults 18-39 compared to the 1997 survey data. This reflects increased use of cell phones among Denver/Boulder adults in their mid-20's and 30's. Randomly generated phone calls to cell phones could not be included in the interviews for legal reasons, thus an internet survey will be used to better understand and possibly adjust the data about this demographic.

8. Sixty-five percent (65%) of respondents were married at the time that they were interviewed, and just over half (53%) of those are intermarried. This intermarriage rate is similar to that found in recent studies in other growing Jewish communities, such as Seattle (55%), San Francisco (55%), Greater Atlanta (50%) and Las Vegas (48%).

9. Recently married couples and younger respondents are more likely to be intermarried than couples who are older and who have been married for 10 or more years.