New Poll: Colorado Women Can't Get Ahead as Costs Outpace Incomes
Women Want Lawmakers to Address Finances, Health, and Safety
A new poll commissioned by The Women’s Foundation of Colorado finds that the majority of Colorado women are struggling to move forward because of insufficient incomes and the soaring cost of living, concerns about personal safety, and health care challenges. The Women’s Foundation conducted a statewide survey of women and gender-expansive individuals to identify top issues impacting their wellbeing ahead of the primary elections on June 30 and a live gubernatorial forum on June 7.
“A vast majority of Colorado women say they have fewer rights and opportunities than men, and nearly half say the gap has worsened in the last decade. Women are falling behind financially and in their personal freedoms,” said Renee Ferrufino, The Women’s Foundation of Colorado president and CEO. “When women thrive, families stabilize, communities strengthen and our entire state’s economy grows. We must elect people who value women, their experiences, and prioritize what they need to flourish.”
The poll found that the only area in which women say they outpace men is in social connections and emotional support. Otherwise, women say they fare worse on nearly every material measure, including money, jobs, caregiving burdens, health, and safety.
Read the News Release | Read the Polling Memo | Read Topline Results | Watch The Candidate Forum
Colorado women have made hard financial choices this past year
“We have put off dental work and other medical procedures that are needed due to cost of living.”
- Black woman, 18-35
44% of Colorado women have delayed and canceled major life decisions in the past year due to financial reasons
“To retire, I will have to sell my home, or keep working. At 70, I'm still working.
- Hispanic woman, 65+
The biggest challenges Colorado women face
“Juggling full time employment while also managing a household, women are compensated less than men despite the discrimination protection, women are outnumbered in leadership positions, jobs that are typically filled by women have extremely poor salaries, such as teachers.”
Black woman, 18-34
“As a woman with perimenopause in a rural community, my options for treatment are not only limited but almost nonexistent.”
-White woman, 18-35
“[A big challenge is] access to healthcare, especially doctors that will listen.”
-Hispanic woman, 35-49
Colorado women have faced barriers to health care this past year
Colorado women worry about their personal safety and security
Colorado women want action on the barriers keeping them from fully thriving
The poll surveyed 725 Colorado voters who identify as women between April 27 and May 4, 2026, conducted by Aspect Strategic. It includes oversamples of Hispanic, Black, and AAPI respondents and other women of color which allows for meaningful subgroup analysis.