1st Advantage MortgageIn Adams County, Colorado, the typical household earns $94,571 a year and the typical rent is $1,781. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Colorado license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Adams County
- Adams County housing compared with Colorado
- Income in Adams County compared with Colorado
- Employment and commuting in Adams County
- The communities that make up Adams County
- How Adams County compares with nearby counties
- A Adams County household budget, worked through
- Adams County households compared
- Before borrowing in Adams County
- Steps before you apply in Adams County
- Checking a lender's license in Colorado
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Adams County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Adams County's population at 530,225; only 4 of Colorado's 64 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,167 square miles of land, or about 454 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan area. Of the 14 Census places inside Adams County, Thornton leads by population with about 144,187; 6 of the 14 are incorporated.
Adams County housing compared with Colorado
A typical Adams County rental runs $1,781 a month including utilities. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 57% of renter households here. With a median value of $484,200, a typical Adams County house costs 5.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 69% of homes. Median construction year: 1991.
| Housing | Adams County | Colorado statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,781/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $484,200 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 30% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Income in Adams County compared with Colorado
Half of Adams County households take in less than $94,571 a year and half take in more, about the same as the Colorado median of $95,470. Only 16 Colorado counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Adams County | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.9% | -1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.4% | +1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.1% | +3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.6% | -3.4 pts |
Some 15% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 48% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 9.8% of Adams County residents in poverty, against 9.4% across Colorado. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.412 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Adams County median.
Employment and commuting in Adams County
Education and health care employs 18% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 12% locally and 8% for Colorado. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 70% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Adams County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.1% | -3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.2% | -3.4 pts |
| Construction | 11.7% | +3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | -0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | +3.2 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The communities that make up Adams County
The table lists the 14 largest of 14 Census places in Adams County, by population. Together all 14 hold about 386,838 people, so roughly 27% of residents live outside any named place. Todd Creek has the highest median household income on the list ($194,362) and Federal Heights the lowest ($56,597), counting places with at least 500 residents. City guides exist for the linked Adams County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thornton | city | 144,187 | $103,088 | $1,895 | 32 mi |
| Commerce City | city | 66,445 | $111,972 | $1,880 | 25 mi |
| Brighton | city | 42,059 | $107,679 | $1,779 | 25 mi |
| Northglenn | city | 38,014 | $84,030 | $1,775 | 35 mi |
| Sherrelwood | CDP | 18,692 | $75,327 | $1,702 | 36 mi |
| Welby | CDP | 16,197 | $80,026 | $1,656 | 34 mi |
| Federal Heights | city | 14,125 | $56,597 | $1,687 | 36 mi |
| Berkley | CDP | 10,789 | $84,637 | $1,777 | 37 mi |
| Lochbuie | town | 8,609 | $97,009 | $2,429 | 23 mi |
| Derby | CDP | 8,453 | $82,138 | $1,689 | 31 mi |
| Twin Lakes | CDP | 8,030 | $95,583 | $1,596 | 36 mi |
| Shaw Heights | CDP | 5,565 | $86,250 | $2,125 | 38 mi |
| Todd Creek | CDP | 5,379 | $194,362 | n/a | 29 mi |
| North Washington | CDP | 294 | n/a | n/a | 35 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
How Adams County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 16 to 47 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Elbert County leads the group on income ($132,685), Morgan County trails ($73,278), and Adams County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | - | $94,571 | $1,781/mo | 69% |
| Arapahoe County, CO | 16 mi | $101,087 | $1,891/mo | 65% |
| Denver County, CO | 30 mi | $94,718 | $1,831/mo | 49% |
| Morgan County, CO | 38 mi | $73,278 | $1,025/mo | 67% |
| Broomfield County, CO | 38 mi | $123,874 | $2,126/mo | 63% |
| Elbert County, CO | 40 mi | $132,685 | $1,311/mo | 95% |
| Weld County, CO | 47 mi | $97,097 | $1,539/mo | 76% |
A Adams County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Adams County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $7,881 a month: gross income for a household at the Adams County median
- Rent at the median, $1,781, takes 23% of that
- Under a 35% cap, $2,758 total minus rent leaves $977
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,765 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Adams County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Adams County households compared
College graduates make up 29% of the adult population. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Adams County | All of Colorado | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.0% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.8% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.6% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Adams County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 15.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.3% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
Before borrowing in Adams County
What the Adams County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 12% of Adams County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Higher earners. 48% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Rent squeeze. 57% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Steps before you apply in Adams County
Steps that save money for Adams County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Colorado license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Colorado
Adams County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Colorado Division of Banking. Colorado also has the Colorado Attorney General's office, which administers the state's Uniform Consumer Credit Code for consumer credit. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Colorado state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Adams County?
$94,571 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $95,470 for Colorado. It ranks 17th of 64 in the state.
How does Adams County rent compare with Colorado?
$1,781 locally, close to the state figure.
What are the biggest places in Adams County?
By population: Thornton, Commerce City, Brighton, Northglenn, Sherrelwood. The county has 14 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Adams County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Adams County residents?
The Colorado Division of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Colorado; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.