1st Advantage MortgageIn Archuleta County, Colorado, the typical household earns $83,065 a year and the typical rent is $1,432. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Archuleta County by the numbers
- Household income in Archuleta County
- What it costs to live in Archuleta County
- Jobs and commutes in Archuleta County
- Archuleta County and the counties next door
- Places inside Archuleta County
- More Archuleta County figures
- Reading the Archuleta County data as a borrower
- A Archuleta County household budget, worked through
- Who licenses lenders for Archuleta County residents
- A Archuleta County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Archuleta County by the numbers
With an estimated 13,900 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Archuleta County ranks 34th of 64 in Colorado for population. Land area is 1,350 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 10 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Archuleta County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 2 Census places inside Archuleta County, Pagosa Springs leads by population with about 2,090; 1 of the 2 are incorporated.
Household income in Archuleta County
At $83,065, the typical Archuleta County household income is 26% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 27th of 64.
| Income band | Share in Archuleta County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.0% | +2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +6.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.0% | -2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.0% | -5.9 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 39% clear $100,000. 8.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.431 here. A household earning below the $83,065 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Archuleta County
A typical Archuleta County rental runs $1,432 a month including utilities, which is 19% below Colorado. By the Census definition, 50% of Archuleta County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $478,100, a typical Archuleta County house costs 5.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 80%. Median construction year: 1996.
| Cost | Archuleta County | Colorado figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,432/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $478,100 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 46% | 30% | n/a |
Because most Archuleta County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Jobs and commutes in Archuleta County
The biggest employer of Archuleta County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 18% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 5% locally and 2% for Colorado. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Archuleta County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.0% | -3.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 16.5% | +0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 10.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Other services | 6.9% | +2.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Archuleta County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Archuleta County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 52 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Archuleta County; La Plata County is highest at $86,056 and Conejos County lowest at $50,978. The list crosses into New Mexico, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archuleta County | - | $83,065 | $1,432/mo | 80% |
| Mineral County, CO | 24 mi | $56,250 | $928/mo | 70% |
| Rio Grande County, CO | 38 mi | $64,411 | $945/mo | 67% |
| La Plata County, CO | 44 mi | $86,056 | $1,504/mo | 71% |
| Hinsdale County, CO | 46 mi | $75,972 | $1,171/mo | 76% |
| Conejos County, CO | 48 mi | $50,978 | $748/mo | 77% |
| Rio Arriba County, NM | 52 mi | $57,155 | $740/mo | 80% |
Places inside Archuleta County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 18% of Archuleta County residents live in one of the 2. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pagosa Springs | town | 2,090 | $50,785 | $1,172 | 5 mi |
| Arboles | CDP | 389 | $42,262 | n/a | 24 mi |
More Archuleta County figures
41% of Archuleta County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.5%, against 7.7% for Colorado.
| Archuleta County | Colorado | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.1 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.9% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.6% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.8% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.3% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 10.8% |
Reading the Archuleta County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Archuleta County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Retirees. At a median age of 52.1, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
A Archuleta County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Archuleta County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $83,065 a year is $6,922 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,432 uses 21%
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,337 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Archuleta County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who licenses lenders for Archuleta County residents
Archuleta County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Colorado Division of Banking. Consumer lending in Colorado is also overseen by the Colorado Attorney General's office, which administers the state's Uniform Consumer Credit Code. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Colorado state guide for the statewide picture.
A Archuleta County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Archuleta County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Archuleta County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Colorado borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Archuleta County earn?
The median is $83,065; 39% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Archuleta County?
$1,432 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Archuleta County?
By population: Pagosa Springs, Arboles. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Are Archuleta County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Archuleta County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Colorado it is the Colorado Division of Banking.