1st Advantage MortgageChaffee County households have a median income of $84,132 and median rent of $1,611 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Colorado before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Chaffee County
- Work, industries and travel time in Chaffee County
- Paychecks and income spread in Chaffee County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Chaffee County
- Chaffee County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Chaffee County
- Who lives in Chaffee County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Chaffee County
- Room for a loan payment in Chaffee County
- Four steps for Chaffee County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Chaffee County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Chaffee County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Chaffee County's population at 20,178; only 25 of Colorado's 64 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,013 square miles of land, or about 20 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 8 Census places inside Chaffee County, Salida leads by population with about 5,861; 3 of the 8 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Chaffee County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Chaffee County residents work in education and health care and 13% in professional and administrative services. Compared with Colorado, the county leans toward education and health care (26% against 22%). The survey's unemployment rate for Chaffee County averages 4.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.6%). About 60% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Chaffee County workers | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.5% | +4.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.3% | -2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.6% | +3.5 pts |
| Construction | 12.5% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.2% | -3.0 pts |
| Public administration | 6.8% | +2.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Chaffee County
Chaffee County households have a median income of $84,132 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 26th of 64 in Colorado.
| Household income | Chaffee County | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.6% | +2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.0% | +5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.1% | -0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.3% | -6.7 pts |
Some 19% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 40% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 8.3%, 1 point lower than the state's 9.4%. None of these numbers decides a Chaffee County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Chaffee County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,611 in Chaffee County versus $1,761 statewide. 60% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. With a median value of $665,700, a typical Chaffee County house costs 7.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 74% of homes.
| Home costs | Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,611/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $665,700 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 60% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 30% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Chaffee County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. 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?
Chaffee County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Chaffee County's, from 33 to 51 miles away. Park County leads the group on income ($103,670), Saguache County trails ($50,082), and Chaffee County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaffee County | - | $84,132 | $1,611/mo | 74% |
| Lake County, CO | 33 mi | $96,575 | $1,397/mo | 76% |
| Park County, CO | 41 mi | $103,670 | $2,161/mo | 86% |
| Gunnison County, CO | 41 mi | $84,527 | $1,252/mo | 67% |
| Pitkin County, CO | 47 mi | $102,645 | $2,004/mo | 63% |
| Saguache County, CO | 49 mi | $50,082 | $828/mo | 77% |
| Fremont County, CO | 51 mi | $62,664 | $1,070/mo | 76% |
Towns and communities in Chaffee County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 53% of Chaffee County residents live in one of the 8. Poncha Springs has the highest median household income on the list ($97,139) and Salida the lowest ($70,045), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Chaffee County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salida | city | 5,861 | $70,045 | $1,292 | 22 mi |
| Buena Vista | town | 3,010 | $78,323 | $2,020 | 11 mi |
| Poncha Springs | town | 959 | $97,139 | $1,783 | 19 mi |
| Maysville | CDP | 235 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Smeltertown | CDP | 188 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
| Nathrop | CDP | 187 | $30,040 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Johnson Village | CDP | 129 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Garfield | CDP | 93 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Who lives in Chaffee County, in numbers
47% of Chaffee County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.5%, against 7.7% for Colorado.
| Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 47.0% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.7% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 24.5% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.3% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Chaffee County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 62.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.7% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Chaffee County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Chaffee County borrowers.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 49, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Higher earners. 40% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 60% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Room for a loan payment in Chaffee County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Chaffee County's medians:
- $84,132 a year is $7,011 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,611 uses 23%
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,404 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Chaffee County's.
Four steps for Chaffee County borrowers
Quick steps for Chaffee County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Colorado.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Chaffee County residents
The Colorado Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Colorado license. Colorado also has the Colorado Attorney General's office, which administers the state's Uniform Consumer Credit Code for consumer credit. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Colorado state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Colorado guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Chaffee County household make?
About $84,132 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 12% below the Colorado median.
What do renters pay in Chaffee County?
$1,611 a month at the median, about 23% of median household income.
I live in a small Chaffee County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Salida, Buena Vista, Poncha Springs, Maysville, Smeltertown and 3 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Chaffee County or elsewhere in Colorado, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Chaffee 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.