1st Advantage MortgageIn Clear Creek County, Colorado, the typical household earns $94,577 a year and the typical rent is $1,467. 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
- A quick profile of Clear Creek County
- Renting and owning in Clear Creek County
- Paychecks and income spread in Clear Creek County
- Employment and commuting in Clear Creek County
- Clear Creek County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Clear Creek County
- Room for a loan payment in Clear Creek County
- Before borrowing in Clear Creek County
- People and households in Clear Creek County
- Licensing and complaints for Clear Creek County
- Checklist for Clear Creek County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Clear Creek County
Clear Creek County is home to about 9,262 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 39th most populous of 64 county-level areas in Colorado. Land area is 395 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 23 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 12 Census places inside Clear Creek County, Idaho Springs leads by population with about 1,986; 4 of the 12 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Clear Creek County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Renting and owning in Clear Creek County
A typical Clear Creek County rental runs $1,467 a month including utilities, which is 17% below Colorado. By the Census definition, 59% of Clear Creek County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $608,500, about 6.4 times the median household income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1976.
| Clear Creek County | Colorado | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,467/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $608,500 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.5% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Clear Creek 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?
Paychecks and income spread in Clear Creek County
At $94,577, the typical Clear Creek County household income is 44% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 16th among Colorado's 64 county-level areas.
| Household income | Clear Creek County | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.0% | -1.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.5% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.2% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 19.3% | +2.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 48% of Clear Creek County households make $100,000 or more, and 15% make less than $35,000. 6.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). None of these numbers decides a Clear Creek County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Clear Creek County
Professional and administrative services employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 21% locally and 16% for Colorado. The survey's unemployment rate for Clear Creek County averages 4.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.6%). About 62% drive to work alone and 24% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.4% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Top industries | Clear Creek County share | +/- vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and administrative services | 21.1% | +5.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.0% | -4.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.3% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | 0.0 pts |
| Public administration | 8.6% | +3.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.1% | +0.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Clear Creek County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Gilpin County at 14 miles out to Broomfield County at 38. Income ranges from $88,612 in Grand County to $123,874 in Broomfield County; 5 of these neighbors top Clear Creek County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek County | - | $94,577 | $1,467/mo | 82% |
| Gilpin County, CO | 14 mi | $95,361 | $1,658/mo | 88% |
| Jefferson County, CO | 24 mi | $110,656 | $1,861/mo | 71% |
| Summit County, CO | 25 mi | $109,773 | $1,928/mo | 72% |
| Boulder County, CO | 32 mi | $103,994 | $1,966/mo | 62% |
| Grand County, CO | 37 mi | $88,612 | $1,493/mo | 73% |
| Broomfield County, CO | 38 mi | $123,874 | $2,126/mo | 63% |
The communities that make up Clear Creek County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 81% of Clear Creek County residents live in one of the 12. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $66,797 in Empire to $250,001 in Upper Witter Gulch. Median rent ranges from $1,348 in Floyd Hill to $1,614 in Empire. None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Springs | city | 1,986 | $89,436 | $1,548 | 10 mi |
| Georgetown | town | 1,053 | $79,118 | $1,434 | 2 mi |
| Upper Bear Creek | CDP | 954 | $186,071 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Floyd Hill | CDP | 841 | $182,981 | $1,348 | 13 mi |
| Upper Witter Gulch | CDP | 731 | $250,001 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Empire | town | 672 | $66,797 | $1,614 | 5 mi |
| Pine Valley | CDP | 392 | $127,104 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Downieville-Lawson-Dumont | CDP | 345 | $57,784 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Echo Hills | CDP | 180 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Silver Plume | town | 127 | $52,083 | $985 | 3 mi |
| Blue Valley | CDP | 120 | $80,100 | n/a | 10 mi |
| St. Mary's | CDP | 68 | $25,357 | n/a | 9 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Room for a loan payment in Clear Creek County
Here is the Clear Creek County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Clear Creek County: $7,881
- Median rent: $1,467, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,686: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,467, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Clear Creek County
Based on the Clear Creek County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 24% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Older households. A 49.1 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 48% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 59% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
People and households in Clear Creek County
College graduates make up 57% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.7%, against 7.7% for Colorado.
| Residents | Clear Creek County | Colorado | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.1 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 57.5% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.5% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 24.2% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.4% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 17.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.6% |
| 60+ min | 11.7% |
Licensing and complaints for Clear Creek County
Consumer lenders serving Clear Creek County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Colorado that is 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. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Colorado: Colorado personal loans.
Checklist for Clear Creek County applicants
A short checklist for Clear Creek County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Colorado borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Clear Creek County earn?
The median is $94,577; 48% earn $100,000 or more and 15% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Clear Creek County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,467 a month; 59% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Idaho Springs?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Clear Creek County, such as Georgetown, Upper Bear Creek, Floyd Hill.
Is the fit check different in Clear Creek County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Clear Creek County check a lender's license?
With the Colorado Division of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.