1st Advantage MortgageThe median Conejos County household earns $50,978, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. 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 Conejos County
- What Conejos County households earn
- What it costs to live in Conejos County
- Jobs and commutes in Conejos County
- Conejos County towns compared
- The counties around Conejos County
- What a median Conejos County budget can carry
- Conejos County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Conejos County
- Licensing and complaints for Conejos County
- Four steps for Conejos County borrowers
- More guides for Conejos County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Conejos County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Conejos County's population at 7,530; only 40 of Colorado's 64 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,287 square miles of land, or about 6 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Conejos County is not part of any metropolitan area. Sanford is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 1,142 people (15% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Conejos County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What Conejos County households earn
Half of Conejos County households take in less than $50,978 a year and half take in more, 47% below the Colorado median of $95,470. In the state ranking that is 58th of 64.
| Yearly household income | Conejos County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.8% | +13.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.7% | +9.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.7% | -10.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -13.1 pts |
About 30% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.7% of Conejos County residents in poverty, against 9.4% across Colorado. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.439 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Conejos County median.
What it costs to live in Conejos County
A typical Conejos County rental runs $748 a month including utilities, which is 58% below Colorado. By the Census definition, 42% of Conejos County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $193,400, a typical Conejos County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 77% of homes.
| Housing | Conejos County | Colorado statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $748/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $193,400 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.9% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 23% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Conejos 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.
Jobs and commutes in Conejos County
The biggest employer of Conejos County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by construction (13%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 14% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.8% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Conejos County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | +3.9 pts |
| Construction | 12.7% | +4.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.8% | +9.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.4% | -2.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.3% | +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.
Conejos County towns compared
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Conejos County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 3,747 people, so roughly 50% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $35,083 in Antonito to $60,250 in Manassa. No Conejos County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford | town | 1,142 | $42,143 | $1,012 | 15 mi |
| Manassa | town | 932 | $60,250 | $744 | 13 mi |
| Antonito | town | 579 | $35,083 | $640 | 13 mi |
| La Jara | town | 522 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Romeo | town | 387 | $45,469 | $689 | 11 mi |
| Capulin | CDP | 185 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
| Conejos | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Conejos County
Rio Grande County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Taos County, is 53 miles off. Archuleta County leads the group on income ($83,065), Costilla County trails ($36,861), and Conejos County out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in New Mexico. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Conejos County resident follows Colorado rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conejos County | - | $50,978 | $748/mo | 77% |
| Rio Grande County, CO | 24 mi | $64,411 | $945/mo | 67% |
| Alamosa County, CO | 33 mi | $55,397 | $907/mo | 56% |
| Costilla County, CO | 41 mi | $36,861 | $927/mo | 79% |
| Archuleta County, CO | 48 mi | $83,065 | $1,432/mo | 80% |
| Mineral County, CO | 51 mi | $56,250 | $928/mo | 70% |
| Taos County, NM | 53 mi | $58,950 | $1,034/mo | 78% |
What a median Conejos County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Conejos County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $4,248 gross per month ($50,978 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $748 uses 18%
- $951: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Conejos County households compared
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. About 14% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Conejos County | Colorado statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.7% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.6% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Conejos County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Conejos County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Conejos County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 14% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Manufactured homes. 17% of Conejos County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Licensing and complaints for Conejos County
Conejos County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Colorado Division of Banking. The Colorado Attorney General's office, which administers the state's Uniform Consumer Credit Code handles consumer-credit questions as well. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Colorado guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Conejos County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Conejos County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Conejos County
For statewide rules and data, see the Colorado guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Conejos County household make?
About $50,978 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 47% below the Colorado median.
How much is rent in Conejos County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $748 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Conejos County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Sanford, Manassa, Antonito, La Jara, Romeo.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Conejos County or elsewhere in Colorado, the same rules apply.
Is there a Conejos County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Colorado it is the Colorado Division of Banking.