1st Advantage MortgageIn Costilla County, Colorado, the typical household earns $36,861 a year and the typical rent is $927. 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
- Costilla County, CO: the basics
- What stands out in Costilla County
- Where Costilla County works
- Housing costs in Costilla County
- Earnings across Costilla County households
- Towns and communities in Costilla County
- How Costilla County compares with nearby counties
- Local borrowing considerations for Costilla County
- Debt-to-income, Costilla County edition
- Costilla County demographics against Colorado
- Colorado lender licensing
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Costilla County, CO: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Costilla County's population at 3,607; only 54 of Colorado's 64 county-level areas are larger. Its 1,228 square miles average 3 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Largest place: San Luis, about 560 residents (16% of Costilla County); 4 Census places in all. With so few households sampled, Costilla County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What stands out in Costilla County
Ranked against the other 63 county-level areas in Colorado, these are the Costilla County figures furthest from the middle.
- The share of households earning $100,000 or more: 13% in Costilla County, the lowest of 64 in Colorado. Few six-figure households means smaller loans are the norm.
- Median household income: $36,861 in Costilla County, the lowest of 64 in Colorado. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
- Few Colorado counties match Costilla County on the poverty rate: 21.0% here, 9.4% for the state, ranking 6th highest of 64. Free help, such as utility and rent assistance, should come before any loan.
Where Costilla County works
Top Costilla County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 28%; second, agriculture, forestry and mining, 14%. Costilla County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 14% versus 2% in Colorado. The survey's unemployment rate for Costilla County averages 3.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.6%). 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home. 5.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Costilla County share | +/- vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.1% | +6.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.9% | +12.1 pts |
| Construction | 12.6% | +4.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.9% | +3.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -1.5 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.2 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Costilla County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Housing costs in Costilla County
Half of Costilla County renters pay more than $927 a month and half pay less; the Colorado midpoint is $1,761. By the Census definition, 50% of Costilla County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $184,700, a typical Costilla County house costs 5.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 79%, renters 21%. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| Home costs | Costilla County | Colorado | Compared with Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 32% | 8% | +23.8 pts |
| Owners | 79% | 66% | +12.8 pts |
| Burdened owners | 41% | 30% | +11.3 pts |
| Mobile homes | 13.7% | 3.5% | +10.2 pts |
| Median home value | $184,700 | $539,400 | 66% lower |
| Median gross rent | $927/mo | $1,761/mo | 47% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 53% | -2.6 pts |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). 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?
Earnings across Costilla County households
The median household income in Costilla County is $36,861; statewide it is $95,470, so Costilla County runs 61% below Colorado as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Costilla County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 46.0% | +29.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | +4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 9.3% | -21.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -12.8 pts |
About 46% of households earn under $35,000, while 13% clear $100,000. 21.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Costilla County median.
Towns and communities in Costilla County
Places, by size: the top 4 of 4. Roughly 64% of Costilla County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. San Luis and every other Costilla County community use this county guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis | town | 560 | $26,708 | $925 | 5 mi |
| Fort Garland | CDP | 446 | n/a | $933 | 10 mi |
| Blanca | town | 230 | $68,000 | $1,106 | 12 mi |
| San Acacio | CDP | 61 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
How Costilla County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 28 to 58 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Custer County leads the group on income ($72,674), Conejos County trails ($50,978), and Costilla County out-earns 0 of the six. The list crosses into New Mexico, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costilla County | - | $36,861 | $927/mo | 79% |
| Alamosa County, CO | 28 mi | $55,397 | $907/mo | 56% |
| Huerfano County, CO | 38 mi | $52,526 | $838/mo | 75% |
| Conejos County, CO | 41 mi | $50,978 | $748/mo | 77% |
| Taos County, NM | 50 mi | $58,950 | $1,034/mo | 78% |
| Custer County, CO | 57 mi | $72,674 | $1,069/mo | 85% |
| Rio Grande County, CO | 58 mi | $64,411 | $945/mo | 67% |
Local borrowing considerations for Costilla County
Where the Costilla County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Mobile homes in Costilla County. At 14% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- Retirement budgets. In a county with a 50.5 median age, keep any loan term shorter than your plans for the money.
- Before borrowing. At 21.0% poverty, Costilla County has local aid programs worth checking (options).
- Rent squeeze. 50% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Debt-to-income, Costilla County edition
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Costilla County's medians:
- Start: $3,072 gross per month ($36,861 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $927, takes 30% of that
- Under a 43% cap, $1,321 total minus rent leaves $394
A household below the $36,861 median has less room than this, often none.
Costilla County demographics against Colorado
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. Uninsured, Costilla County: 8.5%; Colorado: 7.7%.
| People and households | Costilla County | Compared with Colorado | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.5 | +12.8 yrs | +9.0 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.9% | -20.8 pts | +2.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.0% | +2.9 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | +0.8 pts | +0.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | +0.2 pts | 0.0 pts |
| Work from home | 16.1% | -4.9 pts | +7.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 21.0% | +11.6 pts | +7.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | -1.1 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Commute length | Costilla County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.0% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Colorado lender licensing
Costilla 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. If a Costilla County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Colorado license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
No city in Costilla County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Costilla County?
$36,861 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $95,470 for Colorado. It ranks 64th of 64 in the state.
Can a Costilla County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $927 median rent and $3,072 median monthly income, rent alone uses 30%; add other debts before a new payment.
I own my home in Costilla County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 79% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover San Luis?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Costilla County, such as Fort Garland, Blanca, San Acacio.
Are Costilla 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.