1st Advantage MortgageCuster County households have a median income of $72,674 and median rent of $1,069 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Who lives in Custer County
- How much Custer County households make
- Renting and owning in Custer County
- Jobs and commutes in Custer County
- Places inside Custer County
- Counties near Custer County
- Budget math at the Custer County median
- Reading the Custer County data as a borrower
- Custer County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Colorado rules that apply in Custer County
- Checklist for Custer County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Custer County
Roughly 5,247 residents live in Custer County, Colorado, 51st by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 739 square miles, that works out to roughly 7.1 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Custer County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 2 Census places inside Custer County, Silver Cliff leads by population with about 863; 2 of the 2 are incorporated. Because Custer County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
How much Custer County households make
The median household income in Custer County is $72,674; statewide it is $95,470, so Custer County runs 24% below Colorado as a whole. Only 33 Colorado counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Custer County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.2% | +10.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.8% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.7% | -9.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.4% | -6.6 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 12.7%, 3 points higher than the state's 9.4%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.466 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Custer County median.
Renting and owning in Custer County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,069 in Custer County versus $1,761 statewide. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 30% spend half or more. Home values center on $392,100, or 5.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 85%. Median construction year: 1992.
| Housing | Custer County | Colorado statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,069/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $392,100 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.0% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 42% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Custer 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 Custer County
By the Census industry count, 17% of employed Custer County residents work in education and health care and 14% in construction. Construction stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.7% in Custer County. 26% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 23% work from home. 4.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Custer County workers | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.2% | -4.6 pts |
| Construction | 13.7% | +5.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.4% | -4.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +2.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Custer County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Custer County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 1,282 people, so roughly 76% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Cliff | town | 863 | $33,000 | $969 | 2 mi |
| Westcliffe | town | 419 | $53,929 | $879 | 5 mi |
Counties near Custer County
Six nearby counties, 25 to 54 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Custer County; Teller County is highest at $85,361 and Saguache County lowest at $50,082.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer County | - | $72,674 | $1,069/mo | 85% |
| Fremont County, CO | 25 mi | $62,664 | $1,070/mo | 76% |
| Huerfano County, CO | 36 mi | $52,526 | $838/mo | 75% |
| Alamosa County, CO | 43 mi | $55,397 | $907/mo | 56% |
| Saguache County, CO | 47 mi | $50,082 | $828/mo | 77% |
| Pueblo County, CO | 48 mi | $64,010 | $1,111/mo | 69% |
| Teller County, CO | 54 mi | $85,361 | $1,880/mo | 81% |
Budget math at the Custer County median
Here is the Custer County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,056 a month: gross income for a household at the Custer County median
- Median rent: $1,069, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,111 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,535: what a 43% 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.
Reading the Custer County data as a borrower
Based on the Custer County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Long drives. With 26% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Custer County budgets.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 58, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Custer County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 44% of adults over 25. 5.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Custer County | All of Colorado | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.2 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 43.7% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.7% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 23.5% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Custer County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 21.9% |
Colorado rules that apply in Custer County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Custer County borrowers answers to 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. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Colorado: Colorado personal loans.
Checklist for Custer County applicants
A short checklist for Custer County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Custer County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Custer County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Colorado.
- Ask a Custer County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Custer County earn?
The median is $72,674; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Custer County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,069 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Custer County?
By population: Silver Cliff, Westcliffe. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Can Custer County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Colorado county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Custer 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.