1st Advantage MortgageDelta County households have a median income of $57,774 and median rent of $1,121 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 Delta County
- Paychecks and income spread in Delta County
- Employment and commuting in Delta County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Delta County
- How Delta County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Delta County
- What a median Delta County budget can carry
- What the numbers mean for Delta County borrowers
- Who lives in Delta County, in numbers
- Four steps for Delta County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Delta County
- More guides for Delta County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Delta County
With an estimated 31,598 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Delta County ranks 18th of 64 in Colorado for population. Land area is 1,142 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 28 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 7 Census places inside Delta County, Delta leads by population with about 9,421; 6 of the 7 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Delta County
At $57,774, the typical Delta County household income is 12% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 48 Colorado counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Delta County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.8% | +14.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.1% | +9.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.6% | -13.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -10.4 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 24% clear $100,000. 14.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.476 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Delta County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Delta County residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 8% locally and 2% for Colorado. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home. 5.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Delta County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | +0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 10.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.4% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | -0.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.1% | +6.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Delta County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Rent, home values and ownership in Delta County
Renters in Delta County pay a median of $1,121 a month, 36% below the Colorado figure of $1,761. By the Census definition, 57% of Delta County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $343,200, or 5.9 years of median income. Owners occupy 78% of homes.
| Measure | Delta County | Colorado | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,121/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $343,200 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.5% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Delta 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
How Delta County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (34 to 57 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Delta County; Pitkin County is highest at $102,645 and Montrose County lowest at $72,120.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta County | - | $57,774 | $1,121/mo | 78% |
| Mesa County, CO | 34 mi | $73,658 | $1,182/mo | 72% |
| Montrose County, CO | 38 mi | $72,120 | $1,188/mo | 75% |
| Gunnison County, CO | 45 mi | $84,527 | $1,252/mo | 67% |
| Ouray County, CO | 49 mi | $91,020 | $1,786/mo | 83% |
| Garfield County, CO | 51 mi | $91,131 | $1,637/mo | 70% |
| Pitkin County, CO | 57 mi | $102,645 | $2,004/mo | 63% |
Towns and communities in Delta County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 59% of Delta County residents live in one of the 7. Incomes vary by place: $59,574 at the median in Paonia, $45,250 in Delta. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | city | 9,421 | $45,250 | $990 | 14 mi |
| Orchard City | town | 3,221 | $55,960 | $1,174 | 6 mi |
| Cedaredge | town | 2,398 | $47,614 | $1,213 | 4 mi |
| Paonia | town | 1,661 | $59,574 | $897 | 15 mi |
| Hotchkiss | town | 1,224 | $54,545 | $1,300 | 9 mi |
| Crawford | town | 448 | $58,160 | $1,109 | 17 mi |
| Lazear | CDP | 196 | $41,841 | n/a | 7 mi |
What a median Delta County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Delta County's medians:
- Start: $4,814 gross per month ($57,774 / 12)
- 23% goes to median rent ($1,121)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,733 total minus rent leaves $612
If your rent is above $1,121, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Delta County borrowers
A few patterns in the Delta County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 12% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Mobile home upkeep. 12% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Delta County's median age is 48.1. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- 57% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Who lives in Delta County, in numbers
College graduates make up 27% of the adult population. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Delta County | Colorado statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.6% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.0% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Delta County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 11.3% |
Four steps for Delta County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Delta County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Colorado borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Delta County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Delta County borrowers answers to 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. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Colorado guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Delta County
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Delta County earn?
The median is $57,774; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 31% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Delta County?
$1,121 a month at the median, about 23% of median household income.
Should Delta County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Delta County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Delta County?
By population: Delta, Orchard City, Cedaredge, Paonia, Hotchkiss. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Are Delta 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.