Dolores County, CO: personal loan guide and local data

Dolores County at a glance

Roughly 2,432 residents live in Dolores County, Colorado, 57th by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. Dolores County spans 1,067 square miles; with 2,432 people, that is 2.3 per square mile. Dolores County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Largest place: Dove Creek, about 651 residents (27% of Dolores County); 2 Census places in all. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Dolores County figure on this page as a rough guide.

Work, industries and travel time in Dolores County

Education and health care employs 17% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 17%. Public administration stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 72% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more.

Seasonal work is common in many Dolores County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.

Dolores County against other Colorado counties

Where Dolores County lands at the extremes of Colorado's county rankings:

• On median age, Dolores County sits near the top of Colorado at 56.7, 2nd highest of 64. Older borrowers often rely on fixed incomes, so a fixed payment helps.
• On the share of mobile homes, Dolores County sits near the top of Colorado at 19.3%, 2nd highest of 64. Manufactured homes often do not qualify for home equity loans, so unsecured loans fill the gap.
• The share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 33% in Dolores County. Only 2 of 64 Colorado counties are lower. Rents are manageable for most, which can leave space for savings.
• The poverty rate: 21.6% in Dolores County. Only 3 of 64 Colorado counties are higher. Free help, such as utility and rent assistance, should come before any loan.

Housing costs in Dolores County

Half of Dolores County renters pay more than $986 a month and half pay less; the Colorado midpoint is $1,761. About 3 in 10 Dolores County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Median value $247,600; median income $64,907; ratio 3.8. In Dolores County, 81% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Against the median U.S. county, Dolores County rent is 12% above.

At a $247,600 median value, many Dolores County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured).

Income in Dolores County compared with Colorado

At $64,907, the typical Dolores County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 41st among Colorado's 64 county-level areas.

Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 21.6% of Dolores County residents in poverty, against 9.4% across Colorado. Dolores County scores 0.456 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. For a borrower in Dolores County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.

How Dolores County compares with nearby counties

Six nearby counties, 20 to 49 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Ouray County leads the group on income ($91,020), Montezuma County trails ($65,244), and Dolores County out-earns 0 of the six.

Towns and communities in Dolores County

Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 44% of Dolores County residents live in one of the 2. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.

Borrowing situations common in Dolores County

The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Dolores County borrowers.

• Manufactured homes. 19% of Dolores County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
• Retirement budgets. In a county with a 56.7 median age, keep any loan term shorter than your plans for the money.
• Before borrowing. At 21.6% poverty, Dolores County has local aid programs worth checking (options).

What a median Dolores County budget can carry

Dolores County's $64,907 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:

• Median income divided by twelve: $5,409 before taxes
• 18% goes to median rent ($986)
• At 43%, room after rent is $1,340 a month

These are gross figures; take-home pay in Dolores County will be lower after taxes and deductions.

Age, degrees and coverage in Dolores County

28% of Dolores County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.

Licensing and complaints for Dolores County

Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Dolores 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. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Colorado page has statewide figures to set beside Dolores County's.

Checklist for Dolores County applicants

Before you apply, wherever you live in Dolores County:

• Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
• Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
• Confirm the lender is licensed in Colorado.
• Ask about early-payoff penalties.

Nearby and statewide guides

The Colorado guide covers the whole state.

• Colorado state guide