1st Advantage MortgageElbert County households have a median income of $132,685 and median rent of $1,311 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Elbert County, CO: the basics
- How much Elbert County households make
- Housing costs in Elbert County
- Jobs and commutes in Elbert County
- The counties around Elbert County
- The communities that make up Elbert County
- Debt-to-income at Elbert County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Elbert County
- Who lives in Elbert County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in Colorado
- Four steps for Elbert County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Elbert County, CO: the basics
Roughly 27,874 residents live in Elbert County, Colorado, 21st by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 1,850 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 15 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan area. Of the 6 Census places inside Elbert County, Ponderosa Park leads by population with about 3,453; 3 of the 6 are incorporated.
How much Elbert County households make
The median household income in Elbert County is $132,685; statewide it is $95,470, so Elbert County runs 39% above Colorado as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Elbert County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 10.0% | -6.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 25.5% | -10.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 38.6% | +7.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 25.9% | +9.0 pts |
Some 10% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 65% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 5.3% of Elbert County residents in poverty, against 9.4% across Colorado. A household earning below the $132,685 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Elbert County
A typical Elbert County rental runs $1,311 a month including utilities, which is 26% below Colorado. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $709,800, about 5.3 times the median household income. 95% of Elbert County households own their home and 5% rent. The median year built is 1996.
| Cost | Elbert County | Colorado figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,311/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $709,800 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 95% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.7% | 3.5% | n/a |
Because most Elbert 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 Elbert County
By the Census industry count, 18% of employed Elbert County residents work in education and health care and 14% in professional and administrative services. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 13% locally and 8% for Colorado. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.4% in Elbert County. About 68% drive to work alone and 45% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 1.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Elbert County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.1% | -3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.3% | -1.2 pts |
| Construction | 12.9% | +4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Other services | 6.5% | +1.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The counties around Elbert County
Arapahoe County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Denver County, is 51 miles off. Income ranges from $62,861 in Lincoln County to $149,594 in Douglas County; 1 of these neighbors top Elbert County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elbert County | - | $132,685 | $1,311/mo | 95% |
| Arapahoe County, CO | 26 mi | $101,087 | $1,891/mo | 65% |
| Lincoln County, CO | 39 mi | $62,861 | $868/mo | 72% |
| Adams County, CO | 40 mi | $94,571 | $1,781/mo | 69% |
| El Paso County, CO | 40 mi | $90,363 | $1,696/mo | 66% |
| Douglas County, CO | 43 mi | $149,594 | $2,193/mo | 77% |
| Denver County, CO | 51 mi | $94,718 | $1,831/mo | 49% |
The communities that make up Elbert County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Elbert County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 6,991 residents, leaving about 75% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $132,154 at the median in Ponderosa Park, $92,625 in Kiowa. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponderosa Park | CDP | 3,453 | $132,154 | n/a | 28 mi |
| Elizabeth | town | 2,244 | $112,986 | $1,808 | 26 mi |
| Kiowa | town | 673 | $92,625 | $1,183 | 18 mi |
| Simla | town | 423 | $44,688 | $1,042 | 12 mi |
| Elbert | CDP | 164 | $69,167 | $1,234 | 24 mi |
| Matheson | CDP | 34 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
Debt-to-income at Elbert County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Elbert County's medians:
- $132,685 a year is $11,057 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $1,311, or 12 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $2,670 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 43% cap, $4,755 total minus rent leaves $3,444
If your rent is above $1,311, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Elbert County
What the Elbert County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Keeping the car running. At 45% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Elbert County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 45, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 65% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
Who lives in Elbert County, in numbers
College graduates make up 36% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Elbert County | Colorado | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.1% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.6% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 21.3% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.3% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Elbert County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 9.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 21.0% |
| 60+ min | 23.8% |
Checking a lender's license in Colorado
Before sharing details with a lender, a Elbert County resident can confirm its license with the Colorado Division of Banking. Consumer lending in Colorado is also overseen by the Colorado Attorney General's office, which administers the state's Uniform Consumer Credit Code. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Colorado state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Elbert County borrowers
Quick steps for Elbert County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Colorado.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Elbert County?
$132,685 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $95,470 for Colorado. It ranks 2nd of 64 in the state.
What do renters pay in Elbert County?
$1,311 a month at the median, about 12% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Elbert County?
By population: Ponderosa Park, Elizabeth, Kiowa, Simla, Elbert. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Elbert County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Elbert 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.