1st Advantage MortgageFremont County households have a median income of $62,664 and median rent of $1,070 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Colorado license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Fremont County
- How much Fremont County households make
- Rent, home values and ownership in Fremont County
- Jobs and commutes in Fremont County
- Places inside Fremont County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- What a median Fremont County budget can carry
- More Fremont County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Fremont County
- Lender oversight for Fremont County
- A Fremont County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Fremont County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Fremont County's population at 49,634; only 15 of Colorado's 64 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,534 square miles of land, or about 32 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (6 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Cañon City, with about 17,122 residents, or 34% of the county.
How much Fremont County households make
The median household income in Fremont County is $62,664; statewide it is $95,470, so Fremont County runs 34% below Colorado as a whole. Only 45 Colorado counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Fremont County | +/- vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.1% | +12.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +6.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.1% | -7.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | -11.1 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.3% of Fremont County residents in poverty, against 9.4% across Colorado. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Fremont County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Fremont County
Renters in Fremont County pay a median of $1,070 a month, 39% below the Colorado figure of $1,761. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 45% of renter households here. With a median value of $324,000, a typical Fremont County house costs 5.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 76%.
| Fremont County | Colorado | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,070/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $324,000 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.0% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Fremont 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.
Jobs and commutes in Fremont County
The biggest employer of Fremont County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by public administration (13%). Public administration stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Fremont County averages 4.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.6%). Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.5% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Top industries | Fremont County share | +/- vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.6% | -0.2 pts |
| Public administration | 12.9% | +8.2 pts |
| Construction | 10.8% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.2% | -6.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.9% | -1.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Places inside Fremont County
12 Census places fall mainly inside Fremont County; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 35,278 residents, leaving about 29% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Penrose has the highest median household income on the list ($88,109) and Rockvale the lowest ($46,250), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Florence ($754) and steepest in Penrose ($1,321). No Fremont County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cañon City | city | 17,122 | $64,787 | $997 | 11 mi |
| Penrose | CDP | 4,087 | $88,109 | $1,321 | 23 mi |
| Lincoln Park | CDP | 3,986 | $60,036 | $1,148 | 12 mi |
| Florence | city | 3,885 | $50,262 | $754 | 18 mi |
| Park Center | CDP | 2,588 | $72,212 | $1,159 | 11 mi |
| Howard | CDP | 966 | $60,386 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Williamsburg | town | 770 | $50,250 | $1,250 | 15 mi |
| Rockvale | town | 695 | $46,250 | $983 | 15 mi |
| Coaldale | CDP | 538 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
| Coal Creek | town | 324 | $34,000 | $1,225 | 17 mi |
| Brookside | town | 276 | $62,813 | $1,364 | 13 mi |
| Cotopaxi | CDP | 41 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Custer County at 25 miles out to Pueblo County at 55. Park County leads the group on income ($103,670), Saguache County trails ($50,082), and Fremont County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fremont County | - | $62,664 | $1,070/mo | 76% |
| Custer County, CO | 25 mi | $72,674 | $1,069/mo | 85% |
| Teller County, CO | 31 mi | $85,361 | $1,880/mo | 81% |
| Park County, CO | 48 mi | $103,670 | $2,161/mo | 86% |
| Chaffee County, CO | 51 mi | $84,132 | $1,611/mo | 74% |
| Saguache County, CO | 53 mi | $50,082 | $828/mo | 77% |
| Pueblo County, CO | 55 mi | $64,010 | $1,111/mo | 69% |
What a median Fremont County budget can carry
How much room does a median Fremont County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Fremont County: $5,222
- Rent at the median, $1,070, takes 20% of that
- Under a 35% cap, $1,828 total minus rent leaves $758
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,280 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,070, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Fremont County figures
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 6.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Fremont County | Colorado | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.0% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Fremont County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 11.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Fremont County
Where the Fremont County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 18% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Fremont County budgets.
- Manufactured homes. 14% of Fremont County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 45% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Lender oversight for Fremont County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Fremont County resident can confirm its license with 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. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Colorado guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Fremont County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Fremont County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Fremont County earn?
The median is $62,664; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Fremont County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,070 against $1,761 statewide, and 45% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Fremont County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Cañon City, Penrose, Lincoln Park, Florence, Park Center and 7 more.
Can Fremont 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 do I complain to about a lender in Fremont County?
Start with the Colorado Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.