1st Advantage MortgageGarfield County households have a median income of $91,131 and median rent of $1,637 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 Garfield County
- Household income in Garfield County
- Renting and owning in Garfield County
- Jobs and commutes in Garfield County
- How Garfield County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Garfield County
- More Garfield County figures
- What the numbers mean for Garfield County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Garfield County's medians
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Colorado
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Garfield County
Garfield County is home to about 62,479 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 13th most populous of 64 county-level areas in Colorado. It covers 2,947 square miles of land, or about 21 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Garfield County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (7 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Rifle, with about 10,570 residents, or 17% of the county.
Household income in Garfield County
Garfield County households have a median income of $91,131 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 19th of 64 in Colorado.
| Household income | Garfield County | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.2% | -0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.2% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.2% | +2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.4% | -4.6 pts |
About 16% of households earn under $35,000, while 46% clear $100,000. Census counts 8.2% of Garfield County residents in poverty, against 9.4% across Colorado. For a borrower in Garfield 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.
Renting and owning in Garfield County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,637 in Garfield County versus $1,761 statewide. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $527,800, about 5.8 times the median household income. 70% of Garfield County households own their home and 30% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1993.
| Measure | Garfield County | Colorado | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,637/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $527,800 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 8% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Garfield County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 14%. Construction stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 71% drive to work alone and 27% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Garfield County workers | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.6% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 14.1% | +6.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.7% | -3.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.1% | +1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -0.1 pts |
| Other services | 6.9% | +2.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Garfield County compares with nearby counties
Rio Blanco County is closest, 30 miles from center to center; the sixth, Moffat County, is 72 miles off. Eagle County leads the group on income ($104,096), Delta County trails ($57,774), and Garfield County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield County | - | $91,131 | $1,637/mo | 70% |
| Rio Blanco County, CO | 30 mi | $65,473 | $919/mo | 74% |
| Mesa County, CO | 50 mi | $73,658 | $1,182/mo | 72% |
| Delta County, CO | 51 mi | $57,774 | $1,121/mo | 78% |
| Pitkin County, CO | 59 mi | $102,645 | $2,004/mo | 63% |
| Eagle County, CO | 65 mi | $104,096 | $2,019/mo | 66% |
| Moffat County, CO | 72 mi | $73,849 | $1,039/mo | 69% |
Places inside Garfield County
Here are the 13 most populous of the county's 13 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 72% of Garfield County residents live in one of the 13. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $58,778 in Parachute to $108,324 in Carbondale. No Garfield County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 13.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle | city | 10,570 | $80,000 | $1,308 | 9 mi |
| Glenwood Springs | city | 10,241 | $91,481 | $1,867 | 30 mi |
| Carbondale | town | 6,637 | $108,324 | $2,167 | 40 mi |
| Battlement Mesa | CDP | 5,755 | $76,152 | $1,106 | 11 mi |
| New Castle | town | 4,880 | $80,084 | $1,393 | 20 mi |
| Silt | town | 3,642 | $93,690 | $1,859 | 14 mi |
| Parachute | town | 1,422 | $58,778 | $1,073 | 13 mi |
| Chacra | CDP | 457 | n/a | n/a | 24 mi |
| Mulford | CDP | 413 | $141,036 | n/a | 42 mi |
| Cattle Creek | CDP | 396 | $44,769 | n/a | 36 mi |
| No Name | CDP | 269 | $158,377 | $2,125 | 33 mi |
| Catherine | CDP | 255 | $211,154 | n/a | 43 mi |
| Carbonate | town | 0 | n/a | n/a | 32 mi |
More Garfield County figures
College graduates make up 34% of the adult population. 15.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Garfield County | All of Colorado | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.6% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.6% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.6% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Garfield County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.6% |
| 60+ min | 15.1% |
What the numbers mean for Garfield County borrowers
A few patterns in the Garfield County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 16% of Garfield County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Vehicle repairs. 27% of Garfield County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Higher earners. 46% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Debt-to-income at Garfield County's medians
How much room does a median Garfield County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $7,594 gross per month ($91,131 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,637, or 22 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,097 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,637, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Garfield County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Colorado license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Colorado
The Colorado Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Colorado license. 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. See the Colorado state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Garfield County a high-income county?
Its $91,131 median ranks 19th of 64 Colorado counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Garfield County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,637 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Garfield County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Rifle, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Battlement Mesa, New Castle and 8 more.
Can Garfield 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 Garfield 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.