1st Advantage MortgageIn Gilpin County, Colorado, the typical household earns $95,361 a year and the typical rent is $1,658. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Gilpin County
- Employment and commuting in Gilpin County
- What Gilpin County households earn
- Renting and owning in Gilpin County
- How Gilpin County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Gilpin County
- People and households in Gilpin County
- Local borrowing considerations for Gilpin County
- Debt-to-income at Gilpin County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in Colorado
- Steps before you apply in Gilpin County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Gilpin County
Roughly 5,901 residents live in Gilpin County, Colorado, 47th by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 150 square miles, that works out to roughly 39.3 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan area. Of the 3 Census places inside Gilpin County, Coal Creek leads by population with about 2,346; 1 of the 3 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Gilpin County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Employment and commuting in Gilpin County
The biggest employer of Gilpin County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (15%). Compared with Colorado, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (15% against 9%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 40% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.3% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Sector | Gilpin County | Compared with Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 15.3% | +6.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.6% | -2.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.8% | -2.4 pts |
| Other services | 7.7% | +2.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Gilpin County households earn
The median household income in Gilpin County is $95,361, close to the statewide $95,470. That places it 14th among Colorado's 64 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Gilpin County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.9% | +0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.6% | -0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.0% | -1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.6% | +1.6 pts |
About 17% of households earn under $35,000, while 48% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.2% of Gilpin County residents in poverty, against 9.4% across Colorado. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.430 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Gilpin County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,658 in Gilpin County versus $1,761 statewide. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 11% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $573,900, about 6.0 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 88%.
| Housing | Gilpin County | Colorado statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,658/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $573,900 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 88% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 30% | n/a |
Because most Gilpin 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.
How Gilpin County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Clear Creek County at 14 miles out to Grand County at 35. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Gilpin County; Broomfield County is highest at $123,874 and Grand County lowest at $88,612.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilpin County | - | $95,361 | $1,658/mo | 88% |
| Clear Creek County, CO | 14 mi | $94,577 | $1,467/mo | 82% |
| Boulder County, CO | 18 mi | $103,994 | $1,966/mo | 62% |
| Jefferson County, CO | 25 mi | $110,656 | $1,861/mo | 71% |
| Broomfield County, CO | 26 mi | $123,874 | $2,126/mo | 63% |
| Denver County, CO | 35 mi | $94,718 | $1,831/mo | 49% |
| Grand County, CO | 35 mi | $88,612 | $1,493/mo | 73% |
The communities that make up Gilpin County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 46% of Gilpin County residents live in one of the 3. Live in one of these Gilpin County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal Creek | CDP | 2,346 | $134,250 | $1,868 | 9 mi |
| Rollinsville | CDP | 264 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Black Hawk | city | 106 | $116,806 | n/a | 5 mi |
People and households in Gilpin County
College graduates make up 53% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.9%, against 7.7% for Colorado.
| Indicator | Gilpin County | All of Colorado | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 52.8% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.6% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Gilpin County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 30.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Gilpin County
Based on the Gilpin County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 40% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Older households. A 47.2 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Consolidation math. With 48% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
Debt-to-income at Gilpin County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Gilpin County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,947 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,658, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,759 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Checking a lender's license in Colorado
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Gilpin County, check 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. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Colorado state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Gilpin County
Quick steps for Gilpin County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gilpin County a high-income county?
Its $95,361 median ranks 14th of 64 Colorado counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Gilpin County rent compare with Colorado?
$1,658 locally versus $1,761 for the state, 6% below.
I own my home in Gilpin County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 88% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Gilpin County?
By population: Coal Creek, Rollinsville, Black Hawk. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Can Gilpin 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.