1st Advantage MortgageThe median Grand County household earns $88,612, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Grand County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Grand County
- Jobs and commutes in Grand County
- What it costs to live in Grand County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Grand County
- Grand County and the counties next door
- More Grand County figures
- What the numbers mean for Grand County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Grand County
- A Grand County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Colorado
- More guides for Grand County
- Frequently asked questions
Grand County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Grand County's population at 15,895; only 31 of Colorado's 64 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 1,846 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 9 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Granby is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 2,270 people (14% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Grand County
Grand County households have a median income of $88,612 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 22nd of 64 in Colorado.
| Yearly household income | Grand County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.7% | -2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.0% | +3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.8% | -6.2 pts |
About 14% of households earn under $35,000, while 45% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 7.6%, 2 points lower than the state's 9.4%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Grand County
The biggest employer of Grand County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 14% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 13% locally and 8% for Colorado. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Grand County. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 1.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Grand County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 13.7% | -8.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 13.4% | +4.3 pts |
| Construction | 13.0% | +5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.7% | -4.9 pts |
| Other services | 6.4% | +1.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Grand County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Grand County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,493 in Grand County versus $1,761 statewide. By the Census definition, 43% of Grand County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $601,500, a typical Grand County house costs 6.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 73% of Grand County households own their home and 27% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1990.
| Home costs | Grand County | Colorado | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,493/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $601,500 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 30% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Cities, towns and CDPs in Grand County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Grand County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 8,258 people, so roughly 48% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $106,600 at the median in Hot Sulphur Springs, $68,828 in Winter Park. No Grand County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granby | town | 2,270 | $72,926 | $1,276 | 11 mi |
| Kremmling | town | 1,807 | $77,407 | $1,570 | 15 mi |
| Fraser | town | 1,405 | $89,980 | $1,660 | 21 mi |
| Hot Sulphur Springs | town | 1,108 | $106,600 | $1,484 | 3 mi |
| Winter Park | town | 844 | $68,828 | $1,648 | 24 mi |
| Tabernash | CDP | 466 | $111,198 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Grand Lake | town | 333 | $103,750 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Parshall | CDP | 25 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Grand County and the counties next door
Summit County is closest, 34 miles from center to center; the sixth, Eagle County, is 46 miles off. Income ranges from $47,667 in Jackson County to $109,773 in Summit County; 5 of these neighbors top Grand County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand County | - | $88,612 | $1,493/mo | 73% |
| Summit County, CO | 34 mi | $109,773 | $1,928/mo | 72% |
| Gilpin County, CO | 35 mi | $95,361 | $1,658/mo | 88% |
| Clear Creek County, CO | 37 mi | $94,577 | $1,467/mo | 82% |
| Boulder County, CO | 38 mi | $103,994 | $1,966/mo | 62% |
| Jackson County, CO | 40 mi | $47,667 | $1,701/mo | 71% |
| Eagle County, CO | 46 mi | $104,096 | $2,019/mo | 66% |
More Grand County figures
Degree holders: 43% of adults over 25. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Grand County | Colorado | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 42.7% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.3% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.5% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.4% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 19.6% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.4% |
| 60+ min | 10.0% |
What the numbers mean for Grand County borrowers
Based on the Grand County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 12% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Older households. A 45.4 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Consolidation math. With 45% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
Room for a loan payment in Grand County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Grand County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $7,384 gross per month ($88,612 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,493, which is 20% of it
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,682 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
A Grand County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Colorado borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Colorado
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Grand County borrowers answers to 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. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Colorado guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Grand County
For statewide rules and data, see the Colorado guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Grand County earn?
The median is $88,612; 45% earn $100,000 or more and 14% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Grand County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,493 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Granby?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Grand County, such as Kremmling, Fraser, Hot Sulphur Springs.
Is the fit check different in Grand County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Grand 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.