1st Advantage MortgageIn Hinsdale County, Colorado, the typical household earns $75,972 a year and the typical rent is $1,171. 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
- Hinsdale County by the numbers
- Hinsdale County housing compared with Colorado
- How much Hinsdale County households make
- How Hinsdale County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in Hinsdale County
- Regional comparison for Hinsdale County
- Room for a loan payment in Hinsdale County
- Reading the Hinsdale County data as a borrower
- More Hinsdale County figures
- Four steps for Hinsdale County borrowers
- Colorado rules that apply in Hinsdale County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Hinsdale County by the numbers
Hinsdale County is home to about 1,005 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 62nd most populous of 64 county-level areas in Colorado. Land area is 1,117 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 3 Census places inside Hinsdale County, Lake City leads by population with about 561; 1 of the 3 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Hinsdale County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Hinsdale County housing compared with Colorado
Renters in Hinsdale County pay a median of $1,171 a month, 34% below the Colorado figure of $1,761. By the Census definition, 5% of Hinsdale County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $437,900, or 5.8 years of median income. 76% of Hinsdale County households own their home and 24% rent. Median construction year: 1984.
| Cost | Hinsdale County | Colorado figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,171/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $437,900 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 5% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 47% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.1% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 62% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Hinsdale 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.
How much Hinsdale County households make
Half of Hinsdale County households take in less than $75,972 a year and half take in more, 20% below the Colorado median of $95,470.
| Households earning | Hinsdale County | +/- vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.1% | -3.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 59.3% | +23.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.4% | -12.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | -7.8 pts |
About 13% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 4.1%, 5 points lower than the state's 9.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.377 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Hinsdale County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Hinsdale County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Hinsdale County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (14%). Other services stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. Only 1.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Hinsdale County share | +/- vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +4.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.1% | -1.4 pts |
| Other services | 12.1% | +7.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.8% | -2.2 pts |
| Public administration | 6.0% | +1.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hinsdale County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Towns and communities in Hinsdale County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Hinsdale County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 631 people, so roughly 37% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Hinsdale County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake City | town | 561 | $61,919 | $1,180 | 15 mi |
| Piedra | CDP | 57 | n/a | n/a | 28 mi |
| Cathedral | CDP | 13 | n/a | n/a | 27 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Hinsdale County
Six nearby counties, 16 to 56 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Ouray County leads the group on income ($91,020), Mineral County trails ($56,250), and Hinsdale County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinsdale County | - | $75,972 | $1,171/mo | 76% |
| San Juan County, CO | 16 mi | $77,824 | $992/mo | 53% |
| Mineral County, CO | 28 mi | $56,250 | $928/mo | 70% |
| Ouray County, CO | 32 mi | $91,020 | $1,786/mo | 83% |
| La Plata County, CO | 44 mi | $86,056 | $1,504/mo | 71% |
| Archuleta County, CO | 46 mi | $83,065 | $1,432/mo | 80% |
| Rio Grande County, CO | 56 mi | $64,411 | $945/mo | 67% |
Room for a loan payment in Hinsdale County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Hinsdale County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $75,972 a year is $6,331 of gross monthly income
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,171)
- $1,361: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Hinsdale County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Hinsdale County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 48, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
More Hinsdale County figures
Degree holders: 48% of adults over 25. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Hinsdale County | Colorado statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 47.7% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 0.0% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.3% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 30.5% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 4.1% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
Four steps for Hinsdale County borrowers
Quick steps for Hinsdale County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Colorado license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Hinsdale County credit union about member loans.
Colorado rules that apply in Hinsdale County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Hinsdale County, check 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. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Colorado: Colorado personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Colorado guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Hinsdale County earn?
The median is $75,972; 28% earn $100,000 or more and 13% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Hinsdale County rent compare with Colorado?
$1,171 locally versus $1,761 for the state, 34% below.
Which towns does the Hinsdale County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Lake City, Piedra, Cathedral.
Will a Hinsdale County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Colorado as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Hinsdale 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.