1st Advantage MortgageThe median Huerfano County household earns $52,526, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. 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 Huerfano County
- Household income in Huerfano County
- What it costs to live in Huerfano County
- Work, industries and travel time in Huerfano County
- Huerfano County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Huerfano County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Huerfano County borrowers
- Budget math at the Huerfano County median
- Lender oversight for Huerfano County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Huerfano County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Huerfano County
Huerfano County is home to about 6,972 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 44th most populous of 64 county-level areas in Colorado. Land area is 1,591 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Huerfano County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 3 Census places inside Huerfano County, Walsenburg leads by population with about 3,072; 2 of the 3 are incorporated. Because Huerfano County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Household income in Huerfano County
At $52,526, the typical Huerfano County household income is 20% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 54th among Colorado's 64 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Huerfano County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.7% | +14.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.7% | +10.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -13.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -11.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Huerfano County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. 17.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.498 here. A household earning below the $52,526 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Huerfano County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $838 in Huerfano County versus $1,761 statewide. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $247,800, about 4.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 75% of homes.
| Home costs | Huerfano County | Colorado | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $838/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $247,800 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.6% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 35% | 8% | 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). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Work, industries and travel time in Huerfano County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Huerfano County residents work in education and health care and 16% in arts, lodging and food service. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 8.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Huerfano County | Compared with Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | +3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 15.9% | +6.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -7.2 pts |
| Public administration | 8.3% | +3.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | -1.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Huerfano County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Huerfano County towns compared
3 Census places fall mainly inside Huerfano County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 4,038 residents, leaving about 42% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Huerfano County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walsenburg | city | 3,072 | $51,474 | $744 | 11 mi |
| La Veta | town | 804 | $52,804 | $696 | 13 mi |
| Gardner | CDP | 162 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (36 to 59 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Huerfano County; Custer County is highest at $72,674 and Costilla County lowest at $36,861.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huerfano County | - | $52,526 | $838/mo | 75% |
| Custer County, CO | 36 mi | $72,674 | $1,069/mo | 85% |
| Costilla County, CO | 38 mi | $36,861 | $927/mo | 79% |
| Pueblo County, CO | 42 mi | $64,010 | $1,111/mo | 69% |
| Alamosa County, CO | 46 mi | $55,397 | $907/mo | 56% |
| Las Animas County, CO | 56 mi | $52,074 | $891/mo | 69% |
| Fremont County, CO | 59 mi | $62,664 | $1,070/mo | 76% |
Huerfano County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. 3.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Huerfano County | Colorado | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.3 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.4% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.6% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 24.6% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.0% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 59.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.9% |
| 60+ min | 9.8% |
What the numbers mean for Huerfano County borrowers
Where the Huerfano County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Fixed incomes. Huerfano County's median age is 55.3. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Renters under pressure. When 52% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Budget math at the Huerfano County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Huerfano County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,377 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $838, takes 19% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,044 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Huerfano County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Lender oversight for Huerfano County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Huerfano County borrowers answers to 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. Statewide data and rules: Colorado guide.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Huerfano County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Huerfano County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Huerfano County
For statewide rules and data, see the Colorado guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Huerfano County earn?
The median is $52,526; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 31% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Huerfano County rent compare with Colorado?
$838 locally versus $1,761 for the state, 52% below.
Should Huerfano County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Huerfano County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Huerfano County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Walsenburg, La Veta, Gardner.
Will a Huerfano County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Colorado as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.