1st Advantage MortgageThe median Jackson County household earns $47,667, and 15% 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
- Who lives in Jackson County
- What Jackson County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Jackson County
- Jackson County housing compared with Colorado
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Jackson County towns compared
- Budget math at the Jackson County median
- Jackson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Jackson County
- Checking a lender's license in Colorado
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Jackson County
Jackson County is home to about 1,372 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 61st most populous of 64 county-level areas in Colorado. Spread over 1,614 square miles, that works out to roughly 0.9 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Jackson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Walden, with about 573 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. Because Jackson County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What Jackson County households earn
The median household income in Jackson County is $47,667; statewide it is $95,470, so Jackson County runs 50% below Colorado as a whole. In the state ranking that is 62nd of 64.
| Income band | Share in Jackson County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.2% | +20.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 32.7% | -3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.9% | -4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -13.8 pts |
About 37% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. 14.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). None of these numbers decides a Jackson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Jackson County
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 21% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 9.2% in Jackson County. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 30% work from home. 3.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Jackson County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 21.4% | +19.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.5% | -3.3 pts |
| Construction | 14.9% | +6.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.4% | -6.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.0% | -3.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Jackson County housing compared with Colorado
A typical Jackson County rental runs $1,701 a month including utilities, which is 3% below Colorado. 59% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 38% spend half or more. Home values center on $239,600, or 5.0 years of median income. Owners occupy 71% of homes.
| Housing | Jackson County | Colorado statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,701/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $239,600 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.4% | 3.5% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 37 to 73 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $88,612 in Grand County to $109,773 in Summit County; all six of these neighbors top Jackson County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | - | $47,667 | $1,701/mo | 71% |
| Routt County, CO | 37 mi | $106,489 | $1,917/mo | 76% |
| Grand County, CO | 40 mi | $88,612 | $1,493/mo | 73% |
| Larimer County, CO | 44 mi | $93,765 | $1,716/mo | 64% |
| Boulder County, CO | 63 mi | $103,994 | $1,966/mo | 62% |
| Gilpin County, CO | 70 mi | $95,361 | $1,658/mo | 88% |
| Summit County, CO | 73 mi | $109,773 | $1,928/mo | 72% |
Jackson County towns compared
Just one Census place, Walden, lies mainly within Jackson County; it holds about 573 people. Live in one of these Jackson County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walden | town | 573 | $40,972 | $1,692 | 5 mi |
Budget math at the Jackson County median
Jackson County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,972 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,701, which is 43% of it
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $7 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Jackson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
31% of Jackson County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Jackson County | Colorado | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.3% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.5% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 29.7% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.2% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
Before borrowing in Jackson County
A few patterns in the Jackson County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 15% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Older households. A 51.6 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Rent squeeze. 59% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Checking a lender's license in Colorado
Consumer lenders serving Jackson County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Colorado that is 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. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Colorado guide.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Jackson County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Jackson County?
$47,667 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $95,470 for Colorado. It ranks 62nd of 64 in the state.
What do renters pay in Jackson County?
$1,701 a month at the median, about 43% of median household income.
Does this page cover Walden?
Yes, along with the other 0 Census places in Jackson County.
Are Jackson County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Jackson County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Colorado it is the Colorado Division of Banking.