1st Advantage MortgageIn La Plata County, Colorado, the typical household earns $86,056 a year and the typical rent is $1,504. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- La Plata County at a glance
- Renting and owning in La Plata County
- How much La Plata County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in La Plata County
- The communities that make up La Plata County
- Counties near La Plata County
- Debt-to-income at La Plata County's medians
- People and households in La Plata County
- What the numbers mean for La Plata County borrowers
- Steps before you apply in La Plata County
- Licensing and complaints for La Plata County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
La Plata County at a glance
La Plata County is home to about 56,331 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 14th most populous of 64 county-level areas in Colorado. Spread over 1,690 square miles, that works out to roughly 33.3 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 5 Census places inside La Plata County, Durango leads by population with about 19,411; 3 of the 5 are incorporated.
Renting and owning in La Plata County
Renters in La Plata County pay a median of $1,504 a month, 15% below the Colorado figure of $1,761. 53% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $591,500, a typical La Plata County house costs 6.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 71% of La Plata County households own their home and 29% rent.
| Housing | La Plata County | Colorado statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,504/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $591,500 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 30% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How much La Plata County households make
La Plata County households have a median income of $86,056 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 23rd of 64 in Colorado.
| Income band | Share in La Plata County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.3% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.3% | +1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.6% | -1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.8% | -4.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 42% of La Plata County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. Census counts 11.7% of La Plata County residents in poverty, against 9.4% across Colorado. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.459 here. None of these numbers decides a La Plata County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in La Plata County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed La Plata County residents work in education and health care and 12% in professional and administrative services. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for La Plata County averages 3.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.6%). Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of La Plata County workers | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.3% | +2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.2% | -3.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.2% | +3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 5.8% | +1.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up La Plata County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in La Plata County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 23,729 people, so roughly 58% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $67,593 in Ignacio to $93,125 in Bayfield. Median rent ranges from $1,123 in Ignacio to $1,636 in Durango. No La Plata County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durango | city | 19,411 | $78,602 | $1,636 | 2 mi |
| Bayfield | town | 2,901 | $93,125 | $1,236 | 14 mi |
| Ignacio | town | 1,250 | $67,593 | $1,123 | 16 mi |
| Marvel | CDP | 100 | $56,719 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Southern Ute | CDP | 67 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
Counties near La Plata County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (35 to 49 miles). Archuleta County leads the group on income ($83,065), Mineral County trails ($56,250), and La Plata County out-earns 6 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Plata County | - | $86,056 | $1,504/mo | 71% |
| San Juan County, CO | 35 mi | $77,824 | $992/mo | 53% |
| Montezuma County, CO | 42 mi | $65,244 | $942/mo | 76% |
| Archuleta County, CO | 44 mi | $83,065 | $1,432/mo | 80% |
| Hinsdale County, CO | 44 mi | $75,972 | $1,171/mo | 76% |
| Dolores County, CO | 48 mi | $64,907 | $986/mo | 81% |
| Mineral County, CO | 49 mi | $56,250 | $928/mo | 70% |
Debt-to-income at La Plata County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a La Plata County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $86,056 a year is $7,171 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $1,504, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,078 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,580: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in La Plata County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
People and households in La Plata County
49% of La Plata County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 8.2%, against 7.7% for Colorado.
| People and households | La Plata County | Colorado | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 49.3% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.5% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.7% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of La Plata County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
What the numbers mean for La Plata County borrowers
A few patterns in the La Plata County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Mobile home upkeep. 13% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 42% of La Plata County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Renters under pressure. When 53% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Steps before you apply in La Plata County
A short checklist for La Plata County borrowers:
- Price the La Plata County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for La Plata County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For La Plata County, check the Colorado Division of Banking. Colorado also has the Colorado Attorney General's office, which administers the state's Uniform Consumer Credit Code for consumer credit. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Colorado guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in La Plata County?
$86,056 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $95,470 for Colorado. It ranks 23rd of 64 in the state.
Is La Plata County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,504 against $1,761 statewide, and 53% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in La Plata County?
By population: Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio, Marvel, Southern Ute. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Does living in La Plata County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a La Plata County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a La Plata County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Colorado it is the Colorado Division of Banking.