1st Advantage MortgageAbout 69% of Las Animas County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $52,074. 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
- A quick profile of Las Animas County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Las Animas County
- How much Las Animas County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Las Animas County
- Regional comparison for Las Animas County
- Towns and communities in Las Animas County
- Room for a loan payment in Las Animas County
- More Las Animas County figures
- Reading the Las Animas County data as a borrower
- Licensing and complaints for Las Animas County
- Four steps for Las Animas County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Las Animas County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Las Animas County's population at 14,413; only 32 of Colorado's 64 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 4,773 square miles, that works out to roughly 3.0 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (6 incorporated, 8 census-designated); the largest is Trinidad, with about 8,286 residents, or 57% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in Las Animas County
Renters in Las Animas County pay a median of $891 a month, 49% below the Colorado figure of $1,761. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $237,600, about 4.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 69% of homes.
| Home costs | Las Animas County | Colorado | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $891/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $237,600 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.6% | 3.5% | 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 Las Animas County households make
Las Animas County households have a median income of $52,074 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 56th of 64 in Colorado.
| Yearly household income | Las Animas County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.5% | +19.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +7.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.0% | -13.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -12.4 pts |
Some 35% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 18.7% of Las Animas County residents in poverty, against 9.4% across Colorado. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.453 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Las Animas County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Las Animas County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Las Animas County residents work in education and health care and 15% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 7% locally and 2% for Colorado. The survey's unemployment rate for Las Animas County averages 5.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.6%). 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Las Animas County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.9% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.6% | +4.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.4% | +1.4 pts |
| Public administration | 9.3% | +4.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -7.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.5% | +5.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Regional comparison for Las Animas County
Six nearby counties, 43 to 68 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Pueblo County leads the group on income ($64,010), Union County trails ($46,694), and Las Animas County out-earns 2 of the six. The list crosses into New Mexico, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Animas County | - | $52,074 | $891/mo | 69% |
| Otero County, CO | 43 mi | $54,037 | $839/mo | 69% |
| Huerfano County, CO | 56 mi | $52,526 | $838/mo | 75% |
| Colfax County, NM | 59 mi | $53,554 | $729/mo | 72% |
| Pueblo County, CO | 63 mi | $64,010 | $1,111/mo | 69% |
| Union County, NM | 65 mi | $46,694 | $683/mo | 72% |
| Bent County, CO | 68 mi | $50,179 | $1,162/mo | 65% |
Towns and communities in Las Animas County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Las Animas County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 9,600 residents, leaving about 33% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 14 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinidad | city | 8,286 | $52,273 | $910 | 27 mi |
| Aguilar | town | 401 | $28,795 | n/a | 34 mi |
| Cokedale | town | 161 | $50,952 | $1,135 | 34 mi |
| El Moro | CDP | 151 | $108,571 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Segundo | CDP | 143 | $79,141 | n/a | 41 mi |
| Starkville | town | 102 | $67,727 | $1,092 | 30 mi |
| Jansen | CDP | 81 | $33,242 | n/a | 30 mi |
| Kim | town | 78 | $28,125 | n/a | 38 mi |
| Branson | town | 62 | $34,063 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Stonewall Gap | CDP | 45 | $25,583 | n/a | 56 mi |
| Hoehne | CDP | 40 | $78,750 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Valdez | CDP | 26 | n/a | n/a | 37 mi |
| Weston | CDP | 24 | n/a | n/a | 47 mi |
| Lynn | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 34 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Las Animas County
Las Animas County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,340 a month: gross income for a household at the Las Animas County median
- Less median rent of $891, which is 21% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $671 left for all other debt payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $975 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $891, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Las Animas County figures
19% of Las Animas County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 8.4%, against 7.7% for Colorado.
| Indicator | Las Animas County | All of Colorado | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.3% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.5% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
Reading the Las Animas County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Las Animas County borrowers.
- Fixed incomes. Las Animas County's median age is 46.6. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Assistance before credit. With a 19% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Las Animas County loan.
- Tight rental budgets. With 52% of Las Animas County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Licensing and complaints for Las Animas County
Las Animas County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by 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. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Colorado state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Las Animas County borrowers
Steps that save money for Las Animas County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Las Animas County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Colorado borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Colorado guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Las Animas County household make?
About $52,074 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 45% below the Colorado median.
How does Las Animas County rent compare with Colorado?
$891 locally versus $1,761 for the state, 49% below.
Which towns does the Las Animas County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 14 Census places: Trinidad, Aguilar, Cokedale, El Moro, Segundo.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Las Animas County or elsewhere in Colorado, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Las Animas County check a lender's license?
With the Colorado Division of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.