1st Advantage MortgageLincoln County (5,550 residents) has a $62,861 median household income and $868 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. 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
- Lincoln County at a glance
- Where Lincoln County works
- Renting and owning in Lincoln County
- How Lincoln County ranks in Colorado
- Household income in Lincoln County
- The communities that make up Lincoln County
- Lincoln County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income, Lincoln County edition
- Age, degrees and coverage in Lincoln County
- What the numbers mean for Lincoln County borrowers
- A Lincoln County borrower's checklist
- Colorado rules that apply in Lincoln County
- Other Colorado guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lincoln County at a glance
Lincoln County is home to about 5,550 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 49th most populous of 64 county-level areas in Colorado. Density: about 2.2 residents per square mile across 2,578 square miles of land. Metro status: none; Lincoln County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Limon is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 1,678 people (30% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Lincoln County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Where Lincoln County works
Top Lincoln County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 24%; second, retail trade, 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 10% locally and 2% for Colorado. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. No car: 4.9% of Lincoln County households.
| Where residents work | Lincoln County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.3% | +6.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.7% | +7.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | -0.4 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | +2.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Lincoln County
Half of Lincoln County renters pay more than $868 a month and half pay less; the Colorado midpoint is $1,761. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 35% in Lincoln County, 53% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $246,500, about 3.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 72%. Against the median U.S. county, Lincoln County rent is about level with.
| Cost | Lincoln County | Colorado figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $868/mo | $1,761/mo | 51% lower |
| Median home value | $246,500 | $539,400 | 54% lower |
| Owners | 72% | 66% | +5.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 53% | -18.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 30% | +7.9 pts |
| Vacant units | 17% | 8% | +9.0 pts |
How Lincoln County ranks in Colorado
Out of every Colorado county, Lincoln County is most unusual on these measures.
- The ACS unemployment rate: 1.4% in Lincoln County. Only 4 of 63 Colorado counties are lower. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
- Few Colorado counties match Lincoln County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 35% here, 53% for the state, ranking 6th lowest of 64. Lower rent burdens mean more renters have slack, but test your own numbers.
- Median gross rent: $868/mo in Lincoln County. Only 8 of 64 Colorado counties are lower. Lower rent can leave more room for a payment.
Household income in Lincoln County
Median household income in Lincoln County: $62,861 (34% below Colorado, $95,470).
| Income band | Share in Lincoln County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.9% | +16.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.3% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -11.4 pts |
On the low end, 33% of Lincoln County households report under $35,000; at the top, 29% report $100,000-plus. Lincoln County counts about 545 residents below the poverty line, 9.8% of the population. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.449 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Lincoln County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The communities that make up Lincoln County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 57% of Lincoln County residents live in one of the 4. No Lincoln County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limon | town | 1,678 | $65,776 | $872 | 21 mi |
| Hugo | town | 970 | $48,958 | $906 | 10 mi |
| Arriba | town | 307 | $43,555 | $606 | 24 mi |
| Genoa | town | 190 | $63,125 | n/a | 20 mi |
Lincoln County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 39 to 58 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $48,826 in Crowley County to $132,685 in Elbert County; 4 of these neighbors top Lincoln County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $62,861 | $868/mo | 72% |
| Elbert County, CO | 39 mi | $132,685 | $1,311/mo | 95% |
| Crowley County, CO | 50 mi | $48,826 | $984/mo | 69% |
| Cheyenne County, CO | 50 mi | $70,865 | $926/mo | 73% |
| Kit Carson County, CO | 53 mi | $70,259 | $973/mo | 73% |
| El Paso County, CO | 56 mi | $90,363 | $1,696/mo | 66% |
| Kiowa County, CO | 58 mi | $58,618 | $800/mo | 69% |
Debt-to-income, Lincoln County edition
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lincoln County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,238 before taxes
- Less median rent of $868, which is 17% of it
- With a 35% ceiling, about $965 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,489 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Lincoln County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Age, degrees and coverage in Lincoln County
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Lincoln County | Compared with Colorado | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | +3.2 yrs | -0.6 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.1% | -19.6 pts | +3.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 13.8% | +6.7 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | -0.1 pts | -0.2 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | -0.3 pts | -0.5 pts |
| Work from home | 10.7% | -10.3 pts | +2.0 pts |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | +0.4 pts | -3.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.4% | -3.2 pts | -3.0 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 55.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.5% |
| 60+ min | 13.9% |
What the numbers mean for Lincoln County borrowers
What the Lincoln County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
A Lincoln County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lincoln County:
- Price the Lincoln County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Colorado rules that apply in Lincoln County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Lincoln 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. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Colorado page has statewide figures to set beside Lincoln County's.
Other Colorado guides
No city in Lincoln County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lincoln County earn?
The median is $62,861; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 33% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Lincoln County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $868 against $1,761 statewide, and 35% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Lincoln County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Lincoln County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Limon, Hugo, Arriba, Genoa.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Lincoln County or elsewhere in Colorado, the same rules apply.