1st Advantage MortgageIn Mesa County, Colorado, the typical household earns $73,658 a year and the typical rent is $1,182. 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
- Mesa County at a glance
- Mesa County housing compared with Colorado
- How much Mesa County households make
- How Mesa County residents earn a living
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Mesa County
- Mesa County and the counties next door
- More Mesa County figures
- Before borrowing in Mesa County
- Room for a loan payment in Mesa County
- Lender oversight for Mesa County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Mesa County at a glance
With an estimated 158,601 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Mesa County ranks 11th of 64 in Colorado for population. Spread over 3,329 square miles, that works out to roughly 47.6 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Grand Junction, CO metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Grand Junction is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 68,142 people (43% of the county total).
Mesa County housing compared with Colorado
A typical Mesa County rental runs $1,182 a month including utilities, which is 33% below Colorado. By the Census definition, 49% of Mesa County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $378,600, or 5.1 years of median income. The ownership rate is 72%. Median construction year: 1987.
| Mesa County | Colorado | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,182/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $378,600 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 30% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Mesa County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
How much Mesa County households make
Mesa County households have a median income of $73,658 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 32nd of 64 in Colorado.
| Household income | Mesa County | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.9% | +6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | +6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.2% | -4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.6% | -8.4 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. 10.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.444 here. None of these numbers decides a Mesa County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Mesa County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Mesa County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 25% locally and 22% for Colorado. The survey's unemployment rate for Mesa County averages 5.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.6%). 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 14% work from home.
| Where residents work | Mesa County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -4.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.1% | +0.9 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Mesa County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Mesa County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 129,931 residents, leaving about 18% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $141,023 at the median in Loma, $52,100 in Clifton. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction | city | 68,142 | $70,080 | $1,142 | 7 mi |
| Clifton | CDP | 19,518 | $52,100 | $1,107 | 4 mi |
| Fruita | city | 13,691 | $87,184 | $1,472 | 17 mi |
| Redlands | CDP | 8,868 | $92,391 | $1,488 | 11 mi |
| Fruitvale | CDP | 8,019 | $77,887 | $1,686 | 5 mi |
| Orchard Mesa | CDP | 6,945 | $80,359 | $1,535 | 4 mi |
| Palisade | town | 2,584 | $80,587 | $1,203 | 8 mi |
| Loma | CDP | 1,350 | $141,023 | n/a | 23 mi |
| De Beque | town | 458 | $63,558 | $1,094 | 24 mi |
| Collbran | town | 356 | $50,833 | n/a | 31 mi |
Mesa County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 34 to 70 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $57,774 in Delta County to $91,131 in Garfield County; 2 of these neighbors top Mesa County's median. Some neighbors are in Utah. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Mesa County resident follows Colorado rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa County | - | $73,658 | $1,182/mo | 72% |
| Delta County, CO | 34 mi | $57,774 | $1,121/mo | 78% |
| Montrose County, CO | 44 mi | $72,120 | $1,188/mo | 75% |
| Garfield County, CO | 50 mi | $91,131 | $1,637/mo | 70% |
| Grand County, UT | 60 mi | $67,106 | $1,118/mo | 70% |
| Rio Blanco County, CO | 67 mi | $65,473 | $919/mo | 74% |
| San Miguel County, CO | 70 mi | $79,024 | $1,149/mo | 63% |
More Mesa County figures
College graduates make up 32% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Mesa County | Colorado statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.3% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.9% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Mesa County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Before borrowing in Mesa County
What the Mesa County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 49% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Room for a loan payment in Mesa County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Mesa County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Mesa County: $6,138
- Median rent: $1,182, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,273 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Mesa County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Lender oversight for Mesa County
The Colorado Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Colorado license. Consumer lending in Colorado is also overseen by the Colorado Attorney General's office, which administers the state's Uniform Consumer Credit Code. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Colorado state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Mesa County borrowers:
- Price the Mesa County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Colorado license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Colorado guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Mesa County earn?
The median is $73,658; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Mesa County?
$1,182 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Should Mesa County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Mesa County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Mesa County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Grand Junction, Clifton, Fruita, Redlands, Fruitvale and 5 more.
Can Mesa County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Colorado county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.