1st Advantage MortgageThe median Mineral County household earns $56,250, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Mineral County, CO: the basics
- What it costs to live in Mineral County
- Income in Mineral County compared with Colorado
- Work, industries and travel time in Mineral County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Mineral County
- Mineral County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income at Mineral County's medians
- More Mineral County figures
- What the numbers mean for Mineral County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Mineral County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Mineral County, CO: the basics
Mineral County is home to about 729 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 63rd most populous of 64 county-level areas in Colorado. Land area is 876 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Mineral County is not part of any metropolitan area. City of Creede, with about 285 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. With so few households sampled, Mineral County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What it costs to live in Mineral County
Renters in Mineral County pay a median of $928 a month, 47% below the Colorado figure of $1,761. 59% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $430,500, about 7.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 70%. The median year built is 1985.
| Home costs | Mineral County | Colorado | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $928/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $430,500 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.3% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 67% | 8% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Income in Mineral County compared with Colorado
Half of Mineral County households take in less than $56,250 a year and half take in more, 41% below the Colorado median of $95,470. That places it 50th among Colorado's 64 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Mineral County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.5% | +12.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +7.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.8% | -7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -12.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Mineral County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. 10.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Mineral County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Mineral County
The biggest employer of Mineral County residents, by industry, is construction at 26% of workers, followed by education and health care (22%). Construction stands out: 26% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 9.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Mineral County share | +/- vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 26.5% | +18.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 16.5% | +7.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.8% | -3.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | +0.1 pts |
| Public administration | 4.1% | -0.6 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 Mineral County
Just one Census place, City of Creede, lies mainly within Mineral County; it holds about 285 people. Live in one of these Mineral County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Creede | town | 285 | $45,938 | $912 | 21 mi |
Mineral County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Archuleta County at 24 miles out to Conejos County at 51. Income ranges from $50,978 in Conejos County to $86,056 in La Plata County; 5 of these neighbors top Mineral County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral County | - | $56,250 | $928/mo | 70% |
| Archuleta County, CO | 24 mi | $83,065 | $1,432/mo | 80% |
| Hinsdale County, CO | 28 mi | $75,972 | $1,171/mo | 76% |
| Rio Grande County, CO | 30 mi | $64,411 | $945/mo | 67% |
| San Juan County, CO | 40 mi | $77,824 | $992/mo | 53% |
| La Plata County, CO | 49 mi | $86,056 | $1,504/mo | 71% |
| Conejos County, CO | 51 mi | $50,978 | $748/mo | 77% |
Debt-to-income at Mineral County's medians
How much room does a median Mineral County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,688 gross per month ($56,250 / 12)
- Median rent: $928, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $1,641 total minus rent leaves $713
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,181 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Mineral County figures
College graduates make up 52% of the adult population. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Mineral County | Colorado | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.4 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 51.7% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 1.6% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.9% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.1% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
What the numbers mean for Mineral County borrowers
Based on the Mineral County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 13% of Mineral County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Fixed incomes. Mineral County's median age is 56.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Renters under pressure. When 59% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Mineral County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Colorado borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Mineral County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Mineral County, check the Colorado Division of Banking. Consumer lending in Colorado is also overseen by the Colorado Attorney General's office, which administers the state's Uniform Consumer Credit Code. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Colorado: Colorado personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Colorado guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Mineral County household make?
About $56,250 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 41% below the Colorado median.
Is Mineral County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $928 against $1,761 statewide, and 59% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover City of Creede?
Yes, along with the other 0 Census places in Mineral County.
Does living in Mineral 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 Mineral County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Mineral County residents?
The Colorado Division of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Colorado; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.