1st Advantage MortgageThe median Montrose County household earns $72,120, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Montrose County, CO: the basics
- How much Montrose County households make
- What it costs to live in Montrose County
- Jobs and commutes in Montrose County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Montrose County
- The counties around Montrose County
- Montrose County households compared
- Reading the Montrose County data as a borrower
- What a median Montrose County budget can carry
- Licensing and complaints for Montrose County
- A Montrose County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Montrose County, CO: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Montrose County's population at 43,807; only 16 of Colorado's 64 county-level areas are larger. It covers 2,241 square miles of land, or about 20 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Montrose County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 5 Census places inside Montrose County, Montrose leads by population with about 21,044; 4 of the 5 are incorporated.
How much Montrose County households make
Half of Montrose County households take in less than $72,120 a year and half take in more, 24% below the Colorado median of $95,470. Only 34 Colorado counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Montrose County | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.6% | +8.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.6% | +7.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.8% | -7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.0% | -9.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Montrose County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. 11.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). For a borrower in Montrose County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Montrose County
A typical Montrose County rental runs $1,188 a month including utilities, which is 33% below Colorado. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $388,400, about 5.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 75%. The median year built is 1991.
| Home costs | Montrose County | Colorado | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,188/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $388,400 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.0% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Montrose 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.
Jobs and commutes in Montrose County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Montrose County residents work in education and health care and 14% in construction. Compared with Colorado, the county leans toward construction (14% against 8%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.4% in Montrose County. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.6% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Montrose County workers | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.3% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 13.9% | +5.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -7.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -1.8 pts |
| Other services | 5.9% | +1.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Montrose County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Montrose County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 24,413 residents, leaving about 44% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $27,917 in Naturita to $70,386 in Montrose. Rent is cheapest in Naturita ($894) and steepest in Montrose ($1,197). This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose | city | 21,044 | $70,386 | $1,197 | 22 mi |
| Olathe | town | 1,793 | $55,767 | $967 | 21 mi |
| Nucla | town | 598 | $42,857 | $929 | 18 mi |
| Naturita | town | 589 | $27,917 | $894 | 21 mi |
| Redvale | CDP | 389 | $56,833 | n/a | 18 mi |
The counties around Montrose County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (29 to 54 miles). Ouray County leads the group on income ($91,020), Delta County trails ($57,774), and Montrose County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose County | - | $72,120 | $1,188/mo | 75% |
| San Miguel County, CO | 29 mi | $79,024 | $1,149/mo | 63% |
| Ouray County, CO | 31 mi | $91,020 | $1,786/mo | 83% |
| Delta County, CO | 38 mi | $57,774 | $1,121/mo | 78% |
| Mesa County, CO | 44 mi | $73,658 | $1,182/mo | 72% |
| Dolores County, CO | 48 mi | $64,907 | $986/mo | 81% |
| San Juan County, CO | 54 mi | $77,824 | $992/mo | 53% |
Montrose County households compared
29% of Montrose County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 13.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Montrose County | Colorado | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.7% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.4% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.3% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Montrose County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.7% |
| 60+ min | 9.4% |
Reading the Montrose County data as a borrower
What the Montrose County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 13% of Montrose County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Manufactured homes. 19% of Montrose County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.1, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- 49% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
What a median Montrose County budget can carry
Here is the Montrose County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Montrose County: $6,010
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,188)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $916 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,704 total minus rent leaves $1,516
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Licensing and complaints for Montrose County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Montrose County borrowers answers to 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. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Colorado: Colorado personal loans.
A Montrose County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Colorado guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Montrose County earn?
The median is $72,120; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Montrose County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,188 against $1,761 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Montrose County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Montrose, Olathe, Nucla, Naturita, Redvale.
Does living in Montrose 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 Montrose County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Montrose County?
Start with the Colorado Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.