1st Advantage MortgageAbout 86% of Park County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $103,670. 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
- A quick profile of Park County
- Park County against other Colorado counties
- Homes and rents, Park County
- Earnings across Park County households
- Jobs and commutes in Park County
- Fairplay and the rest of Park County
- Park County, Teller County and other neighbors
- People and households in Park County
- Reading the Park County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income, Park County edition
- Colorado lender licensing
- A Park County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Park County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Park County's population at 17,907; only 27 of Colorado's 64 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 2,194 square miles, that works out to roughly 8.2 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Fairplay (1,067 people) heads the county's list of 4 Census places, 2 incorporated and 2 census-designated.
Park County against other Colorado counties
The 4 Park County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Colorado, and what each means for a borrower:
- Park County ranks the highest of 63 Colorado counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 47%, against 14% statewide. Long drives make car repairs a common emergency; get two written quotes.
- Park County ranks 2nd highest of 64 Colorado counties for median gross rent: $2,161/mo, against $1,761/mo statewide. High rent is the first thing a lender's ratio will see.
- Park County ranks 3rd highest of 64 Colorado counties for homeownership: 86%, against 66% statewide. An owner-heavy county means repairs are a common reason to borrow.
- The poverty rate: 5.0% in Park County. Only 3 of 64 Colorado counties are lower. A low poverty rate does not mean every budget has room; test the payment.
Homes and rents, Park County
$2,161 a month is the median gross rent in Park County, 23% above the state. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 35% of renter households here. With a median value of $532,100, a typical Park County house costs 5.1 times what the median household earns in a year. 86% of Park County households own their home and 14% rent. Median construction year: 1992. Against the median U.S. county, Park County rent is 146% above.
| Home costs | Park County | Colorado | Compared with Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 86% | 66% | +20.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 53% | -17.8 pts |
| Median gross rent | $2,161/mo | $1,761/mo | 23% higher |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 30% | -1.1 pts |
| Median home value | $532,100 | $539,400 | level |
Park County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Earnings across Park County households
At $103,670, the typical Park County household income is 58% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 8 Colorado counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Park County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.0% | -2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.5% | -0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.2% | +4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.3% | -1.7 pts |
14% under $35,000 and 51% at $100,000 or more: that is the Park County income split. Park County counts about 888 residents below the poverty line, 5.0% of the population. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Park County median.
Jobs and commutes in Park County
Top Park County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 18%; second, professional and administrative services, 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 14% locally and 8% for Colorado. The survey's unemployment rate for Park County averages 3.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.6%). 14% of Park County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 47% need 45 or more. 233 Park County households, 2.6%, have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Park County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.1% | -3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 17.3% | +1.7 pts |
| Construction | 13.5% | +5.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.8% | +0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.4% | -2.8 pts |
Self-employed in Park County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Fairplay and the rest of Park 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 8% of Park County residents live in one of the 4. No Park County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairplay | town | 1,067 | $107,976 | $2,166 | 17 mi |
| Alma | town | 385 | n/a | $2,155 | 22 mi |
| Guffey | CDP | 29 | n/a | n/a | 27 mi |
| Hartsel | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Park County, Teller County and other neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Park County's, from 33 to 41 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Park County; Jefferson County is highest at $110,656 and Chaffee County lowest at $84,132.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park County | - | $103,670 | $2,161/mo | 86% |
| Teller County, CO | 33 mi | $85,361 | $1,880/mo | 81% |
| Lake County, CO | 34 mi | $96,575 | $1,397/mo | 76% |
| Clear Creek County, CO | 39 mi | $94,577 | $1,467/mo | 82% |
| Jefferson County, CO | 41 mi | $110,656 | $1,861/mo | 71% |
| Chaffee County, CO | 41 mi | $84,132 | $1,611/mo | 74% |
| Summit County, CO | 41 mi | $109,773 | $1,928/mo | 72% |
People and households in Park County
42% of Park County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Park County | Difference from Colorado | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | +13.5 yrs | +9.7 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 2.1% | -5.0 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 5.0% | -4.5 pts | -8.2 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.6% | -4.1 pts | +19.5 pts |
| Work from home | 24.4% | +3.4 pts | +15.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 2.6% | -2.6 pts | -2.8 pts |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | -1.7 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | -1.3 pts | -1.1 pts |
| Minutes to work | Park County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 13.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 23.4% |
| 60+ min | 23.3% |
Reading the Park County data as a borrower
What the Park County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Vehicle repairs. 47% of Park County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Fixed incomes. Park County's median age is 51.2. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 51% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
Debt-to-income, Park County edition
Park County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $8,639 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $2,161 uses 25%
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,295 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
A household below the $103,670 median has less room than this, often none.
Colorado lender licensing
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Park County borrowers answers to 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. If a Park County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. State-level detail for Park County borrowers is in the Colorado guide.
A Park County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
No city in Park County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Park County?
$103,670 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $95,470 for Colorado. It ranks 9th of 64 in the state.
What do renters pay in Park County?
$2,161 a month at the median, about 25% of median household income.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Park County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 86% of Park County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
I live near Fairplay. Which guide is mine?
This one. Fairplay and the rest of Park County have no separate city guide.
Will a Park County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Colorado as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.