1st Advantage MortgageAbout 67% of Rio Grande County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $64,411. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Colorado before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Rio Grande County
- What it costs to live in Rio Grande County
- What Rio Grande County households earn
- The Rio Grande County job picture
- Rio Grande County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Rio Grande County
- Debt-to-income at Rio Grande County's medians
- Who lives in Rio Grande County, in numbers
- Reading the Rio Grande County data as a borrower
- Lender oversight for Rio Grande County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Rio Grande County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Rio Grande County
Roughly 11,321 residents live in Rio Grande County, Colorado, 37th by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. It covers 912 square miles of land, or about 12 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Rio Grande County is not part of any metropolitan area. Monte Vista is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 4,141 people (37% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Rio Grande County
Renters in Rio Grande County pay a median of $945 a month, 46% below the Colorado figure of $1,761. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. Home values center on $239,500, or 3.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 67%. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Rio Grande County | Colorado | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $945/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $239,500 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 22% | 8% | n/a |
What Rio Grande County households earn
The median household income in Rio Grande County is $64,411; statewide it is $95,470, so Rio Grande County runs 33% below Colorado as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Rio Grande County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.1% | +10.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | +5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.8% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -11.5 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 18.0%, 9 points higher than the state's 9.4%. None of these numbers decides a Rio Grande County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Rio Grande County job picture
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Rio Grande County residents work in education and health care and 10% in retail trade. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 10.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Rio Grande County | Compared with Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.5% | +5.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.1% | +6.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.6% | +2.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Rio Grande County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Rio Grande County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 56 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Rio Grande County; Archuleta County is highest at $83,065 and Saguache County lowest at $50,082.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande County | - | $64,411 | $945/mo | 67% |
| Conejos County, CO | 24 mi | $50,978 | $748/mo | 77% |
| Mineral County, CO | 30 mi | $56,250 | $928/mo | 70% |
| Alamosa County, CO | 37 mi | $55,397 | $907/mo | 56% |
| Archuleta County, CO | 38 mi | $83,065 | $1,432/mo | 80% |
| Saguache County, CO | 40 mi | $50,082 | $828/mo | 77% |
| Hinsdale County, CO | 56 mi | $75,972 | $1,171/mo | 76% |
The communities that make up Rio Grande County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 61% of Rio Grande County residents live in one of the 5. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $40,700 in Del Norte to $76,250 in South Fork. Rent is cheapest in Monte Vista ($699) and steepest in Del Norte ($861). None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monte Vista | city | 4,141 | $61,684 | $699 | 18 mi |
| Del Norte | town | 1,653 | $40,700 | $861 | 14 mi |
| South Fork | town | 724 | $76,250 | $818 | 16 mi |
| Gerrard | CDP | 332 | $76,181 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Alpine | CDP | 75 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
Debt-to-income at Rio Grande County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Rio Grande County's medians:
- $5,368 a month: gross income for a household at the Rio Grande County median
- Rent at the median, $945, takes 18% of that
- Under a 43% cap, $2,308 total minus rent leaves $1,363
Two-income households and single earners in Rio Grande County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Rio Grande County, in numbers
College graduates make up 34% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 10.7%, against 7.7% for Colorado.
| People and households | Rio Grande County | Colorado | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.5% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.1% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.2% |
Reading the Rio Grande County data as a borrower
Where the Rio Grande County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Assistance before credit. With a 18% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Rio Grande County loan.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Rio Grande County borrower sees (free reports).
Lender oversight for Rio Grande County
Rio Grande County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by 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. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Colorado state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Rio Grande County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Rio Grande County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Colorado borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Rio Grande County
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Rio Grande County household make?
About $64,411 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 33% below the Colorado median.
How much is rent in Rio Grande County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $945 a month; 39% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Rio Grande County?
By population: Monte Vista, Del Norte, South Fork, Gerrard, Alpine. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Can Rio Grande 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Rio Grande County?
Start with the Colorado Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.