1st Advantage MortgageThe median Saguache County household earns $50,082, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. 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 Saguache County
- Work, industries and travel time in Saguache County
- Paychecks and income spread in Saguache County
- What it costs to live in Saguache County
- Regional comparison for Saguache County
- Saguache County towns compared
- People and households in Saguache County
- Reading the Saguache County data as a borrower
- What a median Saguache County budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in Colorado
- Four steps for Saguache County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Saguache County
Saguache County is home to about 6,580 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 45th most populous of 64 county-level areas in Colorado. Spread over 3,169 square miles, that works out to roughly 2.1 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Center is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 2,120 people (32% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Saguache County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Work, industries and travel time in Saguache County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Saguache County residents work in education and health care and 21% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with Colorado, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (21% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Saguache County averages 10.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.6%). Long commutes are the exception here: 4% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Saguache County | Gap to Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | +0.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 21.2% | +19.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.8% | +3.6 pts |
| Public administration | 9.5% | +4.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | -0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 4.6% | -11.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Paychecks and income spread in Saguache County
Half of Saguache County households take in less than $50,082 a year and half take in more, 48% below the Colorado median of $95,470. In the state ranking that is 60th of 64.
| Band | Saguache County | Compared with Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.4% | +19.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | +4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -10.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -13.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Saguache County households make $100,000 or more, and 35% make less than $35,000. Census counts 17.8% of Saguache County residents in poverty, against 9.4% across Colorado. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.551 here. None of these numbers decides a Saguache County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Saguache County
A typical Saguache County rental runs $828 a month including utilities, which is 53% below Colorado. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 35% spend half or more. Home values center on $212,600, or 4.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%.
| Home costs | Saguache County | Colorado | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $828/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $212,600 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.1% | 3.5% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Regional comparison for Saguache County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Saguache County's, from 40 to 54 miles away. All of the six report a higher median household income than Saguache County; Chaffee County is highest at $84,132 and Alamosa County lowest at $55,397.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saguache County | - | $50,082 | $828/mo | 77% |
| Rio Grande County, CO | 40 mi | $64,411 | $945/mo | 67% |
| Alamosa County, CO | 40 mi | $55,397 | $907/mo | 56% |
| Custer County, CO | 47 mi | $72,674 | $1,069/mo | 85% |
| Chaffee County, CO | 49 mi | $84,132 | $1,611/mo | 74% |
| Fremont County, CO | 53 mi | $62,664 | $1,070/mo | 76% |
| Mineral County, CO | 54 mi | $56,250 | $928/mo | 70% |
Saguache County towns compared
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 44% of Saguache County residents live in one of the 5. Live in one of these Saguache County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | town | 2,120 | $45,750 | $490 | 21 mi |
| Saguache | town | 579 | $58,352 | $1,035 | 6 mi |
| Crestone | town | 123 | n/a | n/a | 29 mi |
| Moffat | town | 54 | n/a | $1,523 | 18 mi |
| Bonanza | town | 20 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
People and households in Saguache County
31% of Saguache County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 12.6%, against 7.7% for Colorado.
| Saguache County | Colorado | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.3% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.6% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.7% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.8% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.3% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Saguache County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 1.0% |
Reading the Saguache County data as a borrower
Based on the Saguache County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Saguache County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 16% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Saguache County's median age is 49.6. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
What a median Saguache County budget can carry
Here is the Saguache County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,174 a month: gross income for a household at the Saguache County median
- 20% goes to median rent ($828)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $674 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $828, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in Colorado
The Colorado Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Colorado license. Colorado also has the Colorado Attorney General's office, which administers the state's Uniform Consumer Credit Code for consumer credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Colorado state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Saguache County borrowers
A short checklist for Saguache County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Saguache County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Colorado license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Saguache County earn?
The median is $50,082; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 35% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Saguache County?
$828 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Which towns does the Saguache County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Center, Saguache, Crestone, Moffat, Bonanza.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Saguache County or elsewhere in Colorado, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Saguache County check a lender's license?
With the Colorado Division of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.