1st Advantage MortgageAbout 53% of San Juan County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $77,824. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Colorado license first.
On this page
- San Juan County, CO: the basics
- Renting and owning in San Juan County
- Paychecks and income spread in San Juan County
- How San Juan County residents earn a living
- Counties near San Juan County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in San Juan County
- Room for a loan payment in San Juan County
- Who lives in San Juan County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in San Juan County
- Licensing and complaints for San Juan County
- A San Juan County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
San Juan County, CO: the basics
With an estimated 724 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), San Juan County ranks 64th of 64 in Colorado for population. Spread over 388 square miles, that works out to roughly 1.9 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes San Juan County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Silverton, with about 637 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every San Juan County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Renting and owning in San Juan County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $992 in San Juan County versus $1,761 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. With a median value of $432,500, a typical San Juan County house costs 5.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 53% of homes. Median construction year: 1979.
| San Juan County | Colorado | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $992/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $432,500 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 53% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 49% | 30% | n/a |
Renters cannot borrow against a house, which narrows the choice to unsecured loans, cards and help from creditors; compare total cost, not just the payment.
Paychecks and income spread in San Juan County
San Juan County households have a median income of $77,824 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 29th of 64 in Colorado.
| Households earning | San Juan County | +/- vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.3% | +13.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.6% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.1% | -0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.0% | -15.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of San Juan County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. Census counts 21.3% of San Juan County residents in poverty, against 9.4% across Colorado. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.437 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How San Juan County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 32% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 12%. Compared with Colorado, the county leans toward education and health care (32% against 22%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 9.4% in San Juan County. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 2.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of San Juan County workers | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.1% | +10.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.0% | +2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | 0.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | -0.1 pts |
| Other services | 7.2% | +2.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near San Juan County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to San Juan County's, from 16 to 46 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than San Juan County; Ouray County is highest at $91,020 and Mineral County lowest at $56,250.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan County | - | $77,824 | $992/mo | 53% |
| Hinsdale County, CO | 16 mi | $75,972 | $1,171/mo | 76% |
| Ouray County, CO | 27 mi | $91,020 | $1,786/mo | 83% |
| La Plata County, CO | 35 mi | $86,056 | $1,504/mo | 71% |
| Mineral County, CO | 40 mi | $56,250 | $928/mo | 70% |
| San Miguel County, CO | 44 mi | $79,024 | $1,149/mo | 63% |
| Dolores County, CO | 46 mi | $64,907 | $986/mo | 81% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in San Juan County
Just one Census place, Silverton, lies mainly within San Juan County; it holds about 637 people. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silverton | town | 637 | $77,546 | $992 | 2 mi |
Room for a loan payment in San Juan County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to San Juan County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,485 before taxes
- Median rent: $992, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,343 a month
If your rent is above $992, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in San Juan County, in numbers
Degree holders: 52% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 10.1%, against 7.7% for Colorado.
| Indicator | San Juan County | All of Colorado | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 52.1% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 0.0% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.1% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 31.4% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.3% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.4% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
Before borrowing in San Juan County
Where the San Juan County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 10% of San Juan County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Free help first. 21% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Licensing and complaints for San Juan County
San Juan 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. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Colorado: Colorado personal loans.
A San Juan County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for San Juan County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Colorado borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in San Juan County earn?
The median is $77,824; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is San Juan County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $992 against $1,761 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small San Juan County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Silverton.
Does living in San Juan 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 San Juan County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for San Juan 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.