1st Advantage MortgageThe median Summit County household earns $109,773, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Summit County, CO: the basics
- What Summit County households earn
- Summit County housing compared with Colorado
- The Summit County job picture
- Regional comparison for Summit County
- Summit County towns compared
- More Summit County figures
- What the numbers mean for Summit County borrowers
- A Summit County household budget, worked through
- Steps before you apply in Summit County
- Lender oversight for Summit County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Summit County, CO: the basics
Summit County is home to about 31,017 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 19th most populous of 64 county-level areas in Colorado. Packed into 608 square miles, that is close to 51 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 9 Census places inside Summit County, Breckenridge leads by population with about 4,959; 6 of the 9 are incorporated.
What Summit County households earn
At $109,773, the typical Summit County household income is 67% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Summit County | Compared with Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 10.8% | -5.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.2% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.6% | -1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 24.4% | +7.5 pts |
About 11% of households earn under $35,000, while 54% clear $100,000. 7.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.4%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Summit County housing compared with Colorado
A typical Summit County rental runs $1,928 a month including utilities, which is 9% above Colorado. By the Census definition, 52% of Summit County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $939,900, a typical Summit County house costs 8.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 72% of Summit County households own their home and 28% rent.
| Cost | Summit County | Colorado figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,928/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $939,900 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 61% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Summit 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The Summit County job picture
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Summit County residents work in arts, lodging and food service and 17% in education and health care. Compared with Colorado, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (22% against 9%). The survey's unemployment rate for Summit County averages 5.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.6%). Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 2.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Summit County workers | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, lodging and food service | 21.8% | +12.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.3% | -4.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.0% | -2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.3% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | -0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Regional comparison for Summit County
Clear Creek County is closest, 25 miles from center to center; the sixth, Park County, is 41 miles off. Income ranges from $88,612 in Grand County to $104,096 in Eagle County; none of these neighbors top Summit County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit County | - | $109,773 | $1,928/mo | 72% |
| Clear Creek County, CO | 25 mi | $94,577 | $1,467/mo | 82% |
| Eagle County, CO | 30 mi | $104,096 | $2,019/mo | 66% |
| Lake County, CO | 31 mi | $96,575 | $1,397/mo | 76% |
| Grand County, CO | 34 mi | $88,612 | $1,493/mo | 73% |
| Gilpin County, CO | 36 mi | $95,361 | $1,658/mo | 88% |
| Park County, CO | 41 mi | $103,670 | $2,161/mo | 86% |
Summit County towns compared
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 53% of Summit County residents live in one of the 9. Incomes vary by place: $138,191 at the median in Breckenridge, $51,591 in Keystone. Rent is cheapest in Keystone ($874) and steepest in Blue River ($2,853). Live in one of these Summit County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breckenridge | town | 4,959 | $138,191 | $1,752 | 10 mi |
| Silverthorne | town | 4,815 | $125,478 | $2,081 | 4 mi |
| Frisco | town | 2,825 | $113,506 | $1,954 | 4 mi |
| Blue River | town | 1,410 | $134,250 | $2,853 | 13 mi |
| Keystone | CDP | 1,216 | $51,591 | $874 | 11 mi |
| Dillon | town | 832 | $111,250 | $1,798 | 5 mi |
| Copper Mountain | CDP | 353 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Montezuma | town | 120 | $130,357 | $1,857 | 15 mi |
| Heeney | CDP | 63 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
More Summit County figures
55% of Summit County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Summit County | Colorado statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 55.0% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.1% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 23.7% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.3% |
What the numbers mean for Summit County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Summit County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Higher earners. 54% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 52% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
A Summit County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Summit County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $9,148 gross per month ($109,773 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,928, takes 21% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,365 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 43% cap, $3,934 total minus rent leaves $2,006
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Steps before you apply in Summit County
Steps that save money for Summit County residents:
- Price the Summit County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Summit County-area credit union.
- Verify the Colorado license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Summit County
Summit County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Colorado Division of Banking. The Colorado Attorney General's office, which administers the state's Uniform Consumer Credit Code handles consumer-credit questions as well. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Colorado: Colorado personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Colorado guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Summit County a high-income county?
Its $109,773 median ranks 5th of 64 Colorado counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Summit County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,928 against $1,761 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Summit County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Summit County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Summit County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Frisco, Blue River, Keystone.
Are Summit County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.