1st Advantage MortgageAbout 69% of Yuma County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $60,545. 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
- Who lives in Yuma County
- Paychecks and income spread in Yuma County
- How Yuma County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Yuma County
- Regional comparison for Yuma County
- Towns and communities in Yuma County
- A Yuma County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Yuma County borrowers
- Yuma County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Steps before you apply in Yuma County
- Who licenses lenders for Yuma County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Yuma County
With an estimated 9,979 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Yuma County ranks 38th of 64 in Colorado for population. Land area is 2,364 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (3 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Yuma, with about 3,459 residents, or 35% of the county. Because Yuma County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Paychecks and income spread in Yuma County
At $60,545, the typical Yuma County household income is 8% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 46 Colorado counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Yuma County | +/- vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +9.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.9% | +11.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.7% | -11.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -9.5 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 17.9%, 8 points higher than the state's 9.4%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.467 here. For a borrower in Yuma County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Yuma County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Yuma County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 20% of workers, followed by education and health care (20%). Compared with Colorado, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (20% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Yuma County averages 4.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.6%). Long commutes are the exception here: 5% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 5.4% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Where residents work | Yuma County | Difference from Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 20.0% | +18.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.8% | -2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +4.2 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -1.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | +1.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Renting and owning in Yuma County
Renters in Yuma County pay a median of $942 a month, 47% below the Colorado figure of $1,761. By the Census definition, 51% of Yuma County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $211,700, a typical Yuma County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 69% of Yuma County households own their home and 31% rent. Median construction year: 1968.
| Measure | Yuma County | Colorado | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $942/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $211,700 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.8% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 8% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Regional comparison for Yuma County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Yuma County's, from 40 to 53 miles away. Income ranges from $55,429 in Cheyenne County to $70,259 in Kit Carson County; 4 of these neighbors top Yuma County's median. The list crosses into Kansas, Nebraska, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuma County | - | $60,545 | $942/mo | 69% |
| Cheyenne County, KS | 40 mi | $55,429 | $656/mo | 78% |
| Dundy County, NE | 41 mi | $58,922 | $656/mo | 74% |
| Phillips County, CO | 41 mi | $64,674 | $999/mo | 72% |
| Washington County, CO | 42 mi | $67,167 | $947/mo | 74% |
| Kit Carson County, CO | 49 mi | $70,259 | $973/mo | 73% |
| Chase County, NE | 53 mi | $68,173 | $800/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Yuma County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 61% of Yuma County residents live in one of the 8. No Yuma County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuma | city | 3,459 | $48,338 | $1,040 | 18 mi |
| Wray | city | 2,114 | $57,171 | $805 | 12 mi |
| Eckley | town | 332 | $60,125 | $935 | 8 mi |
| Joes | CDP | 105 | $56,250 | n/a | 27 mi |
| Idalia | CDP | 90 | $146,250 | $950 | 22 mi |
| Kirk | CDP | 26 | $97,857 | n/a | 28 mi |
| Laird | CDP | 4 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Vernon | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
A Yuma County household budget, worked through
Yuma County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $60,545 a year is $5,045 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $942, takes 19% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $874 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Yuma County borrowers
What the Yuma County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Health costs. With 16% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Yuma County residents: age, schooling, coverage
25% of Yuma County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 16% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Yuma County | Colorado | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.3% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.5% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.7% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.9% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 59.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.3% |
| 60+ min | 2.4% |
Steps before you apply in Yuma County
Quick steps for Yuma County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Yuma County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Colorado borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Yuma County residents
Yuma 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. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Colorado: Colorado personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Colorado guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yuma County a high-income county?
Its $60,545 median ranks 47th of 64 Colorado counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Yuma County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $942 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Yuma County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Yuma, Wray, Eckley, Joes, Idalia.
Will a Yuma County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Colorado as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Yuma County?
Start with the Colorado Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.