Cost of Living in Chaffee County, Colorado
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Chaffee County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Chaffee County ranks #2,708 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 14%)
Sourced county brief
Official GRAPI in Chaffee County is 33.5 Percent
The median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Chaffee County is 33.5%. This official ACS B25071 estimate is 3.9 percentage points above the Colorado unweighted county mean of 29.6%. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,611 per month, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $1,303. For homeowners, the median monthly owner cost is $1,142, while the median home value is $665,700. The latter figure is above the state unweighted county mean home value of $427,513. Median renter-household income was recorded at $62,500. These figures provide a snapshot of housing costs for different tenure groups within the county as of the 2020-2024 period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Chaffee County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.5% of renter household income in Chaffee County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,611 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,142. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $64,440 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Colorado unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,303 per month. Chaffee County's $1,611 median is 23.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Chaffee County
Rent Burden
23.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,963
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.3%
of gross income
The median home in Chaffee County may be a stretch
Median home value is $665,700. Estimated monthly cost: $5,315 vs. your max of $1,963.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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