Cost of Living in El Paso 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 El Paso County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
El Paso County ranks #3,000 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 5%)
Sourced county brief
El Paso County Median GRAPI Reaches 32.3%
In El Paso County, Colorado, the official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 32.3% for the 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates period. This is 2.7 percentage points above the Colorado unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 29.6%. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,696 per month, while the state unweighted county mean rent was $1,303. Homeowner costs also differed from state averages; the median home value was $461,000, and median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,770. Both owner metrics are above the Colorado unweighted county means of $427,513 for home value and $1,272 for owner costs. The median renter-household income in the county was $61,925 during this timeframe. 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: El Paso County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.3% of renter household income in El Paso 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 $1,696 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,770. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $67,840 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. El Paso County's $1,696 median is 30.2% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in El Paso County
Rent Burden
22.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,108
per month
Owner Cost Burden
23.5%
of gross income
The median home in El Paso County may be a stretch
Median home value is $461,000. Estimated monthly cost: $3,680 vs. your max of $2,108.
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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