Cost of Living in La Plata 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 La Plata County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
La Plata County ranks #2,853 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 9%)
Sourced county brief
La Plata County Median Home Value Reaches $591,500
The median home value in La Plata County was estimated at $591,500 during the 2020-2024 period, a figure that is $163,987 higher than the Colorado unweighted county mean of $427,513. Median gross rent in the county is $1,504 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,303. The official rentToIncomePct, based on ACS B25071 GRAPI, is 31.5%, which is 1.9 percentage points above the Colorado unweighted county mean of 29.6%. For owner-occupied households, the median monthly owner cost is $1,429, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $1,272. The median income for renter households in the county was measured at $49,974. These statistics represent a snapshot of local housing costs without consideration of market trends or future changes. 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: La Plata County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.5% of renter household income in La Plata 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 $1,504 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,429. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $60,160 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. La Plata County's $1,504 median is 15.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in La Plata County
Rent Burden
21.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,008
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.9%
of gross income
The median home in La Plata County may be a stretch
Median home value is $591,500. Estimated monthly cost: $4,722 vs. your max of $2,008.
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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