Cost of Living in Mesa 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 Mesa County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Mesa County ranks #2,608 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 17%)
Sourced county brief
Mesa County Median Monthly Owner Costs Estimated at $1,253
Mesa County recorded median monthly owner costs of $1,253 for all owner-occupied units, slightly below the Colorado unweighted county mean of $1,272. The median home value in the county was estimated at $378,600, while the state unweighted county mean is $427,513. In the rental market, the median gross rent is $1,182 per month, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $1,303. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 29.5%, which is 0.1 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 29.6%. The median income for renter households in Mesa County is $46,953. These figures represent housing costs as reported for the 2020-2024 5-year estimate 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: Mesa County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.5% of renter household income in Mesa County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,182 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,253. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $47,280 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. Mesa County's $1,182 median is 9.3% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Mesa County
Rent Burden
19.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,719
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.4%
of gross income
The median home in Mesa County may be a stretch
Median home value is $378,600. Estimated monthly cost: $3,022 vs. your max of $1,719.
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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