Cost of Living in Otero 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 Otero County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Otero County ranks #1,501 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 48%)
Sourced county brief
Otero County Median Home Value Estimated at $168,900
The median home value in Otero County, Colorado, was $168,900, which is $258,613 below the state unweighted county mean of $427,513. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was estimated at 29.0%. This canonical rentToIncomePct is 0.6 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 29.6%. Median gross rent in the county was $839 per month, a figure $464 below the Colorado unweighted county mean of $1,303. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost was $854, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $1,272. The median income for renter households was $36,181. This summary utilizes data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for 2020-2024. 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: Otero County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.0% of renter household income in Otero 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 $839 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $854. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,560 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. Otero County's $839 median is 35.6% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Otero County
Rent Burden
18.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,261
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.0%
of gross income
The median home in Otero County may be a stretch
Median home value is $168,900. Estimated monthly cost: $1,348 vs. your max of $1,261.
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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