Cost of Living in Rio Blanco 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 Rio Blanco County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Rio Blanco County ranks #2,078 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 34%)
Sourced county brief
Rio Blanco County Median Gross Rent Snapshot at $919
The median gross rent in Rio Blanco County was estimated at $919 per month, which is $384 below the Colorado unweighted county mean of $1,303. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 26.2%. This figure is 3.4 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 29.6%. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied housing units were $1,054, while the state unweighted county mean was $1,272. The median home value in the county was $274,400, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $427,513. Median renter-household income was recorded at $53,125. These metrics provide a summary of the housing cost environment for 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: Rio Blanco County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.2% of renter household income in Rio Blanco 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 $919 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,054. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $36,760 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. Rio Blanco County's $919 median is 29.4% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Rio Blanco County
Rent Burden
16.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,528
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.3%
of gross income
The median home in Rio Blanco County may be a stretch
Median home value is $274,400. Estimated monthly cost: $2,191 vs. your max of $1,528.
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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