Cost of Living in San Miguel 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 San Miguel County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
San Miguel County ranks #2,773 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 12%)
Sourced county brief
San Miguel County Median Home Value Exceeds $720,000
The median home value in San Miguel County was estimated at $720,700, a figure that is $293,187 higher than the Colorado unweighted county mean of $427,513. For those in rental units, the median gross rent was $1,149 per month, which is below the unweighted state county mean of $1,303. The official ACS B25071 GRAPI, representing median gross rent as a percentage of household income, was 35.1%. This figure is 5.5 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 29.6%. Renter households in the county had a median annual income of $51,406. For owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,823, compared to the unweighted state county mean of $1,272. See ACS table B25077 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: San Miguel County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 35.1% of renter household income in San Miguel 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 $1,149 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,823. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $45,960 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. San Miguel County's $1,149 median is 11.8% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in San Miguel County
Rent Burden
17.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,844
per month
Owner Cost Burden
27.7%
of gross income
The median home in San Miguel County may be a stretch
Median home value is $720,700. Estimated monthly cost: $5,754 vs. your max of $1,844.
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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