Alamosa County's composite score of 75.6 ranks in the 76th percentile nationally, well above the national median of 50.0. This above-average performance reflects a well-balanced combination of low taxes and genuinely affordable housing.
2 / 5
Best-in-class for Colorado
At 75.6, Alamosa County outperforms Colorado's state average of 71.8 and ranks among the state's top counties. Its strength comes from an rare combination of tax efficiency and housing affordability that few Colorado counties match.
3 / 5
Affordable housing and low taxes
Alamosa County shines with a cost score of 79.6 and a tax score of 89.8—among the best in Colorado. Median rent is just $904 per month and median home value is $218,800, making homeownership genuinely accessible alongside an effective tax rate of 0.442%.
4 / 5
Income levels are notably low
With an income score of only 17.0, Alamosa County's median household income of $51,445 is substantially below state and national levels. Limited data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors means other livability dimensions remain to be assessed.
5 / 5
Ideal for budget-minded seekers
Alamosa County is tailor-made for retirees, remote workers, and families prioritizing affordability and low taxes over high incomes. If you can live comfortably on a modest income and value accessible housing over earning potential, Alamosa offers genuine livability at a fraction of urban Colorado prices.
Alamosa County's composite score of 75.6 ranks in the 76th percentile nationally, well above the national median of 50.0. This above-average performance reflects a well-balanced combination of low taxes and genuinely affordable housing.
Best-in-class for Colorado
At 75.6, Alamosa County outperforms Colorado's state average of 71.8 and ranks among the state's top counties. Its strength comes from an rare combination of tax efficiency and housing affordability that few Colorado counties match.
Affordable housing and low taxes
Alamosa County shines with a cost score of 79.6 and a tax score of 89.8—among the best in Colorado. Median rent is just $904 per month and median home value is $218,800, making homeownership genuinely accessible alongside an effective tax rate of 0.442%.
Income levels are notably low
With an income score of only 17.0, Alamosa County's median household income of $51,445 is substantially below state and national levels. Limited data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors means other livability dimensions remain to be assessed.
Ideal for budget-minded seekers
Alamosa County is tailor-made for retirees, remote workers, and families prioritizing affordability and low taxes over high incomes. If you can live comfortably on a modest income and value accessible housing over earning potential, Alamosa offers genuine livability at a fraction of urban Colorado prices.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛89.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Alamosa County's effective rate of 0.442% falls well short of the national median of 0.52%, placing it in the bottom 40% of U.S. counties. The median property tax of $968 is 64% lower than the national median of $2,690.
Below-average burden across Colorado
Alamosa County ranks in the middle-to-lower range statewide with an effective rate of 0.442%, just above Colorado's 0.393% average. At $968, its median property tax is still 38% below the state median of $1,560.
Most affordable in south-central region
Alamosa County's 0.442% rate is the lowest among its south-central neighbors, undercutting Archuleta County (0.341%) in tax burden for the median home. The region's rural, lower-valued homes keep overall obligations manageable.
What your $219k home costs
A median-valued home in Alamosa County at $218,800 generates approximately $968 in annual property taxes. With mortgage tax deductions factored in, your effective cost rises to $1,081 per year.
Still worth appealing your assessment
Even at Alamosa County's lower rates, overassessed homeowners can recover meaningful savings through a property tax appeal. Request your county assessor's recent valuation and compare it to actual market sales.
Alamosa County renters spend 21.1% of their income on housing, staying just below the national affordability line—a relief in a region hosting two universities. The median household income of $51,445 is 31% below the national average, yet rents at $904/month remain remarkably reasonable.
Colorado's most affordable county
Alamosa County's 21.1% rent-to-income ratio beats Colorado's 20.2% state average and represents the most affordable housing among the eight counties analyzed. At $904/month, median rents run 28% below the state average of $1,253, making this south-central mountain county a genuine outlier.
Cheapest rent in the region
Alamosa's $904 median rent undercuts Archuleta County's $1,409 by 36% and towers below Adams County's $1,713 by nearly half. For homebuyers, the $218,800 median value is the lowest among the eight counties, offering genuine affordability for first-time buyers.
Rents and mortgages nearly equal
Alamosa County renters pay $904/month while homeowners shoulder $820/month—an unusual situation where ownership costs dip below rent. This $84 monthly difference means a household earning the median $51,445 can afford either path without overstretching their budget.
College town charm, real affordability
Moving to Alamosa? You're joining a university-driven economy where $51,445 median income stretches further than nearly anywhere in Colorado. Budget $904 for rent and you'll live comfortably in a region where housing doesn't dominate your financial life.
Alamosa County's median household income of $51,445 falls 31% below the national median of $74,755, reflecting the economic challenges of a rural mountain county. This gap highlights why many Alamosa residents face tighter financial constraints than their national peers.
Ranks in lowest third statewide
Alamosa County's $51,445 median household income places it in Colorado's lower third of counties, well below the state average of $74,792. The county's economy relies on regional agriculture, tourism, and Adams State University rather than high-wage urban sectors.
Among the lower-income regions
Alamosa's $51,445 median household income sits closer to rural and agricultural counties than to Colorado's prosperous front-range communities. Archuleta County ($76,524) and Baca County ($40,380) offer neighboring comparisons, showing wide variation across rural Colorado.
Rent remains affordable on lower wages
Alamosa's 21.1% rent-to-income ratio is remarkably efficient, meaning housing costs take up a small share of the lower median income. The affordable median home value of $218,800 makes homeownership achievable for many households without stretching finances dangerously thin.
Strategic saving boosts long-term security
Even with lower median income, Alamosa's affordable housing provides breathing room to build savings and invest for the future. Prioritize employer retirement plans, consider side income from seasonal work or skills-based gigs, and take advantage of lower-cost-of-living advantages for compound wealth growth.
At 73.0 years, Alamosa County has the lowest life expectancy among these eight counties—about 6.3 years below the U.S. average of 79.3 years. More than 1 in 5 Alamosa residents (21.2%) report poor or fair health, among the highest rates nationally and well above the 16.7% U.S. average.
Alamosa's health outcomes rank well below state
Alamosa's 73.0-year life expectancy trails Colorado's 78.2-year average by 5.2 years, placing it in Colorado's most health-challenged counties. The county's 10.8% uninsured rate exceeds the state average of 9.7%, adding financial barriers to the health challenges residents already face.
Alamosa lags similar rural Colorado counties
Compared to Archuleta County (79.6 years) just south, Alamosa's 73.0-year life expectancy represents a striking 6.6-year gap despite both being rural mountain regions. Alamosa does have more mental health providers (1,513 per 100K) than nearly any county in the state, though this strength hasn't yet translated into better overall health outcomes.
Rural Alamosa struggles with provider shortages
With 73 primary care providers per 100K, Alamosa has decent primary care density, yet residents still report difficulty accessing timely appointments and specialists. The combination of an aging population, high poverty rates, and limited behavioral health integration likely contributes to the county's poor health ratings and life expectancy crisis.
Alamosa residents: explore coverage now
Nearly 1 in 10 Alamosa residents (10.8%) lacks health insurance, making preventive care even harder to access. Colorado's marketplace offers subsidies for families earning up to 400% of poverty level—visit CoverColorado.com to see if you qualify for Medicaid or plan discounts.
Alamosa enjoys one of Colorado's lowest risk profiles
Alamosa County scores 40.36 on the composite risk scale, essentially matching Colorado's state average of 40.67 and placing it well below national hazard exposure. This very low risk rating reflects relatively favorable conditions across most disaster types.
Among Colorado's safest counties by overall measure
Alamosa's 40.36 composite score ranks it near the bottom for disaster risk statewide, with exposure considerably lower than the Denver metro counties to the northeast. Only a few Colorado counties experience comparably low multi-hazard vulnerability.
Safer than mountain and plains neighbors alike
Alamosa (40.36) sits well below Archuleta County (34.48) to the southwest and dramatically below Baca County (23.16) to the east in absolute terms, though all three share very low risk profiles. This isolated valley location offers natural protection against many hazard types.
Earthquakes present the primary concern here
Earthquakes pose Alamosa's highest risk at 82.54, reflecting proximity to regional fault systems despite the county's overall low hazard profile. Wildfire risk of 62.28 and flood risk of 43.73 remain manageable but merit basic preparedness.
Focus earthquake insurance on retrofitting needs
Alamosa residents should prioritize earthquake insurance and structural evaluation, as seismic risk (82.54) outpaces other local hazards. Basic homeowner coverage paired with earthquake protection provides cost-effective security in this relatively low-risk county.