CountyScore

Baca County

Colorado · CO

#16 in Colorado
75.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Baca County, Colorado

Baca ranks in top quartile

Baca County's composite score of 80.6 places it in the 81st percentile nationally, significantly above the national median of 50.0. This exceptional ranking reflects one of Colorado's most affordable housing markets combined with minimal tax burden.

Among Colorado's county leaders

At 80.6, Baca County ranks well above Colorado's state average of 71.8, placing it in the upper tier of state counties. Its strength lies in housing and tax affordability rather than income-driven prosperity.

Extraordinarily affordable housing

Baca County boasts a cost score of 90.7 and a tax score of 90.8, the latter reflecting an effective rate of just 0.407%. Median rent stands at only $490 per month and median home value at $122,000—among the most accessible housing in Colorado.

Income potential is severely limited

With an income score of just 9.8, Baca County's median household income of $40,380 is substantially below state and national averages. Limited data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors means broader livability dimensions remain unquantified.

For budget-conscious settlers

Baca County is ideal for retirees, remote workers, and others with stable outside income seeking maximum affordability and minimal tax burden. This rural county offers unmatched housing access but requires honest assessment of limited local earning opportunities.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax90.8Cost90.7SafetyComing SoonHealth61.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome9.8Risk76.9WaterComing Soon
🏛90.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠90.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼9.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤61.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡76.9
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Baca County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Calhoun County
Arkansas
75.6
Median income: $63,654
Conejos County
Colorado
75.6
Median income: $47,209
East Feliciana Parish
Louisiana
75.6
Median income: $72,899
Winn Parish
Louisiana
75.6
Median income: $46,368
Mineral County
Montana
75.6
Median income: $61,117

Deep Dives

Baca County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Baca County

via TaxByCounty

Baca taxes among America's lowest

Baca County's effective rate of 0.407% falls in the bottom 20% of U.S. counties, well below the national median of 0.52%. The median property tax of just $496 is 82% lower than the national median of $2,690.

Below-average burden statewide

Baca County's effective rate of 0.407% slightly exceeds Colorado's average of 0.393%, but its median tax of $496 is less than one-third the state median of $1,560. The county's rural character and lower home values keep taxes minimal.

Low taxes across southeastern plains

Baca County's 0.407% rate is slightly above Bent County (0.386%) but both operate at the lower end of the Colorado spectrum. The sparse population and agricultural economy of the southeastern plains keep property taxes exceptionally low.

What your $122k home costs

A median-valued home in Baca County at $122,000 generates approximately $496 in annual property taxes. With mortgage tax deductions factored in, your effective cost rises to $670 per year.

Appeal if value seems inflated

Even in Baca County's low-tax environment, overassessed properties exist—farmers and ranchers should verify valuations against recent comparable sales. An appeal is free and could preserve further savings on already modest tax bills.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Baca County

via CostByCounty

Colorado's most affordable county

Baca County residents spend just 14.6% of income on rent—the lowest ratio among all eight counties and well below the national affordability threshold of 22%. Despite a median household income of only $40,380, residents enjoy genuine housing affordability on the southeastern plains.

Lowest cost in Colorado sample

Baca County's 14.6% rent-to-income ratio decisively beats Colorado's 20.2% state average, while median rents of $490/month run 61% below the state average of $1,253. This rural county offers the most breathing room in housing budgets across the state's sample.

Plains affordability champion

Baca's $490 median rent costs $364 less than Bent County's $854 and nearly $1,400 less than Adams County's $1,713. Even home values of $122,000 remain the lowest analyzed, making Baca the entire region's affordability leader.

Housing is genuinely affordable

A Baca County household earning the median $40,380 annually spends just $490/month on rent, consuming only 14.6% of income—leaving substantial resources for other needs. Homeowners fare similarly well at $608/month, meaning housing costs barely strain family budgets here.

Stretch your paycheck furthest

Relocating to Baca County means your income goes furthest; $490 rent on a $40,380 salary leaves room to save and invest. If you value affordability and rural plains living over urban amenities, Baca offers unbeatable housing costs.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Baca County

via IncomeByCounty

Baca County faces severe income gap

Baca County's median household income of $40,380 is 46% below the national median of $74,755, placing it among America's lowest-income rural counties. This significant shortfall reflects the challenges of agricultural-dependent, sparsely populated communities in eastern Colorado.

Lowest-income county in Colorado

Baca County ranks dead last among Colorado's 64 counties with a median household income of just $40,380, less than 54% of the state average of $74,792. The county's economy relies almost entirely on ranching and agriculture, limiting income diversity and growth prospects.

Poorest of the rural southeast

Baca's $40,380 median household income is lower than nearly all neighboring rural counties, though slightly above the severe poverty of some Panhandle regions. Bent County ($49,194) offers one of few higher-income comparisons in the immediate area.

Low costs offset low income

Baca County's 14.6% rent-to-income ratio is the state's lowest, meaning housing consumes remarkably little of earnings despite low incomes. The median home value of just $122,000 makes homeownership highly affordable, providing financial stability in an otherwise challenging economic environment.

Affordable housing enables savings

Despite Baca County's low median income of $40,380, the exceptionally low cost of living—especially housing at $122,000—creates opportunities for even modest-income households to save. Prioritize building any emergency fund possible, explore low-cost retirement savings options, and consider skill-building investments to improve long-term earning potential.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Baca County

via HealthByCounty

Baca faces critical health and life expectancy crisis

At 69.8 years, Baca County residents live nearly 9.5 years shorter than the U.S. average of 79.3 years—the lowest life expectancy of any Colorado county in this analysis. More than 1 in 5 Baca residents (21.7%) report poor or fair health, signaling a widespread public health emergency that demands immediate intervention.

Baca's health crisis far exceeds state norms

Baca's 69.8-year life expectancy falls a devastating 8.4 years below Colorado's 78.2-year average, representing the state's most challenged health environment. The county's poor/fair health rate of 21.7% exceeds the state's typical rates by a significant margin, indicating deep structural health and poverty challenges.

Baca's crisis towers over all surrounding counties

Baca's 69.8-year life expectancy and 21.7% poor/fair health rate represent a catastrophic gap compared to Bent County (74.8 years, 22.8%)—the next-lowest counties. Only 57 primary care providers per 100K serve Baca's sparse population, leaving many residents far from consistent medical care.

Extreme rural isolation worsens health outcomes

Baca County is one of Colorado's most remote and economically distressed counties, with a median household income below $35,000 and severe provider shortages. The combination of poverty, isolation, provider scarcity, and limited mental health support (30 providers per 100K) creates a perfect storm for preventable disease and early mortality.

Baca residents: coverage is your lifeline

Baca's 9.1% uninsured rate may seem low, but for one of Colorado's poorest counties, healthcare access remains a critical barrier. Colorado's Medicaid expansion and marketplace subsidies are vital—visit CoverColorado.com or call 1-844-CO-HEALTH to ensure every Baca family gets covered.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Baca County

via RiskByCounty

Baca County ranks among America's safest regions

Baca County scores just 23.16 on the composite risk scale, placing it far below both Colorado's state average (40.67) and national hazard exposure. This very low rating reflects minimal vulnerability across most disaster types.

One of Colorado's lowest-risk counties statewide

With a composite score of 23.16, Baca ranks among the safest counties in Colorado, facing less than half the state's average disaster exposure. Few Colorado counties enjoy comparable protection from natural hazards.

Lowest risk in the southeastern plains region

Baca (23.16) sits substantially below Bent County (5.63) to the west, making it one of the safest areas in eastern Colorado's plains region. The county's isolation and sparse development contribute to this favorable hazard profile.

Wildfire poses the only significant local threat

Wildfire risk of 80.76 stands out as Baca's primary concern, reflecting grassland conditions in this high plains county. Tornado risk (26.46) remains modest, and flood risk (6.39) is minimal—among the lowest in the state.

Basic coverage sufficient in this very safe county

Baca residents should ensure adequate wildfire insurance given the 80.76 risk score, but can deprioritize flood and earthquake coverage in this very low-hazard environment. Standard homeowner policies paired with wildfire awareness provide solid protection for this plains county.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.