Bent County's composite score of 77.3 places it in the 77th percentile nationally, well above the national median of 50.0. This strong performance reflects exceptional housing affordability and minimal tax burden in a rural setting.
2 / 5
Among state's strongest counties
At 77.3, Bent County outperforms Colorado's state average of 71.8 and ranks in the upper tier of state counties. Its success comes from a compelling combination of low housing costs and favorable tax treatment.
3 / 5
Highly affordable, tax-friendly living
Bent County excels with a cost score of 82.1 and a tax score of 91.4, offering an effective tax rate of 0.386%. Median home values are just $137,900 and median rent is $854 per month, making housing genuinely accessible.
4 / 5
Income levels are quite low
With an income score of 15.5 and a median household income of $49,194, Bent County's earning potential lags significantly behind state averages. Comprehensive data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors is not yet available.
5 / 5
For remote workers and retirees
Bent County suits remote workers, retirees on fixed income, and others seeking extreme affordability and low taxes in a rural plains setting. If you have stable income from outside sources and prioritize cost of living, Bent offers exceptional value.
Bent County's composite score of 77.3 places it in the 77th percentile nationally, well above the national median of 50.0. This strong performance reflects exceptional housing affordability and minimal tax burden in a rural setting.
Among state's strongest counties
At 77.3, Bent County outperforms Colorado's state average of 71.8 and ranks in the upper tier of state counties. Its success comes from a compelling combination of low housing costs and favorable tax treatment.
Highly affordable, tax-friendly living
Bent County excels with a cost score of 82.1 and a tax score of 91.4, offering an effective tax rate of 0.386%. Median home values are just $137,900 and median rent is $854 per month, making housing genuinely accessible.
Income levels are quite low
With an income score of 15.5 and a median household income of $49,194, Bent County's earning potential lags significantly behind state averages. Comprehensive data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors is not yet available.
For remote workers and retirees
Bent County suits remote workers, retirees on fixed income, and others seeking extreme affordability and low taxes in a rural plains setting. If you have stable income from outside sources and prioritize cost of living, Bent offers exceptional value.
Score breakdown
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🏛91.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Bent County's effective rate of 0.386% places it in the bottom 20% of U.S. counties, significantly below the national median of 0.52%. The median property tax of $532 is 80% lower than the national median of $2,690.
Slightly below Colorado average
Bent County's effective rate of 0.386% is nearly identical to Colorado's state average of 0.393%, making it one of the state's more typical counties. However, its median tax of $532 is just one-third the state median of $1,560, reflecting its rural, lower-valued properties.
Comparable to plains county peers
Bent County's 0.386% rate is the lowest among its southeastern neighbors, just below Baca County's 0.407%. Both counties share agricultural economies and low property values typical of Colorado's eastern plains.
What your $138k home costs
A median-valued home in Bent County at $137,900 generates approximately $532 in annual property taxes. With mortgage tax deductions included, your effective cost is $543 per year.
Review your assessment for overvaluation
Bent County homeowners should still verify their assessments against recent market transactions to catch potential errors. Even modest overassessments on rural properties can be recovered through a straightforward appeal process.
Bent County renters spend 20.8% of their income on housing—just below the national affordability line of 22%—despite a median household income of $49,194, well below the national average. Monthly rents of $854 reflect this rural southeastern county's modest cost of living.
Below-average affordability stress
Bent County's 20.8% rent-to-income ratio narrowly beats Colorado's 20.2% state average, with rents of $854/month running 32% below the state average of $1,253. This rural county offers genuine relief from the pricing pressures of Colorado's urban corridors.
Cheaper than mountains, pricier than plains
Bent's $854 rent sits between rural Baca County's $490 and mountain Archuleta County's $1,409, reflecting its middle position on Colorado's affordability spectrum. Home values of $137,900 remain modest, though higher than Baca's $122,000.
Renters and buyers affordably housed
A Bent County household earning the median $49,194 annually pays $854/month for rent (20.8% of income) or $718/month for a mortgage (17.5% of income). Either path leaves room in the budget, with ownership costing $136/month less than renting.
Southeast plains value proposition
Moving to Bent County works well if you value rural living and lower costs; $854 rent on a $49,194 salary means housing won't dominate your finances. Compare this affordability against available jobs in agriculture, energy, and small business.
Bent County's median household income of $49,194 falls 34% short of the national median of $74,755, reflecting the economic strain of small, agriculture-dependent communities. This income gap creates significant financial pressure for working families in the county.
Second-poorest county in Colorado
Bent County's median household income of $49,194 ranks second-lowest among all Colorado counties, just above Baca County's $40,380. The county's economy, built on ranching and oil production, struggles to generate competitive wages.
Part of Colorado's poverty corridor
Bent's $49,194 income clusters with other struggling southeastern Colorado counties, though it slightly exceeds Baca County. The region faces structural challenges common to rural Great Plains economies with limited diversification.
Affordable housing provides breathing room
Bent County's 20.8% rent-to-income ratio and bargain median home value of $137,900 make housing costs manageable despite low incomes. This affordability advantage helps households avoid the debt traps that plague low-income communities elsewhere.
Build security through modest savings
While Bent County's $49,194 median income limits wealth-building capacity, the low cost of living creates opportunities for determined savers to accumulate resources. Focus on any available employer benefits, explore debt reduction strategies, and consider investing in education or skills to boost earning potential over time.
At 74.8 years, Bent County residents live nearly 4.5 years shorter than the U.S. average of 79.3 years, and 22.8% report poor or fair health—well above the national average of 16.7%. This rural southeastern Colorado county faces substantial health disparities rooted in economic hardship and healthcare access barriers.
Bent ranks among Colorado's most challenged counties
Bent's 74.8-year life expectancy trails Colorado's 78.2-year state average by 3.4 years, placing it in Colorado's bottom tier for health outcomes. The county's 7.9% uninsured rate actually beats the state average of 9.7%, yet health outcomes remain poor—suggesting that coverage alone doesn't solve Bent's health crisis.
Bent struggles alongside rural southeastern peers
Bent's 74.8-year life expectancy matches Alamosa County and exceeds only Baca County (69.8 years) among this group of rural Colorado counties. Limited primary care data for Bent and just 53 mental health providers per 100K indicate serious provider shortages in a medically underserved region.
Rural isolation and poverty drive poor health
Bent County lacks complete primary care provider data, but the reported 53 mental health providers per 100K suggests minimal behavioral health infrastructure in this remote county. Poverty rates exceed 18%, and residents face long drives to reach specialists—barriers that turn treatable conditions into chronic crises and premature deaths.
Bent residents: ensure you stay covered
While Bent's 7.9% uninsured rate is better than the state average, the remaining uninsured residents face steep barriers to care in this underserved county. Check CoverColorado.com or contact your local health department to confirm your coverage and explore Medicaid options if income has changed.
Bent County enjoys exceptional natural disaster safety
Bent County scores just 5.63 on the composite risk scale, placing it among America's safest regions for natural disasters and far below both state and national averages. This exceptionally low rating indicates minimal multi-hazard exposure across virtually all disaster categories.
Colorado's safest county by composite risk measure
Bent's 5.63 composite score ranks it as one of the lowest-risk counties in Colorado, with disaster exposure representing only a fraction of the state average (40.67). The county benefits from its isolated plains geography and sparse settlement patterns.
Safest in the eastern Colorado plains region
Bent (5.63) sits far below Baca County (23.16) to the north, making it Colorado's safest county by a considerable margin. This remote location on the high plains offers natural protection against most major hazard types.
Wildfire is the only notable local hazard
Wildfire risk of 64.69 represents Bent's sole significant exposure, though this remains moderate compared to mountain counties. Flood (7.57), tornado (19.66), and earthquake (16.54) risks all rank among Colorado's lowest.
Minimal coverage needs in this exceptionally safe county
Bent County residents can rely on basic homeowner insurance with optional wildfire coverage, given the county's 5.63 composite risk score—the lowest in Colorado. Flood, earthquake, and special tornado protections are unnecessary in this exceptionally safe location.