Elbert County's composite score of 66.3 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 66th percentile nationally. The county delivers competitive livability across measured dimensions.
2 / 5
Slightly below Colorado state average
Elbert's score of 66.3 trails Colorado's average of 71.8 but stays competitive within the state. The county ranks in the middle-upper tier among Colorado's counties.
3 / 5
Strong incomes fuel the county
Elbert excels with an income score of 67.9 and median household income of $129,477, indicating a prosperous population. The county also maintains tax efficiency with a score of 89.7 and effective rate of 0.449%.
4 / 5
Moderate housing costs offset income gains
Elbert's cost score of 48.4 reflects median home values of $664,600 and gross rent of $1,436. Safety, health, school, and environmental data remain unavailable, preventing a complete livability picture.
5 / 5
Suits prosperous families near Denver
Elbert County appeals to high-earning families and professionals seeking affordable suburban living with strong incomes and low taxes. The county offers exurban appeal for those willing to commute to Denver's job market.
Elbert County's composite score of 66.3 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 66th percentile nationally. The county delivers competitive livability across measured dimensions.
Slightly below Colorado state average
Elbert's score of 66.3 trails Colorado's average of 71.8 but stays competitive within the state. The county ranks in the middle-upper tier among Colorado's counties.
Strong incomes fuel the county
Elbert excels with an income score of 67.9 and median household income of $129,477, indicating a prosperous population. The county also maintains tax efficiency with a score of 89.7 and effective rate of 0.449%.
Moderate housing costs offset income gains
Elbert's cost score of 48.4 reflects median home values of $664,600 and gross rent of $1,436. Safety, health, school, and environmental data remain unavailable, preventing a complete livability picture.
Suits prosperous families near Denver
Elbert County appeals to high-earning families and professionals seeking affordable suburban living with strong incomes and low taxes. The county offers exurban appeal for those willing to commute to Denver's job market.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛89.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Elbert County's effective rate of 0.449% ranks in the 70th percentile nationally, placing it solidly in the higher end of American property tax rates. The median annual tax of $2,981 exceeds the national median of $2,690, driven by Elbert's median home value of $664,600.
Elbert ranks high among Colorado counties
At 0.449% effective rate, Elbert exceeds Colorado's state average of 0.393%, placing it in the upper quarter of the state's 64 counties. The median tax of $2,981 nearly doubles Colorado's median of $1,560, reflecting Elbert's character as an upscale exurban community.
Elbert taxes higher than Denver metro peers
Elbert's 0.449% rate exceeds Denver's 0.443%, El Paso's 0.411%, and Fremont's 0.383%, making it the most expensive tax county in its region. Only Douglas County's 0.550% surpasses Elbert's burden among Colorado's major counties.
Elbert residents pay $2,981 per year
On Elbert County's median home value of $664,600, property owners pay approximately $2,981 in annual taxes at the 0.449% rate. Homeowners with mortgages pay $3,128; those without mortgages pay $2,640.
Elbert's growth means reassessment opportunities
Rapid development in Elbert County can cause assessments to lag behind market values for some properties while exceeding them for others. Filing an assessment appeal is free and can be especially valuable if your property hasn't sold recently.
Elbert County residents spend just 13.3% of income on rent—the lowest ratio among all counties studied and far better than national benchmarks. With a median household income of $129,477 (73% above the national average of $74,755), the county offers exceptional housing affordability.
Second-best affordability in Colorado
Elbert County's 13.3% rent-to-income ratio is second only to Douglas County (17.3%), placing it in Colorado's most affordable tier. The county's high-income households and moderate median rent of $1,436 create substantial financial flexibility.
High incomes offset modest rent premium
Elbert County's median rent of $1,436 rivals Fremont County ($1,036) and trails Garfield County ($1,515), but the $129,477 median income dwarfs all peer counties. This income advantage makes Elbert's housing costs negligible by comparison.
Affluent households carry minimal burden
Renters allocate just $1,436 monthly (13.3%) of the $129,477 income, while homeowners spend $2,214 (20.6%) on a $664,600 median home value. Elbert County offers the most housing comfort of any county analyzed.
Prime market for high-net-worth relocators
If you're moving to Colorado and earning $120,000+, Elbert County combines exceptional affordability with exurban charm and proximity to Denver. The county suits affluent professionals and remote workers seeking space without urban price tags.
Elbert County's median household income of $129,477 towers 73% above the U.S. median of $74,755, placing it in the nation's top tier of affluent counties. This suburban Denver county has emerged as a prosperity hotspot in recent years.
Second-highest income in Colorado
Elbert County ranks second statewide in median household income at $129,477, trailing only Douglas County's $145,737 by $16,260. The county's income exceeds Colorado's state average of $74,792 by 73%.
Elbert rivals the state's richest counties
Elbert County's $129,477 comes remarkably close to Douglas County's $145,737 and dwarfs Denver's $91,681 and El Paso's $87,470. Only Eagle County's $103,174 poses any competition among neighboring affluent areas.
Lowest rent burden among all counties
Elbert County's rent-to-income ratio of just 13.3%—the lowest here—demonstrates exceptional housing affordability despite a $664,600 median home value. High household incomes easily support property ownership and maintenance.
Maximize wealth-building at maximum capacity
With the second-highest household income in Colorado and the lowest rent burden, Elbert County residents enjoy unmatched financial flexibility for investing and saving. Strategic asset allocation and long-term planning can transform this advantage into substantial intergenerational wealth.
Elbert County residents live to 80.7 years, surpassing the U.S. average of 78.9 years by 1.8 years. With only 12.6% reporting poor or fair health, this exurban county demonstrates strong health outcomes.
Above Colorado average in rural setting
At 80.7 years, Elbert County's life expectancy exceeds Colorado's 78.2-year state average by 2.5 years. This rural county just east of Denver ranks favorably among Colorado communities.
Outperforms Denver and El Paso by wide margins
Elbert County residents live 4.5 years longer than El Paso (76.2) and 3.3 years longer than Denver (77.4), despite exurban location. The 12.6% poor/fair health rate ranks well against urban peers.
Severe primary care provider shortage
Elbert County has just 11 primary care providers per 100,000—among the lowest in the state—forcing residents to seek care in nearby Denver. However, 122 mental health providers per 100K and a 7.2% uninsured rate suggest stable coverage among the rural population.
Verify coverage and plan for travel
Elbert County's low provider density means many residents travel to Denver for primary care. Ensure your health plan covers out-of-county care, and visit Colorado.gov/hcpf to verify Medicaid or marketplace coverage.
Elbert County scores 36.58 on composite disaster risk, rated Very Low—slightly below Colorado's state average of 40.67. Its rural, semi-arid character limits exposure to most major hazard categories.
Second-safest county in Colorado
Elbert ranks among Colorado's lowest-risk counties, exceeded only by Dolores. Sparse population and vast open plains reduce the concentrated impact of natural disasters.
Substantially safer than nearby Front Range
Elbert's risk score of 36.58 is dramatically lower than neighboring El Paso (94.05) and Douglas (88.71). The county sits east of the Front Range mountains, avoiding some terrain-driven hazards.
Wildfire is Elbert's primary concern
Wildfire risk in Elbert is elevated at 95.07, reflecting rangeland and grassland conditions. Flood, tornado, and earthquake risks all remain well below state averages.
Wildfire preparedness protects your investment
Elbert residents should prioritize defensible space, roof screening, and gutter maintenance to reduce wildfire vulnerability. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers wildfire; verify limits match your home's current replacement cost.