Rio Grande County scores 77.5 out of 100, substantially above the national median of 50.0 and exceeding Colorado's state average of 71.8. The county excels at delivering affordable living without sacrificing community access.
2 / 5
Top-tier performance in Colorado
Rio Grande County's score of 77.5 ranks it above the state average of 71.8 and second-highest among the eight counties analyzed. The county consistently delivers strong value.
3 / 5
Exceptional housing affordability and low taxes
Rio Grande County leads with a cost score of 81.1 and tax score of 90.6, delivering median home values of $215,400 and rent at just $782 per month with an effective tax rate of 0.415%. These exceptional affordability metrics are the county's defining strength.
4 / 5
Modest incomes and incomplete data
The income score of 24.0 reflects a median household income of $62,166, modest for the state. Safety, health, school, and environmental data are not yet available.
5 / 5
Ideal for affordability-focused families
Rio Grande County suits families and retirees who prioritize the lowest possible housing costs and taxes while maintaining access to community services. Those seeking higher local incomes should pursue opportunities outside the county.
Rio Grande County scores 77.5 out of 100, substantially above the national median of 50.0 and exceeding Colorado's state average of 71.8. The county excels at delivering affordable living without sacrificing community access.
Top-tier performance in Colorado
Rio Grande County's score of 77.5 ranks it above the state average of 71.8 and second-highest among the eight counties analyzed. The county consistently delivers strong value.
Exceptional housing affordability and low taxes
Rio Grande County leads with a cost score of 81.1 and tax score of 90.6, delivering median home values of $215,400 and rent at just $782 per month with an effective tax rate of 0.415%. These exceptional affordability metrics are the county's defining strength.
Modest incomes and incomplete data
The income score of 24.0 reflects a median household income of $62,166, modest for the state. Safety, health, school, and environmental data are not yet available.
Ideal for affordability-focused families
Rio Grande County suits families and retirees who prioritize the lowest possible housing costs and taxes while maintaining access to community services. Those seeking higher local incomes should pursue opportunities outside the county.
Score breakdown
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🏛90.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Rio Grande County's effective tax rate of 0.415% sits slightly above the national median, putting homeowners in roughly the 55th percentile nationwide. The median property tax of $893 is just 33% of the national median of $2,690, thanks to Rio Grande's lower home values.
Slightly above Colorado's average
Rio Grande County's effective rate of 0.415% modestly exceeds Colorado's state average of 0.393%, placing it in the upper-middle tier of the state's tax burden. The median property tax of $893 falls well short of the state median of $1,560 due to smaller home values.
Moderate tax rate for southern Colorado
Rio Grande County's 0.415% rate ranks between Saguache County (0.340%) and Phillips County (0.495%), occupying the middle ground among these eight counties. The tax burden here reflects a balance between rates and property values.
Median $215,400 home costs $893
A homeowner with the median-valued property of $215,400 in Rio Grande County pays approximately $893 per year in property taxes. With a mortgage, that increases to $988; without, it drops to $648.
Assessment review protects your equity
Rio Grande County homeowners should periodically compare their assessed values to recent sales of similar properties in the county and surrounding areas. A modest overassessment can still represent hundreds of dollars in unnecessary annual payments—worth investigating.
Rio Grande County's 15.1% rent-to-income ratio ranks among Colorado's lowest, with residents spending just $782 monthly on rent—38% below the state median. Despite income roughly 17% below the national average, families here enjoy housing costs that don't consume their paychecks.
Colorado's Secret Affordability Champion
Rio Grande County ranks second only to Prowers for statewide affordability, with rents and ownership costs that undercut most Colorado markets. The $215,400 median home value and $782 monthly rent position it as a true budget alternative in a high-cost state.
Outvalues Most Regional Peers
Rio Grande's $782 rent costs $177 less than Pueblo and $142 less than Phillips County, making it the San Luis Valley's affordability leader. Homeownership at $875 monthly also beats nearby options, delivering consistent value across all housing types.
Housing Takes Just 15% of Budgets
Rio Grande residents allocate only 15.1% of their $62,166 median income to rent and 16.9% to ownership—both exceptionally low. The $93 gap between rent and ownership costs gives households genuine flexibility without financial compromise.
Rio Grande: True Mountain Affordability
Rio Grande County combines San Luis Valley beauty with some of Colorado's lowest housing costs—renters save $471 monthly versus state average. Consider Rio Grande if you're priced out of Front Range markets and want authentic rural Colorado living without the financial strain.
Rio Grande County's median household income of $62,166 trails the nation's $74,755 median by 17%. The county's agricultural and small-business economy reflects income patterns of rural San Luis Valley communities.
Lower-middle earner in Colorado
Rio Grande County's $62,166 median income ranks 17% below Colorado's state average of $74,792. The county sits in Colorado's lower-middle tier, typical of rural agricultural regions.
Matches Pueblo, exceeds southern peers
Rio Grande County ($62,166) nearly matches Pueblo County ($62,250) and significantly outearns Saguache County ($54,283). The county anchors the San Luis Valley economy alongside its southern neighbors.
Outstanding housing affordability
Rio Grande County's 15.1% rent-to-income ratio ranks among Colorado's best, indicating exceptional affordability. With a median home value of $215,400, homeownership is highly accessible for median-income families.
Building wealth in rural valleys
Households earning $62,166 should take advantage of Rio Grande County's exceptional housing affordability to build home equity. Start with employer retirement plans and explore local community development resources designed to support rural economic growth.
At 72.3 years, Rio Grande County's life expectancy is 4.1 years below the U.S. average of 76.4 years, placing it among the nation's lowest. With 16.7% of residents reporting poor or fair health and 14.1% uninsured, the county faces both disease burden and care access barriers.
Second-lowest in Colorado
Rio Grande County's 72.3-year life expectancy is just 0.2 years above Pueblo County's, ranking it second-worst in Colorado—5.9 years below the state average. Its 14.1% uninsured rate is the highest among all eight profiled counties, a critical barrier to addressing the county's health crisis.
Worst-insured in the region
Rio Grande County's 14.1% uninsured rate is the highest among all eight counties and its 72.3-year life expectancy is near the bottom. Only Pueblo (72.5 years) and Prowers (73.7 years) approach Rio Grande's health burden, but none match its uninsured rate.
Provider access amid insurance gaps
Rio Grande County has 96 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, but a severe shortage of mental health providers at just 54 per 100,000—the lowest of all eight counties. With 14.1% uninsured, thousands of residents cannot access even the limited primary care available, let alone specialized behavioral health support.
Close the coverage gap now
Rio Grande County's 14.1% uninsured rate is a health emergency; nearly 4,000 residents lack stable coverage. Contact Colorado's Connect for Health at 1-855-752-6749 or visit healthcare.gov to enroll in Medicaid or marketplace plans—your ticket to the primary and mental health care the county desperately needs.
Rio Grande County's composite risk score of 45.77 rates as "Relatively Low" but slightly exceeds the national average, indicating moderate natural hazard exposure. The county faces above-average risk compared to typical U.S. regions.
Moderate risk within Colorado
Rio Grande County's score of 45.77 sits slightly above Colorado's state average of 40.67, placing it among the state's moderate-risk counties. The county experiences natural disaster exposure comparable to Colorado's median.
Mid-range risk in southern region
Rio Grande County (45.77) faces lower risk than Pueblo County (82.51) but higher than Routt County (33.37) and Saguache County (14.25). The county's south-central location creates moderate exposure compared to neighboring areas.
Earthquakes and wildfires loom
Earthquake risk (68.80) and wildfire risk (63.61) pose the greatest threats to Rio Grande County residents, both significantly above state averages. Flood risk (54.93) presents a secondary concern, while tornado risk (13.87) remains relatively low.
Multi-hazard insurance strategy
Rio Grande County residents should maintain comprehensive homeowners insurance covering earthquake, wildfire, and flood damage, potentially through multiple policies. Structural reinforcement for seismic activity and defensible space management provide additional critical protection.