Colorado · GEOID 08009

Baca County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 3,428 · 1,983 housing units

Median household income

$46,215

State $97,187

Median home value

$122,900

State $550,599

Median gross rent

$592

State $1,742

Homeownership rate

71.5%

State 66.2%

Renter cost-burden rate

49.2%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

22.2%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.8%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.7%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

16.4%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.66

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Baca County	Colorado
Population	3,428	5,862,189
Population density (per sq. mi.)	1.34	—
Median household income	$46,215	$97,187
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$70,600	—
Households	1,657	—
Average household size	2.02 people	—
Owner-occupied	71.5%	66.2%
Renter-occupied	28.5%	33.8%
Race	88.3% White · 0.4% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Baca County compared with Colorado.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

24.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 45.7%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	14.6%	$28,026	$701	$73,303
1 earner	35.2%	$52,083	$1,302	$162,851
2 earners	41.5%	$92,188	$2,305	$312,136
3+ earners	8.7%	$121,042	$3,026	$419,540

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

1,657

Average size: 2.02 people

Households with children

361

21.8% of households

Per-capita income

$30,779

Poverty rate: 23.6%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

71.5% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 75.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 7.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

64.5% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,971.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $122,900.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $592.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 326 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 3.1% · For rent 8.9% · Seasonal 8.9% · Other 77.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

13.8% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 86.2% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.5%

29 units of 1,983 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

12.7%

252 units of 1,983 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$36,972

100% MHI$46,215

120% MHI$55,458

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Baca County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$54,550	$62,350	$77,900
100% AMI	$49,420	$56,480	$70,600
120% AMI	$59,300	$67,800	$84,700

HUD FMR Area: Baca County, CO. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

49.2% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (21.0% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

22.2% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Baca County.

Covered employment

968

Across 10 sectors

Establishments

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$39,516

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	318	$42,226	$126,160	+$3,260	$1,056
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	186	$34,884	$98,831	−$24,069	$872
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	158	$41,324	$122,802	−$98	$1,033
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	146	$28,602	$75,447	−$47,453	$715
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	59	$51,022	$158,902	+$36,002	$1,276
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	42	$48,899	$150,999	+$28,099	$1,222
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	40	$48,960	$151,226	+$28,326	$1,224
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	14	$37,685	$109,257	−$13,643	$942
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	3	$13,406	$18,882	−$104,018	$335
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	2	$19,728	$42,415	−$80,485	$493

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	186	$34,884	$98,831	−$24,069	$872
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	182	$53,384	$167,694	+$44,794	$1,335
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	128	$37,114	$107,131	−$15,769	$928
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	82	$31,748	$87,157	−$35,743	$794
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	38	$45,049	$136,668	+$13,768	$1,126
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	38	$25,489	$63,859	−$59,041	$637
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	35	$19,534	$41,693	−$81,207	$488
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	32	$49,190	$152,082	+$29,182	$1,230
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	26	$60,179	$192,987	+$70,087	$1,504
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	22	$40,605	$120,126	−$2,774	$1,015
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	19	$22,358	$52,205	−$70,695	$559
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	16	$61,662	$198,507	+$75,607	$1,542
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	14	$37,685	$109,257	−$13,643	$942
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	8	$59,933	$192,071	+$69,171	$1,498
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	3	$71,289	$234,342	+$111,442	$1,782
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	3	$13,406	$18,882	−$104,018	$335
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	2	$19,728	$42,415	−$80,485	$493

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	1,970	260	15%	$16.71	$34,760	$98,369	$869
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	2,400	(80)	(3%)	$17.23	$35,840	$102,389	$896
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	270	80	42%	$18.90	$39,300	$115,268	$983
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	890	(280)	(24%)	$19.02	$39,570	$116,273	$989
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,680	(60)	(3%)	$19.50	$40,570	$119,996	$1,014
Tellers SOC 43-3071	340	(100)	(23%)	$20.57	$42,780	$128,222	$1,070
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	840	(710)	(46%)	$21.02	$43,720	$131,721	$1,093
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	870	(100)	(10%)	$22.03	$45,820	$139,538	$1,146
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	470	(40)	(8%)	$22.34	$46,460	$141,920	$1,162
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	920	(10)	(1%)	$22.38	$46,550	$142,255	$1,164
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	850	(480)	(36%)	$24.89	$51,760	$161,649	$1,294
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	120	(250)	(68%)	$25.82	$53,700	$168,870	$1,343
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,240	150	14%	—	$53,810	$169,280	$1,345
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	160	(20)	(11%)	$27.88	$57,980	$184,802	$1,450
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	900	80	10%	$28.25	$58,750	$187,668	$1,469
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	140	0	0%	$30.84	$64,150	$207,769	$1,604
Electricians SOC 47-2111	290	30	12%	$31.39	$65,300	$212,049	$1,633
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	450	(100)	(18%)	$31.60	$65,720	$213,613	$1,643
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,400	200	17%	$43.10	$89,650	$302,688	$2,241

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 08009 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.