The typical owner-occupied home in Chaffee County is worth about $665,700, 23% above the Colorado median of $539,400 and 2.0 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,901 a year in property taxes, about 0.29% of their home's value, lower than the Colorado rate of 0.48%. The median household earns $84,132 a year, so the median home costs 7.9 times the median income (5.6 times for Colorado). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 56% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Chaffee County at a glance
| Chaffee County | Colorado | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $665,700 | $539,400 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,901 | $2,602 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.29% | 0.48% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $84,132 | $95,470 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 74% | 66% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 56% | 69% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,957 | $2,326 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 24.2% | 22.1% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,611 | $1,761 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 33.5% | 31.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1993 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 14.1% | 8.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 20,178 | 5,862,189 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Chaffee County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Chaffee County home of $665,700 with 20% down costs about $4,021 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,130, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $172,321 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 57% of the median Chaffee County household income of $84,132; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $325,000.
The median rent here is $1,611 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,410 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $133,140 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $532,560 |
| Principal and interest | $3,583 |
| Property taxes (0.29% a year) | $161 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $277 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $4,021 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $23,300 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $653,643 |
| Principal and interest | $4,397 |
| Property taxes (0.29% a year) | $161 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $277 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $294 |
| Total per month | $5,130 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Chaffee County
What is the median home value in Chaffee County?
About $665,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Chaffee County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,901 a year, which is about 0.29% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Chaffee County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,021 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $172,321 a year.
More about Chaffee County
- Mortgage Refinance in Chaffee County
- Debt Relief in Chaffee County
- Home Equity Loans in Chaffee County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data