The typical owner-occupied home in Empire is worth about $356,500, 34% below the Colorado median of $539,400 and 7% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,500 a year in property taxes, about 0.42% of their home's value, lower than the Colorado rate of 0.48%. The median household earns $66,797 a year, so the median home costs 5.3 times the median income (5.6 times for Colorado). 47% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 49% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Empire at a glance
| Empire | Colorado | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $356,500 | $539,400 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,500 | $2,602 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.42% | 0.48% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $66,797 | $95,470 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 47% | 66% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 49% | 69% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,688 | $2,326 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 24.4% | 22.1% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,614 | $1,761 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 31.6% | 31.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1971 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 3.8% | 8.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 672 | 5,862,189 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Empire
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Empire home of $356,500 with 20% down costs about $2,192 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,786, 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 $93,938 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 39% of the median Empire household income of $66,797; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $253,000.
The median rent here is $1,614 a month, so owning the median home costs about $578 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $71,300 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $285,200 |
| Principal and interest | $1,919 |
| Property taxes (0.42% a year) | $125 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $149 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,192 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $12,478 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $350,043 |
| Principal and interest | $2,355 |
| Property taxes (0.42% a year) | $125 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $149 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $158 |
| Total per month | $2,786 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Empire
What is the median home value in Empire?
About $356,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Empire?
Homeowners pay a median $1,500 a year, which is about 0.42% 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 Empire?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,192 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $93,938 a year.
More about Empire
- Mortgage Refinance in Empire
- Debt Relief in Empire
- Home Equity Loans in Empire
- 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