Las Animas County, Colorado Housing Market

In Las Animas County, Colorado, the median home value is $237,600, with a median monthly rent of $891. This places Las Animas County at #1011 nationally out of 3134 counties by median home value, and #51 within Colorado.

Median Home Value $237,600
Median Rent $891/mo
Owner Occupancy 68.6%
Price/Rent Ratio 22.2

📈 Price Trend (2017 → 2024)

📊 Recent Market Momentum (FHFA HPI)

FHFA House Price Index — All-Transactions, Annual (2000 = 100) · Latest: 2025

💡 Year-over-Year Trend: Home prices in Las Animas County fell -6.7% year-over-year as of 2025. (Source: FHFA)

📍 Economic Snapshot

💼

Employment & Wages

3,202
jobs (private sector)
  • Avg weekly wage: $852
  • Establishments: 516
  • BLS QCEW, 2025
🏗️

Housing Supply

30
new units authorized (2025)
  • Single-family: 30
  • Multi-family: 0
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
🚚

Migration Patterns

+672
net migration (filers, 2021-2022)
  • Inflow: 5,836 (avg $54,746)
  • Outflow: 5,164 (avg $54,553)
  • IRS Statistics of Income

📍 Sub-Market Activity

Top 1 active ZIP codes in Las Animas County · Latest: 2025

# ZIP Code HPI YoY Change Latest Year
1 81082 218.1 -4.07% 2025

Source: FHFA HPI for Five-Digit ZIP Codes (All-Transactions Index, 2000 = 100).
This product uses FHFA Data but is neither endorsed nor certified by FHFA.

📝 Local Market Notes

Las Animas County presents a nuanced housing landscape characterized by significant recent appreciation despite a broader national cooling trend. The market currently exhibits a price-to-income ratio of 4.56, substantially exceeding the national average of 3.20, indicating reduced affordability for local earners. However, the price-to-rent ratio stands at 22.2, slightly above the national benchmark of 18.7, suggesting that while ownership is relatively expensive compared to local wages, renting remains a more financially accessible option. The rent burden is 20.5% of income, which is higher than the national average of 17.2%, yet the overall cost structure favors renters over buyers in the immediate term. This dynamic classifies the area as a mixed market, where high entry barriers for ownership coexist with moderate rental pressures. The multi-year trend reveals a dramatic acceleration in home values, with prices rising from $145,900 in 2017 to $237,600 in 2024. This represents a cumulative increase of approximately 63% over seven years, with annual growth rates spiking to 13.6% in 2022 and 10.8% in 2024. This surge contrasts sharply with the recent FHFA HPI data, which indicates a 6.69% year-over-year decline in 2025, underperforming the state average by 6.08 percentage points. This divergence suggests that the previous rapid appreciation may have been driven by specific transactional factors or data lag, while the current mortgage-backed index reflects a recent correction or stabilization. The local economy supports this volatility, with only 3,202 total jobs and an average weekly wage of $852, limiting the depth of the buyer pool. Regional context further highlights the county's distinct position. Home values are 44.4% below the Colorado state average, reflecting the broader affordability gap between rural and urban Colorado. Despite this lower price point, the income level is 23.4% below the national average, exacerbating the affordability challenge. Housing supply remains constrained, with only 30 new single-family units authorized in 2025 and zero multi-family permits, indicating minimal new inventory to absorb demand. Migration data shows a net inflow of 672 filers, with incoming residents earning slightly higher incomes than those leaving, potentially sustaining demand. With the 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 7.40%, high borrowing costs further deter potential buyers. Consequently, the market is shaped by low supply, modest economic fundamentals, and high interest rates, creating a static environment for new entrants despite historical price growth.

Based on U.S. Census ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates.

How Las Animas County Compares

MetricLas Animas CountyColorado AverageU.S. Average
Median Home Value $237,600 $427,512 $227,706
Median Gross Rent $891 $1,302 $968
Owner Occupancy Rate 68.6% 71.9% 73.3%
Price/Rent Ratio 22.2 26.3 18.7

Market Analysis

The median home value in Las Animas County is 44.4% below the Colorado state average and 4.3% above the U.S. national average. The median rent of $891/month is 31.6% below the state average.

With a price-to-rent ratio of 22.2, renting is generally more cost-effective than buying in the short to medium term. The market favors buyers only for long-term holds.

Las Animas County has an owner-occupancy rate of 68.6%, compared to 71.9% in Colorado and 73.3% nationally. This indicates a more renter-heavy market than the U.S. average.

Similar Counties by Home Value

CountyStateMedian Home ValueMedian Rent
Morgan County Indiana $237,600 $1,042
Lake and Peninsula Borough Alaska $237,500 $936
Beltrami County Minnesota $237,500 $1,053
Oktibbeha County Mississippi $237,700 $915
Codington County South Dakota $237,700 $938

Other Counties in Colorado

CountyMedian Home ValueMedian RentOwner Occ.
Alamosa County $239,100 $907 55.9%
Kit Carson County $239,500 $973 72.6%
Rio Grande County $239,500 $945 67.1%
Jackson County $239,600 $1,701 71.1%
Logan County $245,300 $1,013 66.3%

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates (2017–2024). Variables: B25077 (Median Home Value), B25064 (Median Gross Rent), B25003 (Tenure). Data collected on 2026-10-14. The price-to-rent ratio is calculated as Median Home Value ÷ (Median Monthly Rent × 12).