Colorado
Bent County
FIPS: 08011
5,524
population
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🔶 FEMA Declarations
Home values in Bent County have climbed 8.3% in six consecutive months, reaching $125,778—the most affordable typical home price in Colorado, where Pitkin County median homes sell for $2.6 million. The sustained rise marks a rare structural shift in the county's housing market, even as employment signals flash caution.
After unemployment dropped to a six-year low of 3.7% in April, joblessness has ticked up for two straight months to 4.4% in June—an 18.9% increase from the trough. The reversal follows a volatile six-month arc that saw the rate swing from 5% down to 3.7% and back up again, suggesting labor market instability in a county with a workforce of just 1,642 people.
The timing presents a puzzle worth exploring: housing gains are accelerating even as employment softens. Local reporters should investigate whether the home value appreciation reflects genuine demand from incoming residents, investor activity, or data volatility in a thin market—and whether the recent unemployment uptick signals broader economic headwinds for Bent County households.
🔍 Data Signals
View all signals →Home values in Bent County, Colorado have been rising for 6 straight months
Bent County, Colorado's home values have moved up every month for 6 consecutive months, from $116,086 to $125,778 — a 8.3% rising trend. Sustained 6-month trends are rare and may signal structural market shifts.
Bent County, Colorado has CO's most affordable homes at $125,778
Typical home values in Bent County, Colorado sit at just $125,778, the lowest in CO. For comparison, the state's most expensive county (Pitkin County, Colorado) is at $2,651,287.
Bent County, Colorado unemployment rising again — up 18.9% from its low
After bottoming at 3.7% (2026-04), unemployment in Bent County, Colorado has risen for 2 straight data releases to 4.4% — a 18.9% increase from its low. This reversal may signal renewed labor market softening.