USDA eligibility map: Colorado
About 96.7% of Colorado's area is in USDA-eligible rural areas, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA Rural Development's published eligibility map, the 20th highest share among the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. 52 of 64 counties have no ineligible area at all, and Broomfield County and Denver County are entirely ineligible. 112 Census places in Colorado lie mostly inside ineligible areas, including Broomfield city, Denver city, Castle Rock town, Colorado Springs city and Longmont city.
Check a Colorado address
USDA eligible area by county
The share of each county's area that is USDA eligible, and the places (cities, towns and census-designated places) at least half inside ineligible areas. These are estimates; check any single property with the lookup.
| county | Area eligible | Mostly ineligible places |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 67.6% | Thornton city, Commerce City city, Westminster city, Brighton city, Todd Creek CDP, Northglenn city, North Washington CDP, Berkley CDP, and 6 more |
| Alamosa County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Arapahoe County | 68.1% | Aurora city, Centennial city, Watkins CDP, Littleton city, Greenwood Village city, Englewood city, Cherry Hills Village city, Dove Valley CDP, and 10 more |
| Archuleta County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Baca County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Bent County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Boulder County | 65.3% | Longmont city, Boulder city, Lafayette city, Louisville city, Gunbarrel CDP, Niwot CDP, Superior town, Pine Brook Hill CDP, and 3 more |
| Broomfield County | 0% | Broomfield city |
| Chaffee County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Cheyenne County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Clear Creek County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Conejos County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Costilla County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Crowley County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Custer County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Delta County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Denver County | 0% | Denver city |
| Dolores County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Douglas County | 61.9% | Castle Rock town, Highlands Ranch CDP, Parker town, The Pinery CDP, Lone Tree city, Castle Pines city, Roxborough Park CDP, Castle Pines Village CDP, and 8 more |
| Eagle County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| El Paso County | 63.7% | Colorado Springs city, Black Forest CDP, Fort Carson CDP, Fountain city, Security-Widefield CDP, Air Force Academy CDP, Monument town, Woodmoor CDP, and 6 more |
| Elbert County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Fremont County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Garfield County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Gilpin County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Grand County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Gunnison County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Hinsdale County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Huerfano County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Jackson County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Jefferson County | 66.5% | Lakewood city, Arvada city, Ken Caryl CDP, Golden city, Dakota Ridge CDP, Wheat Ridge city, Columbine CDP, Fairmount CDP, and 6 more |
| Kiowa County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Kit Carson County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| La Plata County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Lake County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Larimer County | 91.3% | Fort Collins city, Loveland city, Johnstown town, Wellington town |
| Las Animas County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Lincoln County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Logan County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Mesa County | 97.3% | Grand Junction city, Redlands CDP, Clifton CDP, Orchard Mesa CDP, Fruitvale CDP |
| Mineral County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Moffat County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Montezuma County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Montrose County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Morgan County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Otero County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Ouray County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Park County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Phillips County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Pitkin County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Prowers County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Pueblo County | 83.8% | Pueblo city, Pueblo West CDP, Blende CDP, Salt Creek CDP |
| Rio Blanco County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Rio Grande County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Routt County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Saguache County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| San Juan County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| San Miguel County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Sedgwick County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Summit County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Teller County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Washington County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Weld County | 91.9% | Greeley city, Windsor town, Erie town, Frederick town, Firestone town, Evans city, Dacono city, Lochbuie town, and 2 more |
| Yuma County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
How USDA decides what is rural
The rural-area definition is section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490): open country and places not part of or associated with an urban area with up to 2,500 people, up to 10,000 if rural in character, or up to 20,000 outside a metropolitan statistical area with a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families. Areas that lost rural status in the 1990 to 2020 censuses stay rural until 2030 census data arrive if they have 10,000 to 35,000 people and meet the same conditions. Income is a separate test, applied to the household by the lender and USDA.
For other address-level designations in Colorado, the free census tract lookup shows the income level and QCT and DDA status, and Colorado has 126 designated Opportunity Zone tracts (Opportunity Zone lookup).
Questions
Is Colorado eligible for USDA loans?
Much of it is. About 96.7% of the state's area is outside USDA's ineligible areas (3,471 of about 104,007 square miles are ineligible). 52 counties are entirely eligible. Most people live in the larger towns, which are often ineligible, so check the specific address.
Which Colorado counties have the least USDA eligible area?
Broomfield County (0% eligible), Denver County (0% eligible), Douglas County (61.9% eligible), El Paso County (63.7% eligible), Boulder County (65.3% eligible). The share is of land area, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA's map; eligibility is decided for each property.
Which Colorado towns are not eligible for USDA loans?
Places USDA's map shows as mostly inside an ineligible area include Broomfield city, Denver city, Castle Rock town, Colorado Springs city, Longmont city, Lakewood city, Thornton city and Aurora city. The county table on this page lists every place that is mostly ineligible. Edges matter: part of a town, or land just outside it, can be on the other side of the line, so check the address.
How do I check a Colorado address for USDA eligibility?
Enter the street address in the lookup on this page. It locates the address and checks it against USDA's published rural eligibility map. It is a screening: Rural Development makes the final determination on a complete application, and household income is a separate test (USDA's income eligibility tool).
When was the USDA eligibility map for Colorado last updated?
The ineligible areas on USDA's map for Colorado carry an effective date of July 25, 2023. USDA updates the map from ineligible-area changes sent in by its state offices. The statute keeps formerly rural areas of 10,000 to 35,000 people rural until data from the 2030 census arrive, if they still meet its conditions.
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Legal references
- 42 U.S.C. 1490, definition of rural area (Housing Act of 1949, section 520)
Areas are computed by HeritageDeed: estimates, not USDA figures. USDA's map is not a final determination; Rural Development decides on a complete application. HeritageDeed is not affiliated with USDA.
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