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City Housing Verdict

Wellington, CO

Stretch

Living in Wellington, CO costs about 27% more than the national average (Cost Index: 127). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $465,862 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $103,888, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

Wellington sits in the stretch zone: not impossible, but household feasibility will depend heavily on rent, down payment, debt load, and whether you are renting or buying. Start with the verdict panel, then compare scenarios before treating this city as affordable.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Wellington.

Monthly Housing
$2,320/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
27%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$5,837/mo
After housing and debt · $1,946/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 33%
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Cost Index
127
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$465,862
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $442,500
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$2,320/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$103,888
National: $78,538
Population
11,538
Purchasing Power
104
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
154 / 100
54% above average
Rent Index
172 / 100
72% above average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
82 / 100
18% lower utility bills
Healthcare & Services
100 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
127
Expensive · 27% above average

Wellington Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $465,862 and Colorado's property tax rate of 0.51%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$103,888
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
27%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
4.5x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Wellington looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Wellington, CO

Est. Annual Property Tax
$2,376
Monthly Impact
$198
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.51%
National avg: ~1.00%

Colorado Place Tax Context

Tax TypeColoradoNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.51%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate4.4%~5.0%
State Sales Tax7.79%~5.0%

Compare Wellington to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Wellington, CO
127
172
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Wellington, CO: 154
Rent Prices
172

FAQ: Living in Wellington

Is Wellington, CO an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Wellington is about 27% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 127. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $465,862, and monthly rents average roughly $2,320. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Wellington fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $2,320, while local median household income is $103,888. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 27% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Wellington, CO?+

Colorado has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 4.4%. The effective property tax rate is 0.51%. On a home worth $465,862, that translates to roughly $2,376 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 7.79% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Wellington, CO?+

The typical monthly rent in Wellington is around $2,320. That's about 72% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $465,862, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Wellington, CO?+

The median home in Wellington is valued at $465,862. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,356/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 81% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Wellington?+

Grocery prices in Wellington are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 82). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Wellington, CO like to live in?+

Wellington is a small town with a population of about 11,538. The median age of residents is 33.4, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 9.48%, near the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Colorado

If Wellington feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Colorado

Use these city pages when you want to compare Wellington against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly